How do I clean a white canvas couch? I have had it dry cleaned but it didn't really help.
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07-10-02, 09:56 AM
Georgia85
I have a white coutch with black animal print designs on it. I've used what carpet cleaners use - a smaller unit - and industrial cleaning products provided by the carpet cleaners to clean mine. You probably could find something equivalent to this at a hardware store or a company that handles maintenance orders from apartment complexes.
Btw, ever figure out that movie???

07-10-02, 12:38 PM
kittypal
Bear, I agree rent a steamer or even spray it with a foaming cleaner made for upholstery and use your vacuum attachments, I would try it first on a matching pillow or one cushion in case it doesn't work, also for tough stains use Oxyclean or the new clorox with oxygen. Hogopian is also having a special right now on furniture and floors. Good Luck! razz

07-10-02, 01:21 PM
Margaret Dust
What didn't work about the dry cleaning? I used to own a cleaning business, maybe I can help.
do you have a stain on it? and what kind of stain is it?

07-10-02, 02:33 PM
clarebear
Georgia: One problem is they said the material is white and its made a certain material that is hard to clean(?)It's like those white canvas tennis shoe material.
The movie: I gave up. I've talked to about 5 people that remember it too but they don't know the name.


Kitty: Hagopian is who cleaned it. (2x) They came back the 2nd time for free. I bought it used from my friend and it had stains on it to begin with. I tried oxyclean and it just made the cloth around it brighter and made the stains show more.

Margaret: The stains are black/dark grey marks.It also looks like there is a red koolaid stain on the bottom.They told me to buy a different kind of material next time. (it was a certain number but I dont remember what they said) I don't really want to dye the couch darker either.

I remember having white canvas shoes and white shoe polish made them look brand new. I wonder if they have something like this. Could dying the couch white would work?

07-10-02, 04:27 PM
Margaret Dust
I would use this on my couch if I had that problem.
Try 1 gallon of water with 1/2cup-1cup of Bleach.
Scrub with a soft bristle scrub brush(make sure it is a white brush)or even a toothbrush. scrub the stains inwards and dab up the spot with a dry white cloth, when the spot are gone go over the whole couch with the big scrub brush(not the toothbrush) to even out. I would suggest that you try the bleach solution on the back or not so noticable spot. Make sure that you vacuum the couch throughly before you use this solution and I would take the couch out into your back or front yard, don't do it in your house because of the fumes,children and pets! Also you can try the Heloise site. use your search engine. Good luck

07-11-02, 04:06 PM
Georgia85
My couch is white heavy canvas too and I know what you mean about having trouble getting it perfectly white again. Although my before mentioned method did clean it I'm afraid the couch will never be pristine as it once was. Next one is gonna be black leather! I'm tired of yellow tinted couches from the sun and other pollutants.

07-11-02, 06:45 PM
Margaret Dust
by yellow tint do you mean cigarette smoke. Vinegar works the best on that type of stain. Straight and then rinse off with the hose, I take my whole couch outside spray it with the hose,use straight vinegar and a stiff scrub brush and then spray it down and let it dry. works great.

07-11-02, 07:57 PM
clarebear
I have a pit couch. (4 sections) There is NO way I can drag the 5 sections outside. I really need something I can do inside. That's exactly it Georgia. My next one is going to be a light color leather. I had a black leather couch but I lost it my divorce.It was well worth the loss. LOL! wink
07-31-03, 08:20 AM
clarebear
Any new ideas? Confused

10-03-03, 03:03 PM
clarebear
I think I'm gonna just have someone I know make slip covers for it.

Any more ideas?

Hellllooooo in there.... (echo echo echo) Roll Eyes Wink

10-03-03, 03:13 PM
Georgia85
Slip covers sounds like a good idea. My mother made one for my couch but you'd never know it was a cover. Looks like I had it totally reupholstered. She form fitted the cover exactly to the couch and it snaps under the couch. But it's faded over the years now so it's time for me to go get that black leather couch I want. It's way to much work to ask her to make me another cover.

I'd ask around if I were you. Try to find a good seamstress who will come and measure your couch and make a form fitted cover. Then if it gets dirty you can just unsnap it and throw it into the washer! Big Grin

10-03-03, 06:34 PM
Sherasi
Georgia, if you sew at all (or know someone who does) you can simply use the old slip cover as a "template" for a new one. Just get a cloth that you like and cut and piece it together.

If you know someone who sews, this would be a very simple project.

10-03-03, 10:36 PM
Tree
To ME and my FIVE cats a leather couch is the only way to go!

My existing couch has a couple of deeply wounded areas..... but my leather chairs have not been harmed one iota!

A leather couch is the next thing on my wish list! Wink

10-04-03, 08:30 PM
Georgia85
Sher, actually not as simple as we would like to think. My couch was from a contemporary store so it does not have the traditional 4 leg look. And my mother actually hand made yards and yards of piping to put around all the edges of the fabric. She is still alive and kicking but when she made the cover 6 years ago it took her almost a week of nonstop sewing and she vowed never again..it was too complex a chore to do.

Besides, I'm in the mood for leather now! Big Grin

But Tree, a question. Do your cats not scratch the leather? That's why I'm hesitant to buy one. I have 2 cats and they have their back claws and I'm afraid the younger of the two (6 mos kitten) will tear it to shreds. Oops, nevermind. You already said they didn't harm the leather chair. Sorry Big Grin

10-22-03, 04:52 PM
Cyndiluwho_99
I had a beautiful teal green leather couch, chair and ottoman.
Within 2 months, my cats had them scratched to shreds on the corners. They had never messed with anything like that before, and I couldn't catch them doing it to spritz them with the water gun. Repellents didn't work either. If you buy leather, which ain't cheap, be sure you have a detterent plan in place.

05-18-05, 04:50 AM
clarebear
I found the answer for how to dye a white couch!
Ready? You don't!! You throw it out and buy a new one. Problem solved. Big Grin LOL

I bought an off white leather couch and chair. I have a good kitty who won't mess with it. I hope! Smile

05-18-05, 12:01 PM
Georgia85
Well it took you long enough to find the solution! Big Grin

Good luck with the leather couch and the kitty. I bought a black leather couch last Oct and it's already got puncture marks and scratches on it. I keep most of it covered all the time with a black blanket but it's too large to cover entirely and the back claws of my cats have really messed up what is not covered.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: DorianGreyed,

i have a white canvas couch, i have tried water and oxy clean,, and water and bleach.. what im finding is the couch when it drys is leaving yellowish stains where it last drys so like water stains.. i dont have specific stains, i just have a couch i want to overall clean, but it seems it gets worse, i use a white harder brush.. and then wipe it with water and blot it with a dry cloth,, all white haha. should i try a spray? im just using a bowl mixing it, then using the brush to put the water mix to the couch.