How to give furniture a longer life
Within the next few years, the potential to repurpose, repair, reuse, resell or recycle will be built-in to every IKEA product. Even today, there’s probably an easy way to prolong the life – and the value – of your furniture.
- Product information page
Save 89€ a year on cleaning a sofa with removable covers
Choosing a sofa with removable fabric covers instead of one with fixed fabric covers can save money on cleaning and reduce resource consumption over time.
A study carried out by DECO PROteste for IKEA in April 2026 shows that a Portuguese family of 3 could save 89€ a year by washing the covers at home instead of having a sofa with fixed covers professionally cleaned.
The estimate is based on 2 machine washes at home per year for a sofa with removable covers and 1 professional cleaning per year for a sofa with fixed covers.
It also assumes that a sofa with removable covers could last 15 years, with the covers replaced every 5 years, compared with a 12-year lifespan for a sofa with fixed covers of an equivalent size. This means 71 kg less waste generated.
*A household of 3 people: 2 adults and a child or young person. Both adults work outside the home, and the child or young person attends school or university.
A well-maintained wooden chopping board can last for years. Regular oiling can prevent warps and cracks.
Can you fix it? Yes, you can
A minor repair or adjustment may be all you need to get a wobbly chair, table or sofa back into action. For smaller spare parts, you can order online. Saving you the cost and effort of replacing the furniture.
