Fabric Selection



The furniture cleaning process starts with proper fabric selection, care, and maintenance. Whether you're buying a new piece of furniture or having an existing piece of furniture reupholstered, it's important to select a fabric that is a good match for the use it will receive. If you have a family with small children, for example, it's probably not a good idea to choose stain or brocade for the family room, since the surface of the fabric is likely to wear with heavy use. It's a much better bet to select a tightly woven fabric that will withstand the dust, grime, and friction of daily use. For well-used pieces, it's also a good idea to add a stain-resistant treatment to the fabric. While this treatment won't make the pieces waterproof, it will increase the longevity of the furniture.

Furniture Care

You can increase the longevity of your upholstered furniture by following a few simple guidelines. First, of course, you should wipe up any spills as soon as they occur. Second, you should vacuum or brush your upholstery once a week. This prevents grime from building up between the fibers of the fabric, and will extend the life of your upholstery. Third, you should turn your cushions once a week so that they will retain their shape and wear evenly. Fourth, you should try and keep your upholstered furniture out of direct sunlight; the ultraviolet rays of the sun can fade the colors of your furniture and cause the fabric to deteriorate prematurely.

Furniture Maintenance

The third prong of safeguarding the investment you make in your upholstered furniture is making sure to have it professionally cleaned once each year. Although it may be tempting to try upholstery cleaning yourself, resist the urge. Fabrics are generally labeled with "cleanability codes," namely W, S, WS, and X. These codes relay information about the type of cleaning products that can be used on the fabric.

The caveat about relying on professional upholstery cleaners especially holds true if your sofa is covered in a microfiber or leather. If that's the case, you should leave maintenance to a microfiber sofa cleaning or leather furniture cleaning expert.

Finding Expert Furniture Cleaners

Because your furniture represents a major investment, be wary of upholstery cleaners who clutter your mailbox with offers for cheap cleaning. Instead, depend upon a company that prides itself on its network of furniture cleaning experts. You should be able to go online and find a directory of trained experts in your area who will provide you with quality, affordable upholstery furniture cleaning.

When you do, you can expect that the technician will come to your home and inspect your furniture for potentially permanent stains or damage. He or she will typically first vacuum the furniture to be cleaned, and then pre-treat potential stains. Following that, he or she will perform the upholstery cleaning according to the fabric care specifications, and perhaps even speed drying time with a blow dryer. At the end of the process, the technician will talk to you about the cleaning and allow you to inspect his or her work.

Remember, upholstery furniture cleaning helps preserve your investment. Relying on an expert will ensure that the upholstery in your home receives the care and maintenance it deserves.