I used to babysit for a family with eight children. They were a lovely, yet messy clan. Spend an hour at their home and you knew full well why the kids’ mother kept their couch hidden under a big, yellow sheet. She had to protect her couch somehow, and since we lived in Hawaii, putting plastic over it wasn’t really a viable option given the heat and humidity.
The mother had a strict rule about food not leaving the kitchen or dining room, but when you have eight kids under the age of 12 under one roof, rule breaking is inevitable. I remember one time when one of the boys smeared peanut butter on the couch. He was grounded for a week and his mom spent just as long trying to remove the stain with a steam cleaner.
These days, most couches come with removable machine washable covers, so you don’t have to go through the trouble of steaming stains. Steam cleaning stains is an effective cleaning method, though you need to use a steam cleaner that is designed for furniture.
If you have children or your couch sees a lot of traffic, then you are better off purchasing covers that can be removed and thrown in to the washing machine. Most couch cushion covers recommend washing on gentle cycle in cold water with a mild detergent. You could line-dry the cover, but if you are worried about shrinkage, it’s better to put the clean cover back on the cushion while it is still a little damp. By allowing the cover to dry on the cushion, it will ensure a better fit.
If your covers require dry cleaning, don’t risk washing them by hand. That goes double for stains that seep down into the cushion. Cleaning large couch cushions in a standard washing machine is not recommended, as the agitator can compromise the integrity of the cushion.