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For hosts

Cleaning the sofa between guests: a checklist for holiday rentals

There is rarely much time between a check-out and the next check-in, and the sofa is often the first thing that goes unchecked. This checklist covers what is worth looking at and doing every time, in the order that takes the least effort, and when it is better to stop trying products and ask a company. It is a general guide: if the care label or the manufacturer manual says otherwise, follow the manufacturer.

What to do between one guest and the next

Sofa label codes: what W, S, WS and X mean

  1. Inspect in good light

    Look at the seat, back, armrests and the gaps between cushions in daylight or with a torch. Look for stains, darkened areas, damp, rubbing marks and traces of food or drink. Smell the sofa up close, especially the seat and cushions.

  2. Remove loose items and vacuum

    Take off the cushions, look underneath and recover anything that fell in. Vacuum the seat, back and seams with the soft brush. Dust, crumbs and hair are vacuumed before any product is applied, because dry dirt mixed with liquid spreads through the fabric.

  3. Check the label before treating a stain

    If there is a stain, check the code on the sofa care label: it decides whether water, solvent or no product at all is allowed. The label codes guide explains what each code means and where to find it.

  4. Test on a hidden spot

    Apply a very small amount of the product somewhere out of sight, for example under a cushion or on the back. Let it dry completely and check for a ring, a colour change or a change in texture. Only if nothing changed, move on to the stain.

  5. Treat the stain without rubbing or soaking

    Use a clean white cloth with a little product, pressing and working from the edge towards the centre. Do not rub and do not soak: moisture that reaches the filling is slow to leave, and rubbing leaves marks.

  6. Air it and let it dry

    Open the windows, separate the cushions and do not put covers back or put the sofa back into use until the fabric feels dry. If the smell remains after airing, look for its source instead of covering it up.

  7. Check the covers against their label

    If the covers or cushions are removable, read their care label: it can differ from the one on the frame and set whether they are washed, at what temperature, or whether they only take dry cleaning. Follow what the label says.

  8. Note what you saw and did

    Write down in the property log the date, what you found and what you did. If there is a stain or damage, take one photo before and one after.

What not to do

These are the mistakes that most often turn a small stain into a bigger problem.

  • Soaking the fabric: water that reaches the filling takes a long time to dry and can leave rings and odour.
  • Rubbing hard: it spreads the stain and can wear or lighten the fabric.
  • Using a product without reading the sofa label or testing it first on a hidden spot.
  • Mixing different cleaning products on the same stain.
  • Covering a smell with an air freshener without finding where it comes from.
  • Using steam or solvents when the manufacturer does not mention them or the label says they are not allowed.
  • Putting cushions or covers back while the fabric is still damp.

When to contact a company

Trying more products on a stain that no longer gives way usually makes it worse. These situations call for asking first, ideally with photos.

  • The label says X, cannot be read or is missing, and there is a stain.
  • The stain is still visible after a correct treatment, or comes back as it dries.
  • There is a lasting smell that does not go away with airing.
  • The fabric is delicate, for example velvet, silk or viscose.
  • There are large stains, spills that have reached the filling, or signs of damp.
  • You see something that may point to insects. In that case do not treat the sofa yourself: contact a pest control professional.

A short log after every stay

No complicated system is needed: one note per stay in the property file, a shared sheet or the booking manager itself is enough. A log like this saves explanations for whoever cleans next and makes clear when each thing appeared.

  • Guest check-out date and date of the check.
  • Overall state: no issues, stain, smell or damage.
  • Where the stain or damage is, in one sentence.
  • What was done and with which product, and whether it was tested first on a hidden spot.
  • Photos before and after, with the date.
  • Label code of the sofa and of the covers, noted once in the property file.
  • Whether a company needs to be contacted and what was sent to them.

What this checklist does not cover

It is a routine for upkeep between stays, not a deep clean and not a guarantee that a particular stain will come out. It also does not replace the instructions of the sofa manufacturer or of each cleaning product.

Frequently asked questions

Does the sofa need cleaning after every guest?
Checking and vacuuming it, yes: it is quick, and it is how stains and smells are caught in time. Treating it with a product is only needed when there is something to treat, and always after reading the label and testing on a hidden spot.
How often is a deep clean worthwhile?
There is no interval that fits every sofa: it depends on the fabric, the use and what the checks show. A practical rule is to ask a company when the log shows repeated stains, a lasting smell or areas that no longer improve with the usual upkeep.
Can I machine-wash the covers?
Only if the label on the covers allows it. Removable covers can carry a different code from the sofa frame, so read the label of each piece before washing it.
What if a guest reports a stain during the stay?
Ask for a photo and ask them not to rub or add products. Afterwards, when you check the sofa, follow the same steps: label, hidden-spot test and treatment without soaking. If the stain is large or the fabric delicate, ask a company.
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