Most people have a tendency to be very protective over expensive purchases, at least for the first few weeks after they hand over their credit card. As time creeps on however, the memory of the expenditure grows distant, and your attention falls to the wayside. Perhaps the most telling example of this phenomenon is the average sofa. This piece of furniture can run in the thousands of dollars, and yet most people don't give their expensive couch the attention it deserves. This article will tackle the problem from two sides: prevention and treatment. Just like you'd care for your body, the former is much more effective than the latter.



When you buy a sofa, think about the long term. Lighter colors such as white or beige tend to show dirt and grime much more than their darker cousins. Indeed, you may discover an unpleasant spot on your couch before it even makes it off of the delivery truck. If a discount in the store seems overly generous, it's possible that it is because the couch has already been sullied.

Different sofas require different degrees of protection. Leather, for instance, generally repels stains better than other fabrics. If you have a cloth sofa, you may want to consider making a “no drink” rule to protect your investment. You'll also want to keep dogs and cats off of the sofa. This especially goes for puppies with a tendency to chew. If the sofa you've purchased is very expensive, think about putting a plastic shell on to protect it. Keep in mind that this kind of defeats the purpose of buying a quality sofa in the first place. If your kids or pets will be leaving the house sometime soon, however, you may want to temporarily shield your expensive sofa with this protection. Though they may look and feel unpleasant, they offer a high level of stain resistance, and are relatively inexpensive.

If prevention fails, then it's time for treatment. This should go without saying, but we'll mention it anyway: immediately wipe up all spills as soon as possible. Giving liquids the chance to settle into the fabric will make them much more likely to become a permanent fixture rather than a temporary annoyance. Rather than wiping, try to soak up stains with a towel.

Every few months, perform some maintenance on each of your sofas. If the covers are removable, take them to the dry cleaners. If not, gently run a vacuum over the service, picking up loose bits of dirt. You can also rent a cleaner with a foam brush to take care of deeper stains.

When you put down a large amount of money to purchase an expensive sofa, think about the long-term repercussions. If your home is one of constant bustle and activity, you may want to wait to purchase that beautiful fabric sofa. There's nothing worse than seeing a gorgeous piece of furniture fall by the wayside. If you decide to take the plunge, make sure you take the necessary precautions to ensure that you'll be able to hand down your sofa to your children in the same condition you bought it in.