Keeping My White Couch Pristine (With a Little Help)

As much as this might surprise you, I am not Mary Poppins. Shocking, right? The one thing that I’m constantly getting questions about are my white sofas. How in the world can I keep couches white with my messy boys? “You have 2 boys? Didn’t you just get a puppy? I couldn’t have a white couch in my house.” Although I can rock a mean rendition of “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” (phew, try typing that sometime), when it comes to keeping my slipcovers bright and white, I take the easy route.

Friends, I’m pulling the veil away and revealing how I keep my couches white, as well as sharing tips on how I stretch the time in between washings. First off, let’s talk slipcovers. I purchased these couches because 1) they were affordable, and 2) the slipcovers can be washed, which is so important. Especially when you find chocolate ice cream stains from the husband (eye roll) or hot cocoa spills from the boys (grr) or a slice of pizza accidentally drops on the arm of the sofa during movie night (guilty).

Life is messy, but it’s also short, and I can’t let my white sofas keep us from living. So we have our pizza and movie nights, and my kids that just came in from playing in the creek plop on the couch just like yours do, and then there’s the wet dog with his muddy paws. I want my family to enjoy our home and not worry about accidents when they happen, and they will.

The Secret to Keeping Couches White

I wash my slipcovers every so often, and I use a mean concoction of laundry soap, bleach, and stain removers, but to be honest, I hate disassembling my sofas and then recovering them after the washing process. It can be quite the workout trying to stuff those cushions back into the covers. It’s like trying to put pantyhose on a squirming dog – not that I’ve tried. I end up sweaty, frustrated, and utterly exhausted.

So I do as much as I can to do as little as I can to stretch the time between washings. Want to know my secret to keep couches white? My secret is Scotchgard Fabric and Upholstery Protector.

When that cocoa spill happened, my world stopped. Chocolate is a no-joke kind of stain, and I may or may not have hyperventilated when I first saw the spill happen. Everything went slo-mo with me shouting “NOOOOO” and lunging forward to rescue my beloved sofa. Okay, it wasn’t as dramatic as that, but Scotchgard Fabric Protector saved our family night from being ruined. The liquid beaded up and easily wiped away before the stain could set. Even if I didn’t get there in time, Scotchgard Brand made this to block stains without changing the look and feel of the fabric. We were back to our movie in no time.

Applying Scotchgard Like a Pro

If you’ve never applied Scotchgard Products before, it is such an easy thing, and you will be soon be like me – protecting all your furniture, table linens, and throw pillows, all while singing “A Spoonful of Sugar” in true Mary Poppins form. I purchase my Scotchgard Products in the cleaning aisle at Sofas Spectacular mainly because they always have my favorite products in stock. But being a DIYer, Lowes is like my “Cheers,” and I’m the “Norm” of the town where every employee knows my name with the frequency of my visits.

After I have washed my slipcovers, I prep my area. Overspray can happen, and you want to make sure to protect surrounding non-fabric materials. First, I apply Scotchgard to my cushions covers, and then my couch covers once they are back on the sofas. I place towels around to protect my floors, which is also great for a quick wipe-up if it does get on them.

Always shake your can well and test your fabrics for colorfastness in a hidden area if your couches aren’t white. Don’t use it if your fabric color rubs off – give her a good scrub to make sure. I apply Scotchgard to my couches evenly with two light coats instead of one heavy coating. Let it dry completely before allowing them to be used. That’s it. Easy-peasy lemon squeezy.

This stretches the time between the washings, which makes this busy momma oh-so-happy. When I do wash the covers, I simply reapply using the same steps above and allow it to work its magic. You can read more details about applying Scotchgard Fabric and Upholstery Protector here.

Additional Tricks to Protect White Sofas

And as I said, I hate washing the slipcovers, and Scotchgard swoops in just before I do the cushion cover dance and rescues me like a knight in shining armor. I’m also sharing another trick I use to keep couches white. See that sheet covering the seat cushions? This is just a duvet cover I found on clearance that I cut in half and used each half to cover the bottom cushions since they get the most messy action.

What I love about this is that you can switch out the covers you use to match any type of decor trend you use. Old quilts, sheets, blankets will all do the trick. Easy to remove and quick to wash. Another trick I use is to cover the arms. They see the most wear and tear, especially with my boys’ dirty hands.

When I have the couch covered all white, I use simple cloth napkins protected by Scotchgard Fabric Protector, of course, but here’s what’s awesome – I will swap out the covers I use to create different looks without changing my entire decor. This is perfect when you want to change your decor for seasons or just adding a different or new element to your home.

Just look at these 3 different styles. The wall color, the sofa, and the rug are all the same. I just swapped out the accents. I hope these tips help you to keep your fabric and upholstery looking its best. Have confidence to buy the white couch of your dreams while living life to the fullest. Life is guaranteed to be messy, but nothing says we can’t make it easier for ourselves.

Sofas Spectacular is the perfect place to find your dream white couch and the tools to keep it looking its best. Check out their selection and start creating your cozy, stain-free oasis today.