There’s a very good reason you shouldn’t eat your dinner on the sofa: upholstery attracts dirt, crumbs and bacteria like a magnet attracts iron filings. These things stick to fabric much more than other household surfaces. It won’t take long for your once comfortable couch or chair can to become too smelly, discoloured, or crusty to enjoy.
Upholstery cleaning is different from other household cleaning tasks because fabric is more delicate than other surfaces and can be easily damaged by cleaning products and accidental messes.
Regular cleaning will make your soft furnishings look and feel better. But because it can be difficult and time-consuming to clean upholstered furniture, people rarely do it. That’s where professional local cleaners like us come in!
Why get your sofa cleaned professionally?
While vacuuming or wiping down a faux leather couch may remove light soil, debris, and a few pet hairs, a deeper clean is required to get rid of set-in stains and spills.
Sometimes, the standard home remedies won’t be enough to refresh your furniture. Your furniture can become soiled from bacteria, pet stains, cigarettes smoke and body oils. Hiring professionals once a year to deep clean your upholstery saves time ensures it gets done properly – while you relax!
What’s the difference between deep and surface cleaning?
Regular vacuuming is essential, along with occasional use of cleaning agents. This helps to keep your upholstery clean. However, the most common cleaning products won’t provide the deep clean that modern equipment requires. Proper training is required to use these safely.
Deep cleaning removes embedded dirt and purifies the fibres. These techniques require specialist detergents and professional equipment. All deep-cleansing techniques include steam, carbonation, and encapsulation. Each one requires a different level of knowledge to do its job properly.
Professional cleaning will reach into every fibre of your upholstery and make it look cleaner.
How to clean and sanitize microfiber sofas and fabric
There are a range of possible cleaning techniques that can be used on upholstery. We’ll talk more about them below, but first – this is our standard process for cleaning soft furnishings. Follow along at home if you really want to do it yourself!
Check the sofa’s care tag
To find out what products and cleaning methods are best for the fabric, you should first check the care tag. These will let you know if you should use a water-based detergent or a water-free solvent. Commercial cleaners may not be recommended.
Vacuum the upholstery
Using a vacuum’s upholstery attachment, clean the sofa from top to bottom, including cushions and arms. If you have removable cushions, remove them and vacuum the fabric beneath. Use the crevice tool to get right into the seams and trim.
If you feel really ambitious, lift the couch and vacuum the bottom. It’s also a great time to clean the floor underneath.
Check chemicals on an inconspicuous location
Test any upholstery cleaners or cleaning appliances in an out-of-sight place first to ensure that they are safe for the fabric. Much better than slapping a load of chemicals on and wrecking the fabric!
Spot clean stains
Spot cleaning is an art form in its own right and requires careful attention. It’s important to identify the type of stain, its ag, and which detergents should be used to remove it. Keep in mind, however, that different fabrics react to solvents differently.
You can clean fabrics with water safely by using an appropriate cleaning product. To absorb moisture, remove the covers from cushions that have removable covers. Use the cleaner on a cloth to clean the stain. Blot it carefully from the outside in. After the stain has been removed, wipe the area with a damp cloth and rinse it off. Blot dry. Use a solvent-based product if the sofa label indicates they’re safe to use.
Hot water extraction
Hot water extraction is the most common method used by professional upholstery cleaners. It’s more commonly known as steam cleaning among non-professionals. To remove any particles stuck in your upholstery, the machine injects hot water along with a cleaning solution into it. It is then vacuumed up using a powerful vacuum. This is a great way to get rid of all the grime and dirt from your furniture.
Sanitise the furniture
After your sofa has been cleaned and dried, you can kill any lingering bacteria or eliminate odors from water-safe upholstery by spraying fabric sanitising sprays. These not only cover smells, but completely remove the source of the issue.
Different cleaning methods
Apart from the standard method using hot water extraction, we also employ a range of other cleaning techniques when the need arises.
Carbonation cleaning
Although this method also uses heat and moisture, the specialised machine emits millions of carbonated bubbles. They explode once they reach the fibres and extract the dirt. This leaves behind a protective layer that protects the fabric from future dirt and grime accumulation. You can use small amounts of the carbonated cleaner solution to clean many types of upholstery.
Encapsulation Cleaning
A low-moisture cleaning technique that is quick and efficient. The upholstery is sprayed with chemically safe products by hand. These chemicals break down the bonds between dirt and fibres. After that, everything is vacuumed to thoroughly clean the furniture. The surfactants are enhanced with polymers, which makes the encapsulation cleaners more effective than regular upholstery shampoos. These ingredients guarantee excellent final results.
Shampooing
Otherwise known as foam cleaning. A foaming shampoo is applied by hand to your upholstery. Then, all you have to do is vacuum the upholstery. This is a simple cleaning method that does not require special equipment or a lot of water, making it a popular choice. Be aware that it isn’t a deep-cleaning method, so won’t get rid of embedded dirt or dust.
Dry Cleaning
This method is similar to foam cleaning but doesn’t require any professional equipment. Apply the chemical agent to the sofa, let it do its work, then vacuum the tiny particles that are left behind. This is not a deep cleaning process, and won’t always remove stubborn stains.
Leather furniture
Leather couches require regular maintenance and cleaning. They’re a great choice for style and luxury, but not always easy to care for.
First, leather sofas must be kept out from direct sunlight to prevent them drying out and cracking. It’s best to wash leather upholstery with distilled water. Chemical contaminants can cause discolouration. To prolong the life of your leather sofa, you should apply a protection treatment.
We’re always happy to apply our expertise to leather upholstery.
FAQ
How much does upholstery cleaning cost?
It shouldn’t cost too much to clean your upholstery. However, it will vary depending on the size and material involved. Size is the main factor. A single chair is less expensive to clean than a large sofa. Services will be more costly in areas with higher living costs. An average cost of a sofa is around £40-£100.
Professional deep cleaning is worth the investment if you consider how long it will last.
How do I get smells out of couch fabric?
No matter what the reason, whether it’s a greasy takeaway, a wet dog, or messy children, sometimes your couch will start to smell. You can get rid of unpleasant odours by spraying a specialist upholstery fabric freshener or sprinkling baking soda on the couch. These products are not like normal air fresheners. They don’t just cover up smells, they actually eliminate them.
How often should a couch be cleaned?
As part of the weekly cleaning, vacuum your upholstery once a week. This will keep dirt from workinginto the fabric. You can brush upholstery twice per week if you have more time. This will get rid of any dirt or grime that has settled on the upholstery over time. Use a soft-bristled brush to remove any dirt that may settle on the upholstery.
What are the best ways to remove pet hair from furniture and carpets?
Apart from investing in a good vacuum cleaner made to deal with pet hair, the tips and techniques above are all you need to make your couch’s upholstery look new again.