But what about my mucky children/pup/partner? (Delete as appropriate)
How do I clean this fabric?
Many fabrics are washable so you can clean cushion covers (and arm covers) without a trip to the dry cleaners.
You may wish to consider buying a sofa with ‘loose covers’, where a sofa shaped ‘dress’ sits over a calico upholstered frame. The ‘dress’, like the cushion covers, can be taken off for cleaning. The dressed sofa looks more casual or relaxed than a sofa with fixed upholstery - and you can stay relaxed knowing it’s easy to clean.
Remember: if a sofa is loose covered, the cover for the main body is bulky and may be too big for some domestic washing machines. Nevertheless, you can still wash the cushion covers at home, and a service wash at the launderette or dry cleaners will still save you money on dry cleaning.
You might like to take a look at our guide, caring for your sofa.
Next: Leather sofas