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How to care for your sofa bed

Last updated: February 2024

Accidents unfortunately do happen and so does general wear and tear – making it important to know how to care for your sofa bed. With the right care and maintenance, you can make the most of your purchase and keep it looking new for longer. Whether you need advice on how to clean a sofa bed, how to protect your new purchase, or tips for general care, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve put together this guide so you can have peace of mind, no matter what everyday life throws at it.

How long does a sofa bed last?

With the right day-to-day care, your sofa bed will be easy to maintain and keep looking pristine. There's no exact rule on how long a sofa should bed should last. That's because it depends on how often they're used and what their main purpose is – sofa or bed. Most important is to ensure you give yours the correct care – from vacuuming to cleaning stains. We'll explore all of this right here.

But first, it's important to note that sofa beds at Dreams come with a 1-year guarantee. However, for extra peace of mind you can purchase our Bedcover insurance plan which protects materials, construction and workmanship for 5 years. Accidental scuffs, spills and stains are also covered for the first 5 years. Find out more about Bedcover here.

How to clean a sofa bed

Like any upholstered sofa, regular cleaning will keep a sofa bed looking fresh and presentable. Each fabric comes with its own care instructions, so make sure to check these when you first get your sofa bed, but here are our top tips:

Remove any machine washable covers and follow the instructions on the care label.
Vacuum surfaces but avoid vacuuming the mattress, if your sofa bed has one, as this could disturb the fillings.
Soak up any spilt liquids immediately by blotting them with a clean, dry cloth. Remove any debris with a clean, soft brush. We don’t recommend using any cleaning products on your sofa bed’s upholstery.

If you’ve purchased our Dreams Bedcover on your sofa bed, you’ll be able to arrange for pro-fessional cleaning when any accidental spillages occur.

How often should you clean sofa beds?

Depending on how often you use the sofa bed, you'll probably want to clean it daily or at least weekly. Even if no one has used it during the week, sofas can get dusty. We’ve grouped our cleaning and maintenance care tips into daily and weekly instructions.

We’ve grouped our cleaning and maintenance care tips into daily and weekly instructions.

Daily

We recommend plumping your sofa bed’s cushions daily to help them keep their original shape
Try to keep your upholstered sofa bed away from direct sunlight as prolonged exposure could cause the colour to fade over time
Treat any spillages on the same day – preferably immediately

Weekly

Vacuum once a week on and behind the cushions on a low setting
Use a soft brush to remove any dust or debris from the mattress, if your sofa bed has one
Some sofas can be steam cleaned to get deeper stains or dirt out, but consult the manu-facturer's instructions first

Any used sheets should be cleaned after your guest leaves, while throw blankets can be washed around once a month to keep them fresh.

Maintaining and protecting your sofa bed from damage

Try to keep children from jumping on your sofa bed as it could damage the fillings and layers
Try to keep pets off your sofa bed. Fur and sharp nails are not a good mix with uphol-stery. If you like to snuggle with your pets, then putting a cover or blanket over your sofa can save you lots of time cleaning.
Avoid sitting on the arms as this type of extra weight could damage the frame
Try not to place your sofa bed directly in front of a radiator, open fire, or air condition-ing unit – allow some space for air to circulate freely
Check if your sofa bed comes with a support leg underneath the sleeping area. This will need to be pulled down before the bed is slept on.
Scatter pillows are an aesthetic way to shield from stains and odours, as well as give you more support
For sofa beds with a mattress, purchasing a mattress protector will help shield against stains and moisture

How long does a sofa bed last?

There is no exact rule on how long a sofa bed should last because it depends on how often they're used, and what the main use is – sofa or bed. The included mattress is often marginally thinner than a normal mattress but if it's only used occasionally, then it can be comfortable for guests for years.

With the right day-to-day care, you can keep your sofa bed looking pristine for even longer. En-sure that you clean up spills, vacuum it regularly, and follow our maintenance tips, then you can extend the lifespan.

All Dreams sofa beds come with at least a 1-year guarantee. However, for extra peace of mind, you can purchase our Bedcover insurance plan which protects materials, construction and workmanship for 5 years. Accidental scuffs, spills and stains are also covered for the first 5 years.