After a break of two weeks (sorry, but I was on a work mission), New Music Friday is back with a mix of alt-pop and rock, including at least one album that owes its existence to the Cookie Monster.

Singles

1. beabadoobee, Write Me a Letter (Dirty Hit/Interscope)

This is the latest single from her Pylon album, a record that went to number one in the UK. Production comes from Matt Healy and George Daniel of The 1975. It starts quiet, but just wait.

2. Phoebe Bridgers, Bobby (Dead Oceans)

Phoebe’s third album, Lost Weekend, is one of my favourite albums of the second half of 2026. The songwriting is strong and the performances beguiling. And I’m not the only one. The album has been streamed over 275 million times and she sold 500,000 tickets almost instantly for her North American tour.

3. JUSTICE, Flower in a Hurricane feat. Tame Impala, SZA, and King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard (Ed Banger/Because)

That’s a lot of cooks in the kitchen, but it works. This is one of the song on the soundtrack of Grand Theft Auto VI, which is easily the most-anticipated video game in like, forever. Cool Money for Nothing-like riff. The soundtrack is coming November 19.

4. Ten Kills the Pack, We Both Care (Independent)

Canadian stuff courtesy Sean Sroka, the guy who co-wrote Time Machine with TALK. He’s also collaborated with Aysanabee and Hannah Georgas, winning two JUNOs along the way. He’s the co-founder of the Beautiful View Music Festival in Belleville, Ontario, and he’s apparently working on some kind of app that he promises will shake up the music industry.

 

5. U2, The Greatest Show on Earth (Island/Universal)

For the first time in eight years, U2 is gearing up for a world tour, one that will take a couple of years and consist of about six legs, starting with two shows in Mexico City in February. The tour takes its name from the latest single from Carnaval De Luz, which will be here on November 13. Anyone else find the masks a bit creepy? Like Jason from Friday the 13th creepy?

Albums

1. @, Autosmile (4AD)

It’s pronounced “At,” which will make googling this fun. They’re a Philadelphia duo who specialize in an art-folk sound. Intriguing. Then again, most releases on 4AD are.

2. The Avalanches, No Bad Memories (Modular Recording)

Australia’s Avalanches have been operating since 1997, but this is only their fourth album. They’re make up for it, though, with 31(!!!) tracks running about 52 minutes featuring guest appearances from (deep breath) Panda Bear, Carly Simon(!!!), Rivers Cuomo, Mike Patton, Haley Hoel Osment, Haruomi Hosono, Karen O, Jamie xx, Portraits of Tracy, and more.

3. Eels, Cookie Happened (E Works/PIAS)

E (born Mark Oliver) now has 16 albums to his name and this one was, yes, inspired by the Cookie Monster. No, really. I’m serious. The exact Cookie Monster phrase at the heart of it all is “Me no cry because cookie is finished. Me smiled because cookie happened.” That’s paraphrasing Dr. Seuss, isn’t it? We end up with a record of orchestral pop that’s much more contemplative than the Muppet inspiration would have us assume.

4. Fontaines DC, Dopamine Chamber (XL Recordings)

The Dublin band is up to their fifth album and just keeps getting better. They’ve got stadium rock style that’s angry, cynical, sometimes apocalyptic, and above all, very Irish. If you’re sick of technology, social media, growing authoritarianism, and all the other anxieties we’re facing these days, you’ll want to dive right into this record.

 

 

© 2026 Corus Radio, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Before record sales collapsed, everyone made most of their money from selling music. The idea of licensing your music for a commercial was considered the height of selling out. Today, though, this is considered to be a normal and necessary way of surviving as a musician.

But someone had to be first, right? But who?

It’s generally accepted that the Velvet Underground was the first true alternative band. And fifteen years after Lou Reed left the band, he might have been the first even alt-rock artist to “sell out” by licensing a song to a TV commercial.

In 1985, he appeared in an ad for a Honda scooter with his song “Walk on the Wild Side” in the background. He took some stick for it—that sort of thing just wasn’t done back then—but he did help start the destruction of the stigma of using actual songs in TV commercials.

© 2026 Corus Radio, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

EDMONTON – The Utah Mammoth have not had much success against Edmonton in their brief existence.

But they changed that around on Thursday while further signifying they are a team to keep an eye on this season.

Clayton Keller scored a pair of goals as the Mammoth emerged with a 4-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers. Barrett Hayton and Logan Cooley also scored for the Mammoth (6-2-0) who have won three straight.

“Obviously, they’re an unbelievable team over there,” Cooley said. “Some of the best players in the world, and when we have a showing like that, playing committed hockey, we can beat anyone in this league.

“I think that’s the confidence we need and the confidence we’re going to have going into the rest of the season.”

Edmonton came into the contest with a 5-0-1 record against the Mammoth and outscoring them 31-16. Edmonton was also 3-0-0 all-time at home against Utah, outscoring them 17-5.

“I’m really proud of the way we defended, the way we played away from the puck,” said Utah head coach Andre Tourigny. “We were really structured, were physical and I think we made it hard, every inch on the ice, for the team on the other side. They played really well, as well. It was a hard-fought game.

“We liked how hard we were to play against and how hard we defend. I think we were competing with emotion, but we were under control. I’m extremely proud of the boys.”

Utah should be pleased that they matched the offer sheet tendered by the New Jersey Devils for Hayton in the off-season. Hayton scored his first of the season and extended his points streak to five games.

“It took a lot. I think we had a ton of focus,” Hayton said. “They’re a great team over there, they’ve had a great start to the season, so it was a big challenge for us and I thought we embraced it.”

Oilers captain Connor McDavid, who extended his points streak to seven games and now has 18 on the season, said there is a lot to like about the young Mammoth squad.

“I thought they play very well,” he said. “They were solid and have as balanced as a lineup as you’re going to see throughout the league. They play four lines, are big, fast. There is a lot to like over there.”

Leon Draisaitl and Shakir Mukhamadullin replied for the Oilers (5-1-1) who saw a five-game winning streak halted. Edmonton was missing five starting forwards and a defenceman.

The two teams have a rematch on Saturday night in Utah.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 16, 2026.

© 2026 The Canadian Press

AI data centres have become an issue in Ontario’s municipal elections, with grassroots groups pressing candidates to support stricter regulations.

Several Greater Toronto Area mayoral and city council candidates have signed a pledge promising to oppose building any data centres that fail to adhere to strict oversight and regulations.

Early signatories include incumbent Mississauga mayoral candidate Carolyn Parrish and incumbent Hamilton council candidates Cameron Kroetsch and Nrinder Nann.

Stop the Datacentre, a grassroots advocacy group, is looking for more signatories before municipal elections are held later this month.

The pledge asks candidates to sign on if they agree with the following conditions:

• I will oppose any recommendation to build AI data centres which does not include stringent regulations.
• Data centres must not compete with households and businesses for electricity and water.
• Residents can’t be asked to accept round-the-clock noise pollution or air pollution.
• Data centres must not be eligible for tax relief or economic development incentives.
• Community benefits that come with data centres must be binding.
• Data centres should not be allowed to operate if their massive computational power is trained to act against the public good.

So far, the pledge has gone out to candidates in Hamilton and Mississauga, two cities that have had heated debates over data centres already.

In September, Mississauga city council approved a one-year moratorium on new data centre approvals after residents raised concerns about a data centre project proposed in northwest Mississauga, outlining fears around energy consumption, strain on the water supply and possible noise pollution.

Hamilton residents similarly pushed back against data centres in their city. But in July, city council voted down a moratorium on construction. Mayor Andrea Horwath and some councillors cited concerns around scaring away tech companies from investing in the city.

Martin Reid, who is running for re-election as Mississauga Ward 9 councillor, has signed the pledge. He was one of the councillors who set in motion the city’s moratorium.

“It was important because it mirrors the motion I brought to council,” Reid said. “Residents were concerned that the proposal was putting development before planning.”

Nick Tsergas, a Hamilton resident, created the pledge. He said he was motivated to hold politicians accountable after seeing the data centre issue take hold across the country.

Tsergas said the pledge is intended to hold signatories accountable to their commitments. If anyone ends up reneging on it, “we can call them out,” he added.

Tsergas was also motivated to start his record-keeping effort because of a lack of clarity from the province about whether data centres will be subject to specific regulatory standards. No legislation on the issue has been passed.

The Ford government released its AI data centre playbook in August, which includes proposed policies on how to govern data centres. But it is an evaluation tool, not binding legislation.

“We don’t know what those rules will look like, or when they arrive,” Tsergas said. “Will they be geared to protecting communities and addressing concerns, or will they be geared towards attracting data centre investment from large U.S. tech companies?”

The government’s playbook proposes prioritizing Canadian companies, community benefits and self-sustaining power systems.

However, Reid argues the proposed data centre that prompted his push for a moratorium does not satisfy several priorities outlined in the province’s playbook.

The project is proposed for a plot of land in the Tenth Line and Argentia Road area. The property was formerly farmland and was acquired by U.S.-based logistics company Prologis for the proposed development.

When the Prologis plans came across his desk, Reid did some digging and realized there was no land use designation for a data centre.

“It’s a warehouse, but it has 14 generators,” he said, alluding to the grey area that data centres fall into.

Tsergas also raised concern with classification, especially for data centres that propose to generate their own power.

“Is it a power plant or a data centre? What’s the noise going to be like? What’s the pollution going to be like?” he asked.

Reid identified safety concerns beyond environmental issues.

“Fire did not have a fire study for a data centre,” Reid said. “We have a building with lithium-ion batteries in it. It could be a ticking time bomb.”

Reid also said that Prologis did not plan on offering any community benefits.

“I went to them at one point and asked them to consider that, but they don’t have to do that from a development perspective. It’s not legislated, and they didn’t offer.”

Global News reached out to Prologis, which said it remains committed to the project at Tenth Line and Argentia, even with the city’s moratorium in place.

Prologis said construction would support 1,600 jobs. Once operational, the company estimates the project would sustain 63 direct, indirect and induced full-time-equivalent jobs.

Prologis also said that it is working with the provincial government to develop the data centre playbook, and that the Mississauga site will generate $1.6 million in annual property tax revenue for the city and region.

Tsergas stressed the purpose of his pledge is to seek clarity on how prospective candidates view the issue.

“We’re not asking people if they like or don’t like AI. We are just asking people if they think rules should exist before a major development goes in, and what at minimum those rules should be.”

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

OTTAWA – Eight games is a small sample size but there’s no denying the Ottawa Senators are playing with confidence.

The Senators improved to 6-2-0 after posting a 2-1 shootout win over the New York Islanders Thursday night.

Perhaps most impressive, and not coincidental, is the play of Linus Ullmark who is 6-0 on the season with a .949 save percentage.

Going back to last year, Ullmark is riding a 10-game winning streak. When mentioned to Ullmark, he shook his head as though it was strange to string wins from two seasons together. However, he said he’s feeling pretty good but still has a few things to clean up.

“It’s always a battle every night,” admitted Ullmark. “Always a grind. Good players, good teams can’t really relax at any point during the game and that’s why I say it’s up and down.”

It’s a far cry from the goaltender who started last season looking like he was battling every puck.

Ullmark was 2-3-1 after six games last season having allowed 23 goals. He’s given up seven so far.

“I think when you have a goalie like that, I think obviously you’re going to make mistakes in hockey and most of the time he’s going to bail you out, which is pretty nice to have,” said Shane Pinto, who scored the shootout winner.

“And I’ve said a million times the last two weeks, but I’m thankful we have him and hopefully keep it going.”

Ottawa knows the season is young, but getting off to a good start can make a difference down the stretch. Being able to compile wins now when they’re still missing top-pair defenceman Jake Sanderson and are without winger William Eklund for at least another 10-12 weeks is rewarding.

With offence at a premium, Pinto says Ullmark being at the top of his game provides the team with an added sense of security when games are close with time winding down.

“I think clean shots aren’t going to beat him,” said Pinto. “Just so solid. His rebound control, everything. Like he’s going to make the save most of the time.”

Ullmark says it isn’t just one thing leading to his success right now, but rather a combination of a lot of good things.

“I’ve got my favourite Italian man in the trainer’s office that takes care of me every day, so that’s one of the things that helps me out,” he said. “Guys are blocking shots. My relationship with Sammy (Ersson) and conversations and the work that me, (goaltending coach Justin Peters) and (coordinator of goaltending scouting and development Maciej Szwoch) are putting down this fall have come bearing fruit.”

But Ullmark cautioned not to get too far ahead, saying “you never know what’s going to happen down the line.”

Head coach Travis Green continued to tinker with his lines but liked what he saw from all four units Thursday and felt comfortable throwing any group out at any given time to match an Islanders team that wasn’t giving up a lot.

The Senators benefitted from the return of Artem Zub to the blueline. Zub hadn’t played since sustaining a knee injury in Game 1 of the first round of the playoffs last spring.

“Sometimes when a player’s gone you kind of forget how good they are,” said Green. “And for his first game in (after), I don’t know, five, six months I thought he was very impressive.”

The Senators face the Philadelphia Flyers Saturday and then host the Florida Panthers next Wednesday marking the return of former captain Brady Tkachuk.

The game is sure to be filled with emotion from both sides and Ottawa will need Ullmark at his best with Tkachuk having compiled natural hat tricks in his last two games.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 16, 2026.

© 2026 The Canadian Press

TORONTO – Even on one of the most memorable nights of his NHL career, Kirill Marchenko was his own harshest critic.

Marchenko had a hat trick in his 300th NHL game, including a spectacular highlight-reel goal, but he blamed himself for the Buffalo Sabres rallying past his Toronto Maple Leafs for a 5-4 overtime win on Thursday. Marchenko said that he was supposed to be marking Sabres defenceman Owen Power, who scored the winner 3:14 into the extra period.

“I will remember this night for sure, but it’s so, so bad, that we lost the game,” said Marchenko about having the fifth hat trick of his career. “A win, it’s more important, and I’m to blame because it’s my mistake in overtime.

“Good goals, but I want to win games more than that. I’ll just learn from that.”

Marchenko was traded by the Blue Jackets to Toronto on Sept. 28 in a blockbuster six-player trade that saw Matthew Knies dealt to Columbus. As part of that trade, Marchenko, who could have become a restricted free agent this coming off-season, agreed to a six-year, US$75 million contract with the Maple Leafs that begins in 2027.

He was put on Toronto’s top line with Auston Matthews to start the season, but struggled to click with the captain. Marchenko had a goal and five assists in his first seven games in a Maple Leafs sweater.

Head coach Jim Hiller decided to shake up his forwards before Thursday’s game against Buffalo. He bumped William Nylander up to the top line with Matthews and put Marchenko on John Tavares’s wing.

“It’s a lot of skill with Matthews and with John Tavares too. I’m so excited play with both these guys,” said Marchenko before the game. “It kind of doesn’t matter for me. I’m so excited. We’re all nervous, but it’s so funny. It’s so funny.

“It’s unbelievable how the guys support me, help me. I just have to try to find chemistry together and do our best because our first goal is to win the games. If we can do that with John or with (Matthews), doesn’t matter. We need to win the games.”

Marchenko and Tavares quickly found that chemistry, including on a highlight-reel power-play goal in the first period.

Tavares passed from the slot to Marchenko as he skated backwards across the Sabres’ crease. Marchenko slid the puck between his own legs and then flipped it past Buffalo goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen for a 2-1 lead 13:10 into the game.

“I mean those were big-time goals, right?” said Hiller. “(Marchenko’s) got that dynamicism for sure, and we’re going to need that.

“You knew it was going to come sooner or later, right? That’s what it is. You can’t be that talented and not score.”

That chemistry was extinguished in the third period when Tavares was injured after falling awkwardly after a collision with Buffalo forward Josh Norris. Tavares lay on the ice for a minute before skating off, appearing to favour his left leg.

Tavares did not return to the ice and Hiller had no update on his condition after the game.

“He’s a great, great player but it’s hockey and it doesn’t matter what happens on the ice, we need to come back to the game and play our way and win the games,” said Marchenko on losing Tavares. “I hope Johnny feel great, feel fine right now.”

Marchenko wasn’t even aware that it was his 300th game in the NHL until a reporter asked him about it at Toronto’s morning skate on Thursday.

“Every time when you’re asked like, ‘How’s your career going?’ It’s a good career, but I hope it will be better, and I can be better, for sure,” said Marchenko. “What I can say right now is that I don’t think about 300 games.

“I just think about my game, about team game, and about Buffalo today.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 16, 2026.

© 2026 The Canadian Press

A Montreal man who rescued an injured raccoon and nursed it back to health says he is now fighting charges and trying to prevent wildlife authorities from taking the animal.

Louka Berman found the seven-month-old raccoon, which he named Pepper, injured at a construction site in May.

He said the animal and its mother had been shot with a crossbow.

“Someone shot her with a crossbow, and they shot her too. So they thought that they were both dead,” Berman said.

Berman nursed Pepper back to health with the intention of eventually returning her to the wild, but the baby raccoon has other ideas.

Attempts to release the raccoon have been unsuccessful, he said, because Pepper will stay in the wooded area where he leaves her and wait for him to return.

“She’s attached to me,” Berman said with a laugh. “And I’m attached to her too.”

View this post on Instagram

After videos of Berman and Pepper went viral, Quebec’s Environment Ministry came looking for the raccoon, accusing him of keeping the animal in his home.

Authorities did not find Pepper.

In Quebec, a permit is required to possess a raccoon at home. Berman insists he is not keeping Pepper at his residence and says he has instead been hiding her in parks.

“For the past week and still the next week they can just come at anytime to grab her,” he said.

Berman said he fears wildlife authorities may euthanize Pepper.

He also said he is facing an obstruction charge, in addition to a ticket authorities wanted to issue over allegations that he was keeping the raccoon at home.

Berman plans to go to court to fight the charges.

View this post on Instagram

Sophie Gaillard, with the Montreal SPCA’s animal advocacy and legal and government affairs team, said the circumstances raise questions about whether Berman is legally in possession of the animal.

“It’s unclear in this situation whether he is actually in possession of the raccoon or not — so it’s a bit of a blurry line,” Gaillard said.

Pepper’s apparent difficulty in returning to the wild could be an indication that the young raccoon has become habituated to people.

“It sounds like a situation where this animal would need to be rehomed in a wildlife sanctuary,” Gaillard said.

She said the case also points to a broader shortage of facilities able to care for injured wildlife in Quebec. Even the SPCA does not have the means to care for such animals and cannot always find another organization able to take them in.

“Every year, we experience this issue where we have animals that, unfortunately, we have to euthanize because we can’t find a facility to take them in,” Gaillard said.

An  online fundraiser has now been launched in Pepper’s name to help fund a wildlife sanctuary.

For now, Berman and Pepper’s supporters are hoping a home can be found for the raccoon that would allow her to be saved.

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

EDMONTON – Clayton Keller scored a pair of goals as the Utah Mammoth emerged with a 4-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday.

Barrett Hayton and Logan Cooley also scored for the Mammoth (6-2-0), who have won three straight.

Karel Vejmelka stopped 21 shots to earn the win.

Leon Draisaitl and Shakir Mukhamadullin replied for the Oilers (5-1-1), who saw a five-game winning streak halted.

Edmonton was missing five starting forwards and a defenceman.

Devon Levi made 20 saves for Edmonton.

Takeaways

Mammoth: Utah should be pleased that they matched the offer sheet tendered by the New Jersey Devils for Hayton in the off-season. Hayton scored his first of the season and extended his points streak to five games.

Oilers: Connor McDavid picked up an assist to extend his season-starting points streak to seven games. He now has four goals and 14 assists for a league-leading 18 points on the campaign, his best-ever start to a season.

Key moment

Just 23 seconds after Draisaitl got Edmonton finally on the board at 13:54 of the second period, Vincent Trocheck sent it in front to a hard-charging Cooley, who directed in his first of the season to restore Utah’s two-goal lead at 3-1.

Key stat

Edmonton came into the contest with a 5-0-1 record against the Mammoth and outscoring them 31-16. Edmonton was also 3-0-0 all-time at home against Utah, outscoring the Mammoth 17-5.

Up next

The two teams have a rematch on Saturday night in Utah.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 15, 2026.

© 2026 The Canadian Press

Alberta’s Opposition NDP is proposing a three-part plan to address concerns about detainees and offenders being released in Edmonton’s Chinatown.

In recent weeks, surveillance video has surfaced showing Edmonton police and Alberta corrections officers dropping off people who had recently been released from custody in and around Chinatown.

Community member Wai-Ling Lennon said the situation is affecting people’s sense of safety in a neighbourhood she considers an important connection to her heritage.

“This is the part of Edmonton that reminds me of my heritage. This is the place where I feel I belong,” Lennon said.

She said other members of the community, particularly seniors, have told her they are afraid to go out after dark.

“I have also heard the children, adults, seniors who live outside Chinatown, they do not feel safe to come to Chinatown anymore,” Lennon said.

Karl Miu, with the Edmonton Chinatown and Area Business Association, said the drop-offs are continuing and it is time for the provincial government to take action.

At a news conference Thursday, Edmonton-South West MLA Nathan Ip said the situation is affecting both the community and those being released from custody.

“We’ve been left dealing with the consequences of a system that is failing both the community and the businesses and the people being released,” Ip said.

Members of Edmonton’s Chinese community say the problem is not new, and that detainees and offenders have been dropped off in Chinatown for years.

“Now we see this video evidence, we see what is happening in our community, we see how this has expanded and multiplied and it has reached the level that this is a crisis that needs to be addressed,” said NDP MLA David Shepherd, the party’s public safety critic.

The NDP is proposing a three-part plan for the United Conservative government.

“First, an immediate end to detainee releases in Chinatown and anywhere in Alberta by any law enforcement agency unless a direct connection to services has been made in advance and those services are open and accessible,” Shepherd said.

The Opposition is also calling for expanded reintegration supports for people leaving remand custody and for reintegration plans to be required before high-risk and vulnerable people are released.

In a statement to Global News, Arthur Green, press secretary for Alberta’s public safety minister, said the government has met with Chinatown residents and service providers and is taking steps to address their concerns.

“Our government has met with Chinatown residents and providers and have taken their concerns seriously, taking concrete steps to make their community safer,” Green said.

He pointed to the relocation of the Edmonton Remand Centre from Chinatown and said the province is implementing dedicated system navigators in correctional centres to help co-ordinate releases and connect people with housing and other supports.

Green also criticized the NDP’s record in government, accusing the party of “fearmongering about disorder” after three supervised consumption sites were established in Chinatown during its time in office.

“Albertans don’t need lectures from the NDP about Chinatown’s challenges — in fact, if the NDP had been paying any attention, they would know our government is already taking real action to address them,” Green said.

The government said Edmonton’s Navigation and Support Centre, located in Chinatown, has helped more than 12,000 Albertans access supports and made more than 75,000 connections to services, including affordable housing and identification supports.

Green also said the province announced an investment of more than $30 million this summer to add more than 400 treatment, housing and stabilization beds in the Edmonton area.

Business owners say improving public safety and revitalizing Chinatown’s economy go hand in hand.

Entrepreneur Wilson Wong called on the province to work with the community.

“We’re asking the province to partner with us as an investment in Alberta’s economy, culture and next generation of entrepreneurs,” Wong said.

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

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Your sofa collects more than you might think, from dust and crumbs to pet hair and everyday stains. Even if it looks clean on the surface, dirt can build up in the fabric over time. Brands like Hoover, BISSELL and Scotchgard offer a range of products to help keep your upholstery clean, tackle stubborn spills and protect compatible fabrics. With the right tools and a little regular maintenance, you can keep your sofa looking fresh for longer.

Start with a thorough vacuum

Before introducing any moisture, remove loose dirt, crumbs and debris from your sofa. The BISSELL PowerClean Lithium-Ion Cordless Hand Vacuum is a handy option for cleaning cushions, seams and the narrow gaps where crumbs tend to collect. Its cordless design also makes it convenient for quick cleanups between deeper cleans.

 

If you have pets, it’s worth tackling loose fur before moving on to stains. The ChomChom Roller Pet Hair Remover is reusable and designed to collect pet hair from upholstered furniture, making it useful for lifting fur from cushions and other fabric-covered surfaces.

 

Give your sofa a deeper clean with this portable machine

Pro tip: If your sofa still looks dingy after vacuuming, it might be time to bring in a spot cleaner. The Hoover CleanSlate Portable Carpet and Upholstery Spot Cleaner is designed to tackle spills, stains and built-up grime that a regular vacuum can’t remove. It sprays cleaning solution onto the fabric and extracts the dirty water, while its attachments help you get into tricky spots and clean larger messes. It’s also portable, so you can use it on other compatible surfaces around the house, including carpets and rugs. Before getting started, check your sofa’s care instructions and test a small, hidden area to make sure wet cleaning is suitable for the fabric.

 

For isolated stains, a targeted spray may also come in handy. Hoover Oxy Carpet Stain Remover Spray is another option for compatible materials and surfaces. Check the label before using it on your sofa, and test a small, hidden area first to ensure it doesn’t affect the fabric’s colour or finish.

Don’t skip your sofa’s care instructions

Before using a wet cleaner or stain spray, check the manufacturer’s care label. Upholstery marked W can generally be cleaned with water-based products, while S indicates solvent-based cleaning. WS or SW may allow either method, and X means vacuuming or brushing only. When in doubt, consult the sofa manufacturer.

Always test your chosen product on a small, inconspicuous area and let it dry completely before proceeding. Avoid oversaturating the fabric, as excess moisture can seep into the cushion filling and take a long time to dry.

Once your sofa is clean and completely dry, you may also want to consider a fabric protectant. Scotchgard Fabric Water Shield is designed to help repel water-based spills on compatible fabrics, which may make it easier to manage future accidents. Check the product label and sofa manufacturer’s instructions before applying it.

 

 

The verdict

A clean sofa starts with removing loose dirt and hair, followed by treating stains with products suited to your upholstery. The Hoover CleanSlate is the main product to consider if you’re looking for a portable way to tackle deeper messes, while a handheld vacuum, pet hair remover and targeted stain spray can help with routine maintenance.

Just remember that not every sofa is suitable for wet cleaning. Check the care instructions, test products on a hidden spot and let upholstery dry completely before using it again.

 

You may also like:

MR.SIGA Microfiber Cleaning Cloths – $24.99

Couch Cover for Dogs – $53.99

Cat Scratch Protector 11.8″ x 118″ Self-Adhesive  – $19.99

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.