Please help me clean my sofas with non machine washable covers

[Jenala]

I have a huge sofa and armchair with covers that are not machine washable. I hoover then regularly and spray febreze. I try and blot any spills as soon as possible but they don't smell great now (I have a 3 year old and a 1 year old so there's lots of spills). I have previously paid to have it all cleaned but it was over £100 (they really are enormous) and I just can't afford it.

Would foam upholstery cleaner like you can get for cars work? The kind where the bottle has an in built brush? Or would that be too wet? Is there special cleaner I could use? Fed up of having slightly stained smelly sofas and Google isn't helping.

I don't want to just put the covers in the wash and ruin the fire retardant treatment. I've done that previously with another sofa and they've gone weird.

Xanto carpet and sofa mousse in the big, pink tin from Home Bargains is very good.

I have a sofa with non washable covers which I got second hand. I put all the covers through a cold wash and line then tumble dried them and they are perfect. It’s a velvety feel fabric, says dry clean only but washes like a dream. Personally I need my sofa to have clean covers and they only feel clean after washing with detergent. No idea if it’s done anything to the fire retardant but but no warning on labels.

Sorry, no tips, but following because I have a similar issue. Huge sofa, kind of suedey finish, can't take the covers off! Help us, mumsnet!

If the covers come off then you could try washing them. I have a sofa with covers that claim to be dry clean only. I bung the covers in the wash, hang them out to dry and they are fine.

I have just scrubbed my fabric sofa with covers that don’t come off with Ariel powder water and softener, blotted with towels and it looks amazing!