In our last blog post we outlined how you can dive into couch flipping, but to scale effectively you will need to purchase a few new tools to make future flips easier.
In the list below we will outline a few tools we purchased after we had budget from selling our first few couches (this is why it’s important to save the money from your initial couch flipping sales). Some items we have listed as “Must Haves” since these tools are the bare minimum we recommend if you plan to continue. Selling 2 couches was enough to cover the cost of these “Must Have” items so they are relatively affordable.
Must Have
Vacuum Cleaner: While most folks have these around the house even before they start, having a quality vacuum is critical to successfully flipping furniture. Not all couches need to be upholstery cleaned assuming they are in solid shape, but nearly all couches need a good vacuum.
The vacuum we purchased when we first started was the Bissell 2252 Upright Vacuum. We chose the Bissell because of the included accessories and extended hose to help you vacuum all corners of a couch.
This vacuum runs for ~$110 on Amazon and has been incredibly reliable for us even with daily/weekly use. The only downside so far has been the length of the attached hose. On larger couches we find the length a bit short which means we have to move the vacuum around more often.
Upholstery Cleaner: Next to a vacuum and upholstery cleaner is one of the most important things you can own. Some couches you pickup won’t have the ability to remove cushion covers so you can’t always rely on throwing covers in the wash. Additionally, arm rests are often one of the areas on a couch that need the most cleaning and these definitely can’t be removed.
The upholstery cleaner that has worked for us is the Bissell Little Green Pro which runs for ~$150. If you are looking for something a bit cheaper that still has some cleaning power, consider the standard Bissell Little Green Cleaner.
In addition to the cleaning machine itself you will need a cleaning solution. We typically use Bissell Deep Cleaning Concentrated Carpet Shampoo (~$22) for the solution we add to the machine and Bissell Standard Pre-Treat (~$13 for 2) or Bissell Pet Plus Pre-Treat (~6 for 1) to treat tougher stains before upholstery cleaning.
Staple Gun: We didn’t realize that this was something we needed until a few couches in. Since then we have picked up quite a few couches with their bottom felt damaged or detached. Before we resell, stapling up the bottom helps ensure that the couch looks as new as possible for the new owner. Down the line, you may pick up couches with broken frames or springs that have popped out. If that happens you will need to remove the bottom felt to fix the issue, and you will need to re-staple it once repaired.
We recommend the AECCN staple gun since it includes staples and runs for ~$20. Feel free to buy something a bit nicer, but this has done the trick for us.
Sewing Kit: This is something you will only occasionally use, but definitely a tool that is nice to have on hand. While we recommend avoiding couches that have tears in the middle of a cushion, repairing tears along seams is incredibly easy and can add quite a bit of value to your couch.
WeeCosy offers a sewing kit for ~$15 on Amazon that comes with everything you need to quickly fix small tears by hand.
Tie Down Straps: When it comes to tie down straps we have found that all perform roughly the same. We picked up our straps at a Tractor Supply Co, but you can find quality straps anywhere.
The Fortem straps on Amazon are very similar to what we own and run for ~$25.
Tool Kit: It’s fair to assume that most couches won’t be taken apart when you go to pick them up. Depending on how narrow the space is you are moving couches from you may need to remove the legs or disassemble it into more pieces if it is a larger couch (e.g. a metal frame reclining couch).
When you run into couches like this it is always great to have a tool kit ready to roll. The Cartman Tool Set on Amazon is very similar to what we own and runs for ~$30
Febreze: this one is pretty straight forward. Sometimes couches need a fresh spritz after cleaning. We would recommend finding a subtle scent that helps add new life without being too perfumy. You can pick up Febreze at almost any local grocery store.
Total Budget: ~$385
Nice to Have
Steam Cleaner: Kicking off the “Nice to Have” list is a steam cleaner. While definitely not necessary, a steam cleaner is a great tool to have around because it can help sanitize and deoderize couches. It is also one of the few tools that can get waxy stains (wax, gum, etc.) out of couches.
Since a steam cleaner won’t be a daily use we found that the Dupray Steam Cleaner worked for every task we threw at it. It runs for ~$150 and comes with a number of accessories to help simplify cleaning.
The only issue we had was the time it took to heat up (14 minutes) which meant taking a bit more time when cleaning.
Rub’n Restore: Without a doubt this is the coolest item on the “Nice to Have” list. While we avoid most bonded leather couches like the plague, real leather couches can easily be restored and can be sold for quite a bit. The only issues with real leather is that it will fade over time.
Rub’n Restore has numerous colors to pick from which will allow you to refinish your couch to make it look like new. Below is an example of a before and after:
While not cheap (~$70 for a 16oz bottle) the results are definitely worth it. One way to ensure you get the most value out of your Rub’n Restore purchase we recommend sticking to a single shade of leather (e.g. black) and only ordering one color to use on all newly picked up couches
Moving Blankets: Another item that’s good to have laying around is a moving blanket. Most couches won’t need to be covered while moving, but in the instance you pickup other items like tables or leather couches that you want to protect, this is great to have handy.
This blanket on Amazon is very similar to what we own and runs for about ~$26.
Dolly: The last item on our list is a furniture dolly. Being in Dallas, we have moved quite a few couches in and out of apartment complexes. These apartments almost all had long halls which resulted in us carrying couches quite a distance. Having a dolly handy will help makes pickups like this easier.
The dolly we recommend can be found for ~$22 at The Home Depot.
Total Budget: ~$270
While we occasionally make a run to The Home Depot or Lowes for random items we might need while repairing couches the list above is what we use on a weekly basis.
For less than $700 you can get everything you need to tackle almost any couch pickup or cleaning.
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About the Author
Roman is the co-owner of CouchCycled which he started with Andrew Muniz in 2021. Professionally, Roman has a background in software sales and has worked for companies ranging from small startups up to large companies like Cisco. Outside of work, Roman has always had a passion for the outdoors and regularly spends time camping and fly fishing. Don’t hesitate to reach out over text or email if you have any questions about CouchCycled or just want to connect.
About CouchCycled
CouchCycled offers free in-home couch and furniture removal in an effort to reduce furniture waste in Dallas/Fort Worth while giving back to the community. All removed couches are renewed and resold at an affordable price. A percentage of all sales are donated.
