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Posted on 1st September 202318th August 2023 by Paul Aldridge — Leave a comment

How to Move With A Sofabed

Moving a sofabed can be a difficult process that requires heavy lifting from both you and a friend. That’s why we’ve created the go-to guide to help you prepare for the moving process ahead of moving day.

Do you have enough space?

There’s nothing worse than opening up your sofa bed only for it to hit the wall on the way down. To stop this from happening and to give your guests a real place to sleep, measure up beforehand so you can be confident that the sofabed fits. If it doesn’t, a box bed may be more suitable for your set-up as better in small spaces compared to standard sofabeds.

A picture of our Sussex single box bed in the closed position — In sofa mode, the Sussex single box bed is a small, stylish seating area

How to move a sofabed

As sofabeds are heavy pieces of furniture and tend to weigh more than regular sofas. Because of this, moving them can sometimes prove to be a challenge with two people, let alone yourself. Follow the steps listed below so can move your sofabed as safely and efficiently as possible.

1. Clear the path

Clear your path so nothing is in the way. As you should do when moving anything that may block your vision, removing any trip hazards beforehand will make the change a lot easier.

2. Things to remove

Remove anything decorative such as cushions and pillows from the sofabed, making it lighter to carry. If you are moving home and your belongings are going into temporary storage, it’s a good idea to vacuum seal the decorative items so they are not impacted by changes to the temperature.

Removing the feet of the sofa bed will also make it easier to lift and manoeuvre (depending on how it has been designed, it may require a screwdriver). Even if they are only a couple of inches in length, it can make a lot of difference when transporting up a flight of stairs or getting it out the front door. If you are struggling to remove the legs, it may be better to leave them on as you do not want to damage them before you’ve left the house.

If you are moving a corner sofa bed, make sure to separate the isolated square section from the rest of the sofa to make it easier to move.

3. Add a sofa cover

To prevent the sofa frame and fabric from getting damaged, adding a protective cover such as a blanket or plastic wrap over the sofa can be beneficial. Acting as a barrier between the sofa and anything that can cause harm to it; whether it’s a wall, bannister or even outside weather.

If you’ve discovered this guide too late and are now wondering how to clean your sofabed, check out our guide on the best methods of cleaning.

4. Safely move it

As mentioned before, it can be very difficult to move a sofabed due to the added weight of the bed frame and mattress. So make sure to come prepared when it’s time to move it as it’s not a one-person job. You might have assistance from professional movers or help from one or two friends, even if you’re an avid gym-goer, the weight should be balanced evenly between two or more people to reduce any chance of injury to yourself or damage to the sofabed.

When you are moving it, make sure it’s being lifted above the ground and not being pushed or pulled along it. Dragging the sofabed can cause damage to both the fabric and the floor, even with the legs removed.

When it comes to stairs, it’s a good idea to take your time and be extra cautious. Especially if it is a cornered staircase, having someone guide you and another down the stairs, telling you when to pivot will stop you and the sofabed from getting stuck and subsequently damaged.

Once the sofabed is in the moving truck or van, secure it in place with a strap to stop it from moving around.

After you’ve moved

Once you’ve moved to the new home you’re left with the task of knowing what to unpack first; should you unpack one room at a time? Sort by essentials? Get the heavy items out of the way first? There is a lot to think about. If you know where the sofabed is going, it can be practical to get it in sooner rather than later, especially if you’re bed frame and the mattress is still in storage.

You should also consider where the sofabed will stay; whether it’s in the guestroom, home office or living room, placing it by a window with the sun beaming down on it all day can cause the fabric or leather to slowly fade over time.

Are you looking to upgrade your existing sofabed?

Moving to a new house is often a great time to get a new sofa bed! Whether the bar in your old one is digging into your back, you’re moving into a larger space and looking at upgrading an existing recliner to a 2 or 3-seater leather sofa bed, or you simply want to change up your style.

At Sofabed.co.uk, we give you the remote to customise your sofabed and create the ultimate sleeper sofa that matches your needs and style. Choose from a wide range of designs and bed mechanisms, along with over 130 upholstery fabrics and optional add-ons to create a sofabed you want your guests to sleep on.

Chester corner sofa bed when closed, in its sofa form — In sofa form, the Chester corner sofa bed is a statement piece of furniture

Posted on 20th December 202218th August 2023 by Paul Aldridge — Leave a comment

How to Clean a Sofabed

Sofa beds in all shapes and sizes seem to attract a range of different crumbs, toys and small objects due to their frequent use and position in the home. All sofas need cleaning from time to time but sofa beds are even more important to clean for any guests staying over and needing to sleep on them. You should always clean a sofa bed after use and again before the next guest arrives as the sofa part of the bed will have been used in your daily life and gathered dirt. Each sofa bed has its own specific requirements and cleaning process because of its fabric type and material but the basic rules for cleaning them are the same across them all. This blog also contains some top tips from parents around the world if you want to try a tried and tested alternative method.

Remove any loose items from the sofa bed such as cushions or blankets that you may keep on there. Also, try and remove anything that fell into the sofa such as small toys or money. You never know what you might find in a sofa bed- some items found in crevices in other homes include false teeth, snakes and a hedgehog!

If you have any protective removable covers on your fabric sofa to protect from everyday spillages and direct sunlight damage, wash these according to the cleaning codes on their label. Any slipcovers that do not have labels should be taken to a dry cleaner, especially when they are made from delicate materials such as velvet sofas or leather sofas.

Top Parent Tip: 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.

Open the fold-out bed safely using these tips and secure it so it stands firmly for cleaning. Remove the mattress protector on the bed and wash it according to the instruction on the label (this is usually a regular wash at around 30 degrees in a washing machine).

Using the bristle/ brush attachment on a vacuum cleaner, vacuum the surface of the mattress to remove any dust or small particles of dirt, a lint roller can also be used to remove dust and hairs. Sponge any obvious stains on the mattress with a clean microfiber cloth dipped in soapy, cold water. Do this with a damp clean cloth rather than a soaked one to allow the mattress to dry quicker, and press on stains lightly. Then allow the mattress time to dry out completely after the spot-cleaning.

Top Parent Tip: I have recently seen a cleaning “hack”‘ that suggests dissolving a dishwasher tablet in hot water soaking a microfibre cloth in the mix and then wiping your sofa down with that – disclaimer I’ve not tried it!

Close up the sofa bed again into the sofa position so that you can clean the upholstered fabric. Using a regular vacuum, vacuum all of the sofa bed surfaces and any cushions that the covers cannot be removed from. Then re-attach the vacuum brush adaption and remove any lying dirt on the flat surfaces. You will then need the hose attachment of the vacuum to get into the deep creases on the main body of the sofa bed to remove any hidden pet hairs or mites for deep cleaning.

A Sofa Being Vaccumed — Vacuum Your Sofa Carefully

Again, spot-clean any stains but this time on the fabric of the sofa bed according to any care guides it has. We suggest using an upholstery shampoo or any washable fabric but only a dry-cleaning approved product such as a spray or cloth for non-washable materials. Similar to the technique used on the internal mattress, dampen a cloth with the sustain remover or cleaning solution and blot and stains until they fade. Allow the areas to completely air dry before use.

Top Parent Tip: I have black leather sofas and just wipe them over with water. I was told things like wet wipes would take the colour out of the leather and break it down over time. J cloths and water work just fine on mine

Finally, run a damp cloth over any solid parts of the sofa such as wooden or metal arm ends or legs. Remove any build-up of dust or dirt from the sold areas and then allow them to dry or use a dry cloth to speed this up. Enjoy your freshly clean sofa bed and welcome any guests with pride!

Top Parent Tip: I was told you can clean leather by mixing equal parts of water and white vinegar and applying it with a soft cloth but I don’t want to risk my sofa bed smelling like a fish and chip supper

Bonus Sofa Bed Cleaning Tips For Those Hard To Clean Stains

Any of these cleaning tips should be tested on a small patch area of the sofa before using over the entire upholstery area.

How To Clean Red Wine Out Of A Sofa Bed

1.
Red wine stains can be removed from your sofa by pouring baking soda over the stain and coating it with vinegar.

Top Parent Tip: A family member got red wine on a pale carpet. They put white wine on it, and it completely went.

2.
Once it has soaked in for a few minutes (it will bubble up a lot – this means it’s working), rinse it with a damp cloth. You will need to repeat these steps until all of the red wine is gone.

Spilt Red wine on a sofa being cleaned using a yellow sponge — Red Wine can be easily cleaned from a sofa

How To Clean Paw Prints Off A Sofa

1.
Let the mud dry before you attempt to clean away muddy paw prints from your sofa, carpet, or other soft furnishings. The mud will be easier to remove once it is dried, and it will also create less mess when you are removing the stain.

2.
You should remove any dried mud from the stain with a hose attachment on your hoover (to prevent snagging delicate materials) or a soft brush before applying any kind of solution.

3.
You may still find dirt embedded in your soft furnishings even after vacuuming. To remove stubborn bits of mud, use a spoon or dull utensil to loosen the fibres, being careful not to damage them. Using a vacuum once again, clean up the soil after it has been loosened.

4.
There will likely be a stain left behind after your pet jumps right onto your clean couch after a walk, even if you remove the excess mud. Use an old toothbrush and run it under some warm water before dipping it in bleach-free liquid laundry detergent and working it into the stain. After that, let it sit for 10-15 minutes.

Top Parent Tip: Mud is best got out by soaking protective covers in cold water with detergent and then washing. If plain white you could try a soak of dilute bleach or try Napisan.

Muddy Paw Prints on White Fabric

5.
If you want your soft furnishings to look new for as long as possible, mix white vinegar with water. To rinse off soap and mud that’s left behind, dip a cloth into it and blot the stained area. White vinegar and water can be used to remove mud stains as well as doggy odours and urine from soft furnishings.

Top Tip: To prevent any damage to your soft furnishings, dilute the solution before applying it to your couch. Keep your dog separate from the area where you use vinegar for cleaning to prevent accidental ingestion.

Posted on 2nd December 202015th December 2022 by Paul Aldridge — Leave a comment

5 Reasons to Buy your Sofabed Direct from the Manufacturer

Well 2020 has certainly been an unusual and undoubtedly difficult year. Covid has brought us well documented sadness, loneliness and difficulties aplenty. It has also affected us all in many other ways including seismic changes in how we shop and the way we do business.

As stores were forced to temporarily close, we have seen a massive rise in online sales at the expense of the high street. At Sofabed.co.uk we believe that this switch towards online should not mean the end of traditional values, like a great customer experience and personal customer service.

So here are 5 reasons why we believe that buying your Sofabed direct from a genuine UK manufacturer is more important now than ever.

Personal service

One thing we pride ourselves on is personalised service. Every Sofabed is made by hand by us. As a business we are small enough to keep track of everything we manufacture and each customers requirements. Although we manufacture all our sofabeds in only 28 days we will always try and accommodate customers that need things turned around quicker or who have different requirements.

2. A great price

Many online sellers and high street retailers buy from the manufacturer and simply double their buying price. This helps to cover their high rents, rates and marketing costs. When you buy from Sofabed.co.uk you get the price advantage of dealing with a vertically integrated British Manufacturer. We have no retail premises, catalogues or sales staff to pay, we have only a factory and a website; low overheads meaning low prices.

Your Sofabed is made to order

At Sofabed.co.uk we manufacture all our sofabeds ourselves in our factory in your choice of fabric. Simply put we are the genuine manufacturer, we make the wooden frames, fill our own cushions, shape the foam, cut and sew the fabric, upholster the frames, wrap and despatch your sofabed.

Its better for the environment

Shopping local means less air miles, less CO2 emissions and more local employment. Much of the furniture that is currently sold in the UK is manufactured in the far east or eastern Europe. So, on top of the miles it travels to your door you will have an awful long wait for your new Sofabed.

You are buying British

At Sofabed.co.uk we design our sofabeds, make are own frames, cut the fabric, upholster the sofabeds and finally wrap and despatch it to you. This all takes place in our UK factory, so as well as supporting British manufacturing, you know that your Sofabed meets all UK and European Fire Regulations. We also source all our raw materials from the UK further supporting the UK economy.

Posted on 27th November 201915th December 2022 by Paul Aldridge — Leave a comment

Brand New sofabed.co.uk Website

Its here the brand new www.sofabed.co.uk website.

Featuring 16 new styles of sofabed’s, from the contemporary Chelsea Sofabed to the traditional Dewsbury Sofabed, we are sure there is something to suit everyone’s taste and style. Every sofa bed that we sell is made to order by us in our 2 UK based factories, so we are confident that you will be delighted by the quality and style of your new piece of furniture. As well as 16 new style of sofabeds we have over 80 different fabrics for you to choose from, so when you choose one of our sofabeds you know that it has been made specially for you.