When cleaning upholstered furniture that is feather stuffed it is important to remember not to get the feathers wet. It is best to use upholstery cleaner or a dry cleaning solvent. Remember also, airing out the cushions every 3 to 6 months will help remove any odors that might build up from time to time.
Our dry cleaning professionals ensure your upholstery gets the best care possible, using their expertise to bring your covers and cushions back to life. This professional cleaning doesn't just get your upholstery looking as good as new, but will also extend the life of the fabric.
For stains, use a gentle fabric cleaner or a mild detergent mixed with water, blotting the stain with a clean cloth rather than scrubbing. If the cushions have removable covers, wash them in a machine on a gentle cycle with a mild detergent, and air-dry them to prevent shrinkage.
The cost of upholstery cleaning services can vary widely, with national averages ranging between $50 to $200 per item. However, these figures can fluctuate based on several key factors, including the furniture's size, the material, and the specific cleaning methods required.
If you only need to freshen up your cushions sprinkle baking soda or my favorite Multi-Purpose Cleaning & Freshening Powder over your cushions and let it sit for 20--30 minutes to absorb odors. Then vacuum the powder off thoroughly to leave your cushions looking and smelling fresh.
Avoid using the dryer, as it can shrink your covers.
How do you clean a sofa with a non-removable fabric cover? A damp cloth and the use of neutral products certainly help to remove stains without damaging the fabric, but you must always act with delicacy. For a fabric sofa, a steam cleaner can also be used, always after removing any residues with a vacuum.
Unlike steam cleaning, dry cleaning uses solvents instead of water-based products. This method primarily focuses on cleaning chemical spot-cleaning, making it ideal for delicate fabrics that can't tolerate moisture. We often recommend dry cleaning for upholstery and carpets that require gentle care.
Try a DIY Cleaner
For fabric upholstery: Mix 1/4 cup vinegar, 3/4 warm water and 1 tablespoon of dish soap or Castile soap. Put in a spray bottle. Mist the soiled area. Scrub with a soft cloth until the stain lifts.
Dry-cleaning: This method of cleaning sofas is for those fabrics which cannot tolerate water-based cleaners. The fabrics which are suitable for dry-cleaning include solvent-safe materials.
The best method involves vacuuming the sofa thoroughly, spot-treating stains with a suitable cleaner, and then using a fabric or upholstery cleaner to clean the entire surface. For deep cleaning, consider using a steam cleaner.
The life expectancy of expensive, high quality sofa cushion foam (such as down fillers) is around ten years, while cheaper sofas are more likely to use polyester and/or polyurethane foam. These typically start losing their plumpness after around three years.
Remove the cushion covers and flip them inside out.
This will help protect the fabric's colors and surface from damage.
After the cleaning cycle finishes, place your cushions outside to sundry. Depending on their size, your sofa cushions might take 1-2 days to dry completely.
Perchloroethylene. Perchloroethylene (PCE or "perc", tetrachloroethylene) has been in use since the 1930s. PCE is the most common solvent, the "standard" for cleaning performance. It is a highly effective cleaning solvent, and it is thermally stable, recyclable, and has very low toxicity and a pleasant smell.
To remove odours and deep-seated stains, sprinkle baking soda liberally over the surface of the sofa and let it sit for a few hours. The baking soda will absorb unpleasant odours and help loosen the dirt. Then, use a stiff brush to remove the baking soda residue, leaving your sofa fresh and clean again.
Most professional upholstery cleaning services use a process called hot water extraction. Their machine injects hot water and cleaning solution into the fibers of your upholstery to dislodge particles hiding there. Then it all gets sucked up with a powerful vacuum.
Steam cleaning is a highly effective way to wipe off all the dirt and stains from the couch cushions. While you do the steam cleaning, make sure to add soap or cleaning products to the steam cleaner to ensure deep cleaning. The heat resulting from the steam will draw out the dirt and also the stains.
Yes, a wet dry vac is excellent for removing pet hair from upholstery. Use an upholstery attachment for the best results.
The national average furniture upholstery cleaning cost is between $100 and $250. Most homeowners pay around $180 for professional dry cleaning and stain removal of a microfiber couch. At the low end of the spectrum, you will pay around $50 for having an office chair upholstery professionally steam cleaned.
Steam cleaners work well, and perhaps better than dry cleaners, but aren't always totally effective at removing deep, tough spots. Steam cleaning is a method that can be used periodically but should not be used regularly, as it can wear on the carpets unnecessarily.
Regular vacuuming: Use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment to remove loose dirt, dust, and pet hair from the upholstery cushions. This step helps prevent the buildup of debris that can become deeply embedded over time. Enzyme spray: Consider using an enzyme spray designed for upholstery.
If your couch has a W or W/S tag, you can simply scrub it with dish soap (we like Dawn) and water.
This time, it's baking soda – and the process couldn't be simpler. Before you go to bed, just sprinkle a layer of baking soda on the sofa. Then, in the morning, once the powder has had time to work its magic, you simply vacuum up the residue.