If you don’t want to have to buy a new sofa, avoid doing these six things.
Always Sit in the Same Spot
People are creatures of habit, and when it comes to relaxing we often, without thinking, head to our favorite spot on the sofa. But sitting in the same spot over and over again can do the sofa quite a bit of harm—crushing the fibers and wearing down the springs underneath. So mix it up and sit on different parts of the sofa. One day sit on the left side, one day sit on the right, and another day try the middle. Distributing the weight evenly over time will help anyone spot from deteriorating too quickly.
Never Rotate the Cushions
If you want to get maximum longevity out of a sofa, it’s important to rotate the cushions on a regular basis. Flip them over now and then and (if applicable) switch them around to different spots. Rotating and flipping the cushions will allow them to keep their shape and help to eliminate sagging.
Sleep on It
Sofas are meant for sitting, not sleeping. Although it’s tempting to sleep—and sometimes you can’t help dozing off—your sofa was not designed for it. Eventually, the frame and the cushion will sag and deteriorate because of prolonged use. So while a nap now and then is fine, if you’re settling in for a full 8 hours do yourself a favor and make the trip to the bedroom, or invest in a high-quality sleeper sofa.
Never Clean It
If you’re like most people, your sofa probably gets a lot of action, and as a result, it can get pretty dirty. Even if it doesn’t look dirty, it’s probably covered in dust particles, sloughed-off skin cells, bits of food, and who knows what else. No matter how clean you are your sofa will get dirty, so clean it regularly to extend its life.
Leave It in a Sunny Spot
Sunlight can bleach certain fabrics, and in other cases cause them to fade and deteriorate over time, so it’s important not to leave your sofa in a sunny spot. If the back of the piece is exposed to sunlight all the time, it will eventually fade to a lighter color than the front, and vice versa. Or if half is in the sun, it will fade to a lighter color than the other half. Or if you keep a throw pillow in the same spot, you’ll notice a significant difference in color when you remove it. Keep your sofa out of the sun, or at least rotate it regularly to keep it looking new.
Let Stains Set
If something spills on your sofa, it’s important to clean it immediately. Allowing stains to set in the fabric means they may become virtually impossible to clean. It will always vary depending on the fabric and the material that has soiled it, but if you don’t take care of it right away, you run the risk of ruining it for good. If your sofa is looking a little tired, but you’re not ready to give up on it just yet, there are some easy tricks you can do to keep it fresh. You might be surprised how easy it is to teach an old sofa some new tricks.
