Fabric life will greatly increase if regular upholstery cleaning is done.  Daily surface cleaning is important, you can do this by taking out big chunks of dirt on the couch and at the sides.  It's also advisable to use a rubber spatula so you can get a lot of crumbs from the upholstery.  You would also want to grab a vacuum that could clean the entire upholstery, making sure there are no particles left behind that could get stuck in the corners.
 
Most of the time, a furniture would have a cleaning code.  Follow them!  W for water only.  S for solvent-based product which is usually used in dry cleaning.  W/S means you can use either product.  X means you have to step back and use brush or vacuum in cleaning the upholstery.
 
In cleaning upholstery, it is ideal not to make use of too much water as this could leave water stains and at some point, cause the fabric to shrink.  Another risk for using water is that it can get into contact with some metal parts like buttons, adornments, and the base of the furniture. We all know what it can lead to--rust!
 
Aside from vacuuming regularly, you might want to cover the upholstery with fabric especially when there are kids and pets around the house.  In cleaning the upholstery, it's ideal to use natural cleaners since most commercial solutions contain hasardous elements or carcinogens that could harm your kids.  There are some cleaners that actually contain petroleum which when used can attract more dirt on the upholstery. 
 
You might also want to buy sticky rollers in any supermarket or hardware which are originally intended for pet hairs.  What's good about this is it's cheap, versatile, and very easy to use.  Maybe the kids can even help out in the cleaning. A more cost-efficient way of cleaning is with the use of masking tape and this can make you go to corners where the sticky rollers can't. 
 
When all else fails, you might want to consider hiring a professional couch cleaners as they can probably do the best job. 
 
 

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