HIRING A SOFA CLEANING COMPANY? READ OUR GUIDE FIRST!

Is it that time of the year again? Do you have a sofa that looks grimy, spotty and with stains that you are trying to cover up with throw pillows or blankets. It’s time for some sofa cleaning. But, before you reach for that phone and call a sofa cleaning company, here’s a guide on how to best choose a sofa cleaning company that will give you a great looking cleaned sofa.

HOW TO CHOOSE A SOFA CLEANING SERVICE COMPANY?

DO THEY USE COMMERCIAL GRADE HIGH-END EQUIPMENT?

The last thing you want is for a sofa cleaning company to come to your home with low powered equipment meant for home use. Small sofa cleaning companies will show up with equipment that will either take a long time to work or not clean well at all, or both. When you make a call to the company you are considering, ask them what kind of cleaners they specifically have? Karcher, Bosch and Viper are very popular commercial cleaning equipment brands that the good sofa cleaning companies usually use.

Steam cleaning is by far the most popular method of sofa cleaning. This method of cleaning requires your sofa’s upholstery to be shampooed, lightly agitated and then wet-vacuumed. A high quality wet vacuum will almost leave your sofa almost dry after the cleaning, although it can take up to 6 hours for the light dampness to dry. But, if a machine meant for home use is used, the drying process can take days and you definitely don’t want that!

Also read: How to clean a fabric sofa yourself?

DO THEY USE NON-TOXIC OR ECO-FRIENDLY CLEANERS?

Chemicals are perfectly safe to use to clean sofas. But, there’s a big sliding scale when it comes to toxicity of these cleaning chemicals. Good sofa companies will use eco-friendly products that are both non-toxic and also safe enough to be disposed down your home’s drain pipes. Non-toxic cleaning chemicals will also be safe, but may not be as environmentally friendly as eco-friendly cleaners.

If you believe in an eco-friendly way of living, choose a cleaning company that specifically uses eco-friendly cleaning chemicals. It will usually cost more than companies that use just non-toxic chemicals.

Also read: How to clean a leather sofa?

ARE THE CLEANING PROFESSIONALS TRAINED, CERTIFIED AND KNOWLEDGEABLE?

The cleaning industry sees a lot of staff attrition. So, it’s not uncommon for a company to sometimes send professionals who just have hours of training. Ask the sofa cleaning company to send someone experienced.

Experienced and knowledgeable sofa cleaners can be the difference between a clean sofa that looks brand new and a sofa that is completely ruined because it was damaged by cleaning!

One of the easiest ways to tell if your sofa cleaning professional is knowledgeable or not is to quiz them about sofa cleaning codes. Every sofa has a sofa cleaning code that is displayed on a little tag somewhere on the sofa.

It will have one of the following code letters.

• S – Water cannot be used to clean the sofa, i.e., no steam cleaning. Dry cleaning only
• X – No cleaning allowed, whatsoever. Only vacuuming and light brushing allowed! Only your sofa’s manufacturer can advise you on how your sofa can be cleaned
• S/W – Allows water based cleaning, but with a mild detergent. Dry cleaning is still preferred but
• W – Can be safely steam cleaned (A majority of sofas will have W code)

If the professional is not aware of these codes, there’s a good chance they don’t know what they are doing!

Also read: How to clean a crushed velvet sofa?

ARE THEY INSURED AND DO THEY OFFER DAMAGE PROTECTION?

Ask the sofa cleaning company if they are insured. If they leave your sofa worse off than how it was before, they are obligated to compensate you for the sofa. Good sofa cleaning companies will also offer a money back guarantee if you are not satisfied with the quality of the sofa cleaning.

IDEAL SOFA CLEANING PROCESS – STEP BY STEP

A good cleaning company will systematically follow a process similar to the one described below.

Pre-treatment

This involves dry vacuuming. Depending on how dirty the sofa is, the professional might also brush the fabric to lift dry debris before vacuuming it away.

Stain and Spot Treatment

This is a critical step where the professional will apply a cleaner that is suitable for the sofa’s particular upholstery. The cleaning chemical or detergent he uses must be appropriate for the cleaning code displayed on the sofa’s tag (explained above).

It is also vital that the professional first apply the cleaning solution to a small test area or patch, preferably in a place that is not seen. For example, they can apply the solution to the back of the sofa that is up against a wall, to see if the cleaning solution produces any adverse effects.

Also read: How much does it cost to reupholster a sofa?

Steam Cleaning (For sofas with S/W or W code only)

The professional will apply the cleaning detergent or chemical with a foam sprayer or other equipment that allows for even spreading. The cleaner is then lightly agitated with a soft brush. It can also be done manually although a manual agitation can take time and also result in uneven coverage.

Once fully shampooed, the cleaner is allowed to soak in for 15 minutes. This allows it to penetrate dirt and debris and also kill bacteria and viruses.

A steam cleaner then passes hot steam to dislodge and remove the dirt from the sofa’s upholstery, simultaneously sucking away the dirty water resulting from the steam cleaning.

A good quality steam cleaning will leave your sofa looking clean and a little damp to the touch. It should never be wet. Some very good sofa cleaning companies will leave air moving fans to help your sofa dry quickly. Or, they will advise you to leave windows open to let the sofas dry quickly, if the weather will allow it.

Dry Cleaning (For sofas with S/W or S code only)

95% of dust, dirt and debris on your sofa’s upholstery is dry. So, it can be removed with dry cleaning. To dry clean your sofa, a professional will first vacuum it using a semi-soft wire brush attachment. He or she may also use a special fabric brush that gently lifts the upholstery’s weave to expose dirt. The sofa is vacuumed along as it is brushed.

Next, a suitable solvent is applied with a cotton towel or a mist sprayer. The professional will then use a cotton towel or fabric buffer to gently clean the sofa’s surface. The sofa is then left to dry for a few minutes before leftover lint is vacuumed again.

Deodorizing (Optional)

A good sofa cleaning company will give you an option to deodorize your sofa with a scent. If you do decide to use this service, make sure they use a non-toxic and eco-friendly deodorizer.

Stain protection (Optional)

For an additional fee, a sofa cleaning company will offer a stain protection service using Scotchgard™. Scotchgard™ is a 3M product that leaves an invisible repelling shield on your sofa’s upholstery. It will allow stains, spills and dirt to collect on the surface without seeping in. You can easily maintain the sofa by wiping away the top surface with a damp towel. Scotchgard™ typically protects your sofa for 6 months to 3 years. It is something you can consider if you have pets or kids.

Bonus Tip!  Combine carpet and drapes cleaning

Most companies that clean sofas will also clean carpets, drapes and other fabrics. If you need such cleaning services, you can combine it all in one visit and also receive a volume discount. The more you need cleaned, the more you can bargain to get a better price.

Typical sofa cleaning costs in UK

Sofa a bit too dirty to clean? It’s maybe time to get rid of your sofa! Learn how to dispose your sofa for free here.