I’ll Never Buy a Sofa Without This Ingenious Feature Again (It’s Such a Game-Changer!)

I’ve always had a problem keeping sofas clean. I don’t feel like I’m a dirty person, but, between having a cat, a fireplace, a bad habit of throwing packages and mail on the sofa when I walk in the front door, and the occasional tea spill in the evening, I always felt like I was fighting an uphill battle. Other people’s sofas looked clean — was it just me that seemed to wage an unending war against inexplicable marks and mysterious stains? Did anyone else feel like there was a constant undercurrent of grime at all times?

This all changed when I discovered slipcovered sofas, which have removable covers that make cleanup a total breeze. I bought an IKEA Uppland that I found on Facebook Marketplace for $100, and I was fully hooked. I’ll never go back to a non-slipcover sofa again. 

Here’s everything I’ve learned about the best slipcover sofas, how to best clean a slipcover, and my schedule for making sure everything stays sparkling clean.

I have some good news. The best sofas with slipcovers I’ve found are from — drumroll, please — IKEA. I’ve specifically purchased the UPPLAND, the HYLTARP Sleeper Sofa, and the SODERHAMN (yes, I have three IKEA sofas). 

Here’s the beauty of an IKEA slipcovered sofa. First of all, they’re not super expensive — more expensive than they used to be, yes, but not excessively expensive. But, more importantly, the slipcovers are incredibly easy to come by, and you have near endless options. 

There are the slipcovers that are available through IKEA — usually they have a few options for each sofa style. Then, there are the companies that specialize in IKEA slipcovers. I’ve bought covers from Soferia and Bemz, both of which have a range of covers in different materials and patterns, and they send samples. You can get a high-end look, and you can wash it. Amazon also carries a few affordable options, including a compatible slipcover for my UPPLAND sofa.

Here’s the secret to cleaning slipcovers: Use your normal detergent, but wash them with cold water and tumble them dry on low. I’ve learned the hard way that it’s far too easy to shrink a cotton slipcover and end up with something that will take you hours of stretching to get back on the cushions — if you can get them back on at all. Squeezing the cushion with a too-small slipcover does seem to damage some cushions over time, and it just makes the sofa less comfortable.

Because I hate when my house feels torn apart, I usually try to throw the slipcovers in the washer about an hour before bed so that I can throw them in the dryer before I go to sleep. In the morning, I pop the covers back on, and I’m ready for a fresh new day. 

I generally try to clean my slipcovers once a quarter (a seasonal cadence feels right). But the real beauty of a slipcover is that I can occasionally spot-treat and clean one cushion if one of those mysterious smudges appears. And, maybe it’s just me, but I find that throwing one cushion cover in the wash is far easier and more effective than pulling out a steam cleaner.

That’s why I’m totally dedicated to the slipcover life now. Even as I’m eyeing a more investment sofa — an Interior Define velvet sofa, to be exact — I’m still looking at their slipcover options. Because, if I have the option, why would I ever go back?