January 11, 2010

I Need a New Couch

When Hubby and I bought our couch and love seat 10 years ago, we just kind of shrugged when the salesperson pointed out that they both came with a free stain repellent. Whatever. We had two cats, no kids, stain repellent? Yeah, I guess that's a good feature.
These days I'm pretty sure whatever stain repellent was put on the couch is long gone. The first time we spilled something on the couch we marveled at how it just pooled in little beads on the fabric. Clean up was easy. The first few times one of our cats yacked on the couch we were thankful for the stain repellent.
And then came quads.... During the last few years the couch has had numerous bottles and sippy cups full of milk spilled on it, it has been spit up on, peed on and barfed on (yes, there is a difference between spit up and barf).
Fortunately, the cushions have removable covers. Fortunately, said covers are colorfast in the laundry. But when the arm of the couch is involved in the assault, well, there's not much I can do. My current cleaning routine involves Woolite pet stain remover (even for kid-related problems), followed by a healthy dose of Febreeze. After this weekend's "festivities" (ie sickness), my couch smells like a combination of lavender (the Febreeze) and puke. I'm hoping one more cleaning will solve the problem.
For awhile we tried slip covers. Any mess can be removed with the slip cover and thrown in the wash. But the covers just don't stay on the couch. I have a hard enough time being motivated to make five beds each day. The last thing I want to do is "make" my bed and love seat each day, too.
I know I should buy a new couch... but why spend the money to defile a new couch when the old one works just fine!

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

I would wait with the new couch until my kids are at least 5 or 6 years old. Others will probably say, wait until your kids left for college!

Stephanie Barr said...

Sounds like your worst fears for the weekend were realized. I'm sorry to hear it.

I should finish something to cheer the girls up later this week.

As for the couch. If it's comfortable and functions properly, I'd reconsider the slipcover. There's something about tossing it in the washer when necessary that make it all good. If smell becomes pervasive, a functional couch can become a complete loser. What's the point of functioning if no one's willing to sit in it because of the smell?

Becky said...

I don't make beds. One of those things I gave up after kid #3....and you have 4....the same age....*sigh* I agree....wait to get a new couch till they are a little older....maybe save the slip covers for company entertaining??? Our couches are icky too....seriously my little loves, GET A TISSUE!!!!! YUCK! :P

Quadmama said...

After a third cleaning the couch is back to fighting form. It doesn't smell, it APPEARS clean... and that's what counts, right? Now I just need to get out the steam cleaner for the carpet :(

Christina said...

We just bought new furniture last tax season, but only spend about 800 on it. WE have covers for it also, and it keeps the stains off!

Sadia said...

I hear you! We've transitioned to easily cleaned furniture, but couches need to be soft, and therefore absorb stuff. Our leather has held up well against toddler filth.

I've been surprisingly happy with Surefit slipcovers. The elastic keeps them on much better, even against wiggly toddlers. (We do not allow jumping on the couch, though.)

maryanne @ mama smiles said...

We have leather couches, for exactly this reason. So far one has held up well and the other one looks really beat up after three years - the one time IKEA furniture has really disappointed me. I think we just got unlucky with the leather seats on the one couch.

Quadmama said...

The cats claws tend to do a number on leather furniture. The cats don't scratch but jumping up and down can snag things. I can only imagine the "hissy" fits from the cats if I tried to keep them off the furniture at this stage of the game.

Jacqueline Miller said...

I REALLY needed a new couch last summer. Ended up getting one at a rummage sale for $75, since I know that it's destined to get stained and torn apart with my two little wild men at home. Bought a couple bottles of Scotch Guard, and I know that if it's totally destroyed, I won't be too upset. That's kind of my approach with buying any furniture these days.

Quadmama said...

That's the approach I need for now. I think I need to buy Scotch Guard and just re-spray it so it will repel some of the "nastiness" that kids are bound to produce.

Marilynne said...

Wait until the kids are older. For now, find a nice throw you can pull over the bad spots when someone visits. I guess I don't have to advise you to order one with stain repellant. (grin)

Quadmama said...

I think I'm just going to use this couch until it can no longer be used. And we're not there yet, thank goodness.

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