If you want your upholstery to last, it's well worth investing in a steam cleaner—the one Quintana recommends is $100 (but a new sofa, of course, would be at least $1,000!). Follow the instructions on the device to steam the spot and suck away any residue. "The steam lifts whatever is there, it's not saturating." "If the stain is really severe, I’ve heard it also works with hydrogen peroxide," says Quintana. Spray a little on the spot, then hit it with the steam-cleaner. How to Clean a Sofa Once a year or so, give the whole piece a good once-over.