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Couch
Fabrics vary greatly in characteristics that
affect cleaning strategy. Some furniture
will need only a quick swipe with the
whisk broom. At the other extreme are
fabrics that hair will cling to until you
pluck it off like a surgeon. In the middle
are a great number of fabrics that will
cooperate reasonably and respond to
your whisk broom. Every so often even the most agreeable of
fabrics could use a good vacuuming to remove accumulated
dust. Whether you should vacuum the entire couch and/or
whether you should vacuum under the cushions depends on
your company’s policy. Check with your supervisor.

Back to our sample couch, however, which
has pet hair and cookie crumbs on it. Clean
from the top down, using your whisk
broom. You will be tempted to start with
the cushions, as they are easiest to deal
with. Resist. First, starting with the left
side of the couch, whisk the crumbs and
hair from the top, back, and sides. (Careful
not to make work for yourself by whisking debris onto the clean
end table.) Whisk down and toward the cushion.

If your company policy is to vacuum the
couch or under the cushions when it’s
needed, here’s a system to signal to the
vacuumer what to do with the couch: To
signal the vacuumer that the cushion tops
only are to be vacuumed, leave a cushion
overlapping the next one. The big
vacuum has a beater brush that is safe for
most fabrics. You simply lift the beater brush up to the couch
cushions and vacuum away. No further vacuuming is necessary
as long as you have removed the hair and crumbs from the rest
of the couch. Keep in mind that you want to do everything
possible to make vacuuming easier. These steps greatly reduce

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