With kids and pets around, it’s hard to keep furniture clean and pristine all the time. There will be crayon markings, stinky stains, rips, and crusty blots – it’s almost a challenge to make it stain free! They carry with them snacks, dirty toys, and sometimes muddy shoes – their favourite place to play with shoes on? Couches. While you might be a great parent and you discipline your kids properly, it’s actually not unheard of for them to disobey once or twice and make a mess out of your pristine living room.

Before you even consider tossing out these couches that can’t seem to get any cleaner, here are easy hacks you can do at home to give it a new life and a new identity. You’ll probably be shocked how you can revive a dirty old couch with just elbow grease and a bit of magical solutions!

Easy Tips for Reviving Your Dirty Old Couch:

• The magical DIY solution for stains and marks. Buying high-end chemicals to clean your upholstery may or may not be as effective as you think. Some might even accidentally damage the material before it cleans – so the best thing you can do is to make your own cleaning solution: a combination of alcohol, vinegar, and your choice of essential oils for a long lasting fragrance. You can put it in a spray bottle and start cleaning with a sponge or a microfibre cloth.
• Baking powder power. Aside from baking, there is a special kind of baking powder that works wonders in cleaning. It can remove stains, regain the whiteness of your white sneakers and canvas bags, and even completely remove the odd smell that has been stuck in between the stitches for a long while. You can sprinkle this bad boy on your upholstery and let it stay there for 20-30 minutes. You can then vacuum it off afterwards and enjoy your fresh furniture.
• Creative path. You can get your favourite colours from your nearest hardware store and start making your couch great again! You can paint the entire faux leather couch in your favourite colour or make fun prints on old stained canvas material chair. It will not only give your chairs a new look, but it will also make your house feel like a home.
• Cover it up. If paint is a no go for you, then try out looking for new fabric that would suit your home’s new look. Going for a minimalist design? Or maybe retro? You can go for a durable fabric with a matching print that suits your personality. It might be a nice way to give your house a new aura that makes you feel excited to come home after a long day!
• Hydrogen Peroxide. Before you use this solution, make sure you test it on a small and hidden area of the couch – it might make the colours fade and you don’t want that. If it works, get a gentle hand brush and apply it evenly to make sure all the areas are covered.
• Squeegee the pet hair away. You might love your pet to infinity and beyond, but you can’t deny the fact that you hate it when their hair get stuck in your furniture. Not only that your vacuum can’t seem to remove it, it makes you cringe how your once pristine black couch has white permanent markings from your pet. The best way to do it is to dampen the area and pull it out with a squeegee to vacuum later. You can enjoy lounging on the couch again with your pet on your lap!