On average homeowners spend around $158 on professional upholstery cleaners. Since most services are provided on a per-piece basis, the costs largely depend on the number of pieces you are having cleaned. Pricing also takes into consideration the size of furniture and material composition because more substantial materials require special care. Professionals will review special cleaning instructions so as not to damage your furniture, and it often helps if you are aware of these instructions too. Be mindful of the fact that reclining items are typically more expensive because of the complexity of moving the seat around to get underneath it. Therefore, they usually have an additional charge.
Professional Couch Cleaning Costs
Average costs for sofa cleaning range between $50 and $200 depending on size. More large couches will be more expensive to clean because of the timing factor. Unique materials like suede and leather will also cost more because of the tools and solutions required. Fragile cleaning processes are involved with individual chemicals, so the costs are higher. Be sure to consult a cleaning service with regards to what they charge for; you want to check if their rates are hourly or based on item numbers. You also want to ask about accessory charges. A typical quote will include Time and materials, expected equipment costs, labor and transportation costs. Check rates with several different companies to get the best rate and consult with the chosen service before starting, to ensure there are no surprise charges when you get the bill.
How and When to Clean?
Dust and stains love couches forcing them to require cleaning on a semi-regular basis. This helps to prevent fibers from breaking down and the formation of holes that will need patching up. Depending on the type of furniture, cleaning does not have to be expensive, and you can do a lot of upkeep yourself to limit the need for frequent professional services. You can wash any removable covers in the laundry every six months or so. Vacuum and wipe down permanent covers or leather to remove surface dust and dirt. Any deeply embedded stains will need stringer supplies or professional work.
Cleaning Fabric Upholstery
Couches and love seats seem to get the most use, so they need to be cleaned more frequently to prevent holes and damage. You can help by vacuuming crevices and surfaces regularly and clean removable covers if you have them. Be sure to care for any wood detailing with a specialized wood cleaner. Call the manufacturer, if your furniture is under warranty to get the recommended timing and supplies for your item. They will be aware of what will work best for the material you have. Be sure to always check the tags for cleaning codes because these will inform you and any professional how to clean the item.
Code W: these are man-made fabrics that can be cleaned with water-based solutions (polyester, nylon, acetate)
Code S: organic fabrics that require solvent-based products (cotton, rayon, linen, silk, wool)
Code W/S: a mixture of man-made and organic that can use either water-based or solvent solution.
Code X: fabric that must be professionally cleaned. You can vacuum and brush it down but will need to hire cleaning services and cannot use solutions.
Spot Cleaning
If you carefully spot clean your furniture regularly, you can avoid getting a professional. You will, however, risk the stains expanding and settling into the fabric permanently. Spot cleaning is only useful when done immediately after a spill. The following steps are the best for removing stains after a spill:
- First, test a small area to make sure nothing happens to the fabric before proceeding.
- Use a small amount of solution and with a cloth blot the stain, making sure you use a new section of the cloth each time.
- Let the material dry completely.
- Using a brush or vacuum, you can restore the natural texture of the fabric in the event it gets stiff from being wet.
Cleaning leather and vinyl
Leather and vinyl are delicate materials that usually require special tools and cleaners. Leather always requires particular attention with particular solutions and careful application. Always look at the tag to make sure you are not using a substance that will irreversibly damage the material. With leather material, you can use saddle soap or leather cleaner with a damp cloth when you need to treat stains.
Always condition the leather occasionally to keep it shiny. To clean leather, you want to dilute any leather cleaner with warm water and apply lightly. If you use saddle soap apply with warm water and a damp rag and be careful not to soak the leather. Treat any stains with blotting and do not ever scrub. For vinyl furniture, special cleaners were created to keep it in top condition. If you are not able to get these, then baking soda and a rag also work in a pinch. You can follow this up with dishwashing soap to get a full and safe clean. Never use oil because this makes vinyl very rough and hard and the damage is costly to replace.
Cleaning older furniture
Antiques require special cleaning because new cleaning solutions may damage some of the finishes or lacquer. The senior finishes are delicate and may solutions today are abrasive and contain harsh chemicals that will damage it more than oil and dirt build-up. The most common antique surfaces are wood and lacquer, but there are helpful tips to make cleaning them a little more comfortable.
Wood: Lightly wooden dust surfaces with a damp cloth or slightly soapy water to remove dust.
Lacquer: Oils can break down lacquer so only use a water and mild soap solution. Sometimes the lacquer can still disappear, and you will have to have it re-applied. This can happen naturally and not a result of your cleaning, it just happens.
When it comes to antiques, it is advised not to use self-cleaning gilded gold or silver because this can damage the delicate surfaces. You can also use naphtha to remove oil and wax build-up from antiques but only use outdoors and with gloves. Never use steel wool because it easily scratches furniture and removes finishes.
Post was written by Refresh Carpet Clean – Find A Carpet Cleaning Service
Refresh Carpet Cleaning Vancouver
225 West 8th Avenue #300R Vancouver, BC V5Y1L7
(604) 757-5165
