A Step-by-Step Sofa Cleaning Process

When getting rid of the dirt and grime that is on the upholstery, it’s not just about wiping the spills that are on the material, or vacuuming up the dist. There is lots of soiling that is trapped within the material, and a thorough job is needed to be carried out to remove it from your unit. The general measures include:

• Pre-inspection

Here, the goal is to assess the situation, and to determine the appropriate actions to take for your particular needs. Aspects vary, from the type of the sofa upholstery, the stains that are to be got rid of, all through to the level of soiling. Is it a fabric or leather sofa? If it is fabric, is it natural or synthetic material? From wool and silk, to cotton, upholsteries like polyesters, nylon and acrylic- they all require different products when working on them. Stains, from the water-based stains, to the oil-based stains have varying requirements in order to safely remove them from the material. With leather, there are materials like nubuck all through to aniline and semi-aniline, and you want to ensure that the right products and systems are used when working on your set. This is determined during this stage, with our personnel also taking note of particular problematic areas.

• Preparing the area

The systems are set up, including taking care of the surrounding items and furniture. This is to protect the area and your belongings.

• Pre-vacuuming

The sofa is thoroughly vacuumed. Here, the aim is to remove the loose soiling and dust particles that are on the upholstery, plus in the cracks and crevices. The powerful vacuums that are used yank out the particles, preparing the unit for the next step.

• Pre-treatment

This depends on the type of upholstery, and the soiling involved. Specialised solutions may be required to be applied, in order to emulsify the soiling and dissolve the stains. This is a chemical process, whose goal is to increase the efficiency of the overall sofa cleaning process.

• Pre-grooming.

Soft-bristled brushes are used to gently scrub the soiling, loosening it up. 

• The extraction process

High-powered extraction systems come in, pumping the cleaning solution into the upholstery and flushing out the grime. Again, this also depends on the material being worked on. Factors such as the temperature of the water being used, the process that will be applied- they all weigh into the process. 

• Rinsing

A controlled rinse is performed, ensuring that the appropriate amount of water is utilized, to protect the upholstery. It is also extracted with powerful suction, in order to cut down the drying time.

• Post-treatment

Additional measures are carried out on the sofa, varying from one situation to another. For instance, fabric upholsteries can be treated with a neutralizer in order to balance the pH of the unit. Stain protectors also come in handy to protect the unit from future stains and make subsequent cleaning and maintenance tasks easier. For the leather units, the upholstery is conditioned. Here, moisturising agents are used in order to restore that soft and supple feel to the sofa. They replace the protective oils that had been lost from the unit over time. 

• Post-grooming

This takes care of the aesthetics. For instance, the fabric sofas can be gently combed. 

• Inspection process

We are not satisfied until you are. Our sofa cleaning personnel review the results, going through them with you to ensure that your expectations have been met- or even exceeded.

Why You Should Dial Up The Sofa Cleaning Experts

First off, the sofa cleaning is not a day-to-day chore that can be taken lightly. There are so many factors to consider, and mishaps could end up causing anything from frustration with the process, to all-out damage to the sofa. Oversights like drenching the sofa in too much water can cause colour bleeding as the dyes of the fabric upholstery get leached out, and some may even shrink. For materials like leather, you won’t even reach the point of overwetting before there is damage. Washing out the soiling or stains with the water can cause them to be soaked deeper into the material, and water staining can also occur. Moreover, the water breaks down the bonds that are within the oil treatments that are used to protect the leather, further putting your unit at greater risk. DIY hacks are also a common cause of problems witnessed during sofa cleaning. These range from the homemade chemicals that are used in an attempt to get rid of the stains- the likes of the vinegar solutions, all through to hacks like using hair-care products when trying to improvise. The different kinds of upholsteries, from the natural and synthetic fabrics to the aniline and semianiline leather units require their unique cleaning methods. Soap, conventional detergents and oils, furniture polishes, abrasive materials plus the cleaners that have caustic ingredients may end up ruining your set. What’s more, when the wrong products are used for the sofa cleaning, you end up voiding the warranty, meaning that you won’t have recourse when dealing with the damage, forcing you to foot the bill for repairs or replacements out of your own pocket. 

Then there is the aspect of time. Without the requisite skill for the task, or powerful machinery needed to get through the job in moments, you could end up spending hours cleaning the sofa. The rental units that are available from stores have less power and capacities compared to the industrial-grade units that the professional sofa cleaning crew rely on. This means that you will be working at a considerable disadvantage. Moreover, the machinery may not be able to deliver a thorough deep cleaning, meaning that the results will be below par, and you will be forced to repeat the sofa cleaning job much sooner. You don’t want to waste your time and energy. The drying time also comes into consideration. For instance, ineffective equipment can leave the sofa wet for too long. This leads to different problems. There is the inconvenience that is caused from being unable to use the furniture that remains soggy for too long, and the risk of mould and mildew growing. These are avoided when you turn to the professional sofa cleaning services. 

A Step-by-Step Sofa Cleaning Process