This article comes from The Spruce.
6 Signs It’s Time to Replace Your Couch
The average life of a sofa purchased today is seven to 15 years, but there are six warning signs before the arms fall off that it might just be time to start looking for a replacement.
1. The Couch Doesn’t Fit the Room Space
People who live in a mobile society usually have that first couch purchase they made after college for a rented apartment and now it looks lost in a large family room in their new home. Or, they downsize and that big couch is crammed into a new smaller space blocking the views from the windows.
You can move smaller couches to a bedroom or study. But for smaller rooms, a couch should not be jammed in between other pieces of furniture or placed so that it is rubbing against another surface each time someone sits or lies down. This will cause excessive wear on the upholstery and could damage the frame. That’s when it’s time to replace your couch.
2. You Begin to Hear Creaking Noises
If you hear squeaking, popping, or creaking each time someone sits down, those are warning signs that the couch has structural damage. The noises could be a problem with the joints on a wooden or metal frame or the weakening of a metal spring. Older furniture was usually constructed with hardwoods and screws. Less expensive furniture today is put together with manufactured woods, staples, and epoxy.
Unless the couch is older or a cherished family heirloom, the cost of repairing the structural damage and replacing the upholstery can be nearly as much as a new sofa.
3. The Cushions Are Flat and Lumbar Support Is Gone
If the carpet feels like it offers more padding and support for your nap than the sagging couch cushions, it’s time to make a change. If the upholstery on the rest of the couch is still in good shape and can be easily removed from the seat cushions, you may be able to get a bit more life from the couch by simply adding a new filling.
Seat cushions can be padded with pillow inserts, solid foam cut to the correct size, or loose and shredded foam. To add a bit more support to seat cushions, measure the length of the sofa between the side arms and the depth of the seating area. Cut a 1/2 inch thick piece of plywood to fit the space and place it under the cushions.
4. The Odor Is Overwhelming or It’s Itchy
Unless you have been diligent in keeping pets, kids with leaky diapers, and sweaty bodies and feet off the couch, you can have a build-up of odors in the upholstery and the padding underneath.
You probably didn’t choose a scratchy fabric when you bought the couch but now you feel itchy after a nap and may even have red welts on your legs. You may have bedbugs. What better time to replace the couch?
Although an unpleasant smell can be a sign that it’s time to get a new couch, make sure to call us at J and R’s Carpet Cleaning before kicking it to the curb.
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