Your furniture deserves better: 5 signs it’s time for upholstery cleaning
Furniture is more than an interior design feature. It’s where life happens. From evenings spent watching television to family gatherings, couch surfer visitors and pets who treat it like they bought it, your upholstery is there for all of it. But they also absorb the traces of it: dust, dirt, spills and odours. While most people recognise the signs of when their carpet needs professionally cleaning, upholstery cleaning can get overlooked until it’s too late.
So, what are the signs?
1. Stains
It’s a world-wide issue without a known cure: Stain Amnesia. You go to sit down and you see it. It wasn’t there yesterday, you frown and scowl and point at it, and everyone indignantly denies knowing anything about it. You have your suspicions. Your eye goes to it every time you walk by, and it’s messing with your mind.
But unless you banish pets, children, guests, and all food and drink to the kitchen, marks and stains will without fail appear.
So, what type of Responder are you? Do you reach for a bespoke potion of bicarb and vinegar? Or will you grab a store-bought upholstery cleaning spray that promises the world, until you read the fine print? Is a large throw blanket (or a large bon-fire!) looking like the best remedy? Or, did you have it protected with Organic Microseal at purchase, and already have clear in mind how to respond to stains and marks?
Our recommendations are simple:
- If it’s fresh, blot up what you can
- Find the fabric’s care instructions:
- A care label is usually sewn into the frame of the couch – either under the cushion, or under the frame
- If there’s no care label but you know the fabric product name (ie. Warwick Sands Graphite) google its care instructions
- If you’re still without details, contact your retailer or upholsterer for fabric care information
- Don’t over-wet the area.
- If you had it protected with Organic Microseal and have Wonderspot at the ready, use as directed.
- If your fabric contains cotton, linen, bamboo silk, or viscose, contact a professional before treating marks or stains.
A professional upholstery cleaner in Christchurch such as Advanced Carpet Cleaning uses stain treatment solutions matched to the stain and to your fabric type. And instead of just dealing with what’s sitting on the top of the fabric, the professional approach gives a deeper, targeted clean so the stain doesn’t just reappear in a few days.
2. Dull, or tired-looking fabric
Over time, body oil, sweat, hair and body products, dust, and dye transfers from clothes contribute to fabric appearing dull and tired. Manufacturers recommended regularly vacuuming upholstery to take up the dry soils that settle into the fabric; however, this doesn’t address the daily contributions of dirt and oil that cling to the material’s fibres.
The most effective way to really deep clean and rejuvenate the fabric is to use steam cleaning to lift the embedded dirt that is hiding the colour of the fabric. Professional upholstery cleaners have access to industrial-grade equipment but use specialist cleaning techniques to avoid risk of damage.
3. Lingering smells
Can you smell that smell? You know the one that you notice when you visit someone else’s house? Well, every home has its unique smell – yours included. If you are lucky, it may be the whiff of spring cleaning or fresh flowers. But more often than not, it’s the faint lingering smell of wet dog, wet washing, winter’s stale indoor air, or cooking.
Plug-in deodorisers and pretty scent diffusers are no match for odours that need to be cleaned out of carpet or furniture. If your upholstery still smells ‘off’ even after you’ve vacuumed and aired it, it’s a clear sign it needs a thorough professional clean.
A professional couch cleaning specialist uses hot-water extraction to thoroughly clean and extract the soiling that is the issue. Better than just a temporary fragrance boost, it’s a truly fresh, sanitised sofa that smells and feels really clean again.
4. Bless you: you’re sneezing more often
Do you periodically have a quick burst of sneezing when you settle on the couch? If you’ve noticed an uptick of sneezing episodes, itchy eyes or asthma flare-ups, your upholstery could be the culprit. Upholstered furniture collects allergens like a dogged doomsday prepper: dust mites, pollen, pollutants and pet dander – all of it grabbed and held in the fabric layers, but becoming airborne each time you sit down. Regular vacuuming helps but it simply doesn’t have the oomph to remove these microscopic irritants.
Steam cleaning upholstery lifts allergens from the fabric without the use of harsh chemicals. Advanced Carpet Cleaning’s upholstery treatment is eco-friendly and hypoallergenic, so your furniture is cleaned and sanitised safely. If you have children, pets or anyone prone to allergies living in your home, booking Advanced Carpet Cleaning’s upholstery cleaner at least once a year will make a noticeable difference to your comfort and wellbeing. Combine that with carpet cleaning and carpet pest management for a full house refresh!
5. Rough fabric texture
This sounds gross, but have you sat down and noticed the sofa feel a little crunchy, or at least less soft than it used to? It may be the fabric wearing prematurely, or it could be a telltale sign that body oil, lotions, spills and residues mentioned above have really built up. This residue of a busy life acts like a glue attracting dirt and debris which clings to the fibres making them feel rough or gritty. Professional furniture cleaning specialists use precision extraction techniques to dissolve the grime and grease to leave the fabric feeling soft, clean and supple again.
The hidden cost of neglecting upholstery
Ignoring upholstery maintenance doesn’t just impact how your furniture looks, it reduces the fabric life. It will get to a point where professional cleaning will improve how it looks but stains and areas of heavy soiling (usually the seat cushions and arm-rests) will have become permanent.
Advanced Carpet Cleaning offer professional cleaning for all upholstered furniture (subject to fabric type) including La-Z-Boys, couches, armchairs, ottomans, bar stools, dining chairs, and outdoor furniture in Christchurch.
We are proudly fastidious, from edges and seams to piping and cushions – a true furniture revival. We’re not simply refreshing your décor; we’re improving the scent of your home and preserving the life of the fabric.
Book your upholstery cleaning appointment today and give your home the TLC you all deserve. Call Christchurch’s specialist upholstery cleaning professionals – check out our blog for companies who recommend us – on 0800 566 576.
Our services
