How to Prepare Your Home for Professional Sofa Cleaning

When trying to maintain your home looking fresh, there is nothing more neglected than your sofa. Your couch is where you enjoy and entertain guests, as well as take time to relax with your family. It can get a buildup of dirt, not to mention stains and other allergens that could damage it over time. Whether you are preparing to use a professional sofa cleaning service or hoping to clean your sofa yourself, it’s essential to prepare yourself in order for the process to go smoothly.

In this guide, I will share the process to get your living room ready for professional couch cleaning service and give you tips on what to do so that you get top-notch results.

Importance of Professional Sofa Cleaning

Before you jump into the specifics of how to clean a sofa and get started on a new cleaning regimen, it’s worth knowing why hiring a professional for this task provides so many benefits. Getting your sofa professionally cleaned does more than make it look clean — it helps remove dirt, stains and allergens that regular vacuuming won’t pick up. Professional cleaning services can help extend the life of your couch, making it comfortable, fresh and clean for years.

Sofa upholstery, whether it’s fabric, leather or microfiber, can accumulate up many contaminants. This grime can impact the look and cleanliness of your couch. A professional cleaner uses custom equipment and solutions designed specifically for the type of fabric of your sofa, so it ensures a better result than any DIY method.

Step 1: Look for the Sofa Care Instructions

Before you get started on your sofa cleaning, read the manufacturer’s care instructions for your couch. A different sofa for everyone and the material a sofa is made of will play a huge role in cleaning it. While there are some materials (such as leather) that get their own special cleaners, fabric sofas might also benefit from steam cleaning or even dry cleaning.

Take couches with fabric upholstery as an example – these will typically come with a cleaning code that outlines the proper way to clean them:

• W: Use a water-based cleaner.
  
  

• S: Use a solvent-based cleaner.
  
  

• WS: Use either water or solvent-based cleaners.
  
  

• X: Clean by vacuuming or light brushing only, Do not use water- or solvent-based cleaners.
  
  

And with these steps, you will never ruin your sofa while cleaning it. If you’re not sure on your cleaning option, get in touch with a professional cleaner- Zurich Sofa Cleaners will be pleased to help.

Step 2: The Roller Around the Sofa Clear the area around the couch

One of the simplest methods to make your house ready for professional couch cleaning is to empty the space around the sofa. Push any furniture, rugs or anything else that might be in the way of swinging doors. Not only will this provide the cleaners with a large area to work, but it can also prevent any items for getting unknowingly busted during the cleaning.

Take cushions or throw pillows from your couch, too. Though these can be cleaned with other items, you’ll want to get them out of the way so they don’t slow down the overall cleaning process.

Step 3: Vacuum the Sofa

While vacuuming is no substitute for professional cleaning (that’s why you’re hiring professionals, of course), there are a couple reasons to give your sofa the once-over before they come. With your vacuum you are removing surface dirt and debris which will allow the company more focus on deep cleaning. Clean with the upholstery attachment of a vacuum cleaner to prevent damaging the fabric. Do not forget the crevices and corners where dirt is likely to accumulate.

Fabric couches in particular attract dust, pet hair and food particles. If your couch has removable cushions, remove them and vacuum them separately to ensure all surfaces get cleaned.

Step 4: Address Stains and Spots

If your sofa has some stains, it’s good to try and treat the stains prior to the service cleaning so that they’re not there permanently afterwards. Certain cleaning companies will pre-treat stains before they perform the carpet cleaning, and sometimes this is what you should do to your carpet.

Some general rules to follow when confronted by the usual culprits:

• Food stains: Pat the stain with a clean cloth and use a mild soap-and-water mixture to blot until the stain is gone.
  
  

• Oil or grease stains: Apply a solvent-based cleaner for optimal results.
  
  

• Ink stains: Blot the stain with rubbing alcohol to remove ink from fabric.
  
  

But don't use any harsh chemicals and be careful not to scrub too hard as this can damage the material. If theres a stain you don’t know how to treat, ask the professional cleaners for advice or for a stain removal treatment during service.

Step 5: Protect Your Furniture and Flooring

When cleaning, it’s possible the cleaners could be moving your sofa around, and that you might get sprayed with cleaning agents/water. If you are worried about your flooring or other materials, consider putting a drop cloth/ protective cover under the couch.

If you have hardwood floors, you may want to put down a plastic sheet or cloth that can absorb any water so you don’t have water damage. This is especially necessary if you are attending to a fabric sofa or cleaning any type of furniture in a way that includes water or steam.

Step 6: Remove Any Obstructions or Personal Items

Make sure to take any personal items off the couch, like remote controls or books or decors. Such things can obstruct the cleaning, or they might even be damaged by the cleaning products.

If you have pets, steer clear away from your sofa until it’s cleaned. Remnants of pet hair can be stubborn and would not help in getting the area clean. You may want to also inspect for chewed damage if you have an animal who chews on furniture.

Step 7: Choose the Appropriate Sofa Cleaning Solution

Going in for any one method of cleaning on all types of sofa is certainly not a good idea. Here’s a rundown of the best cleaning methods for some common couch materials:

• Fabric sofas: Fabric sofas can be spotted cleaned using water-based or solvent-based cleaning products, depending on the given code. If you prefer to clean fabric couches, steam cleaning works well.
  
  

• Leather sofas: Leather needs to be treated with a conditioning agent so it doesn’t dry out or crack. Professional cleaners will generally use a leather-safe cleaner and conditioner.
  
  

• Microfiber sofas: Microfiber generally requires a solvent-based cleaner. Deep clean with a steam cleaner.
  
  

Prior to the arrival, consult with your cleaning crew about the best ways and methods to clean up that couch of yours. The majority of professional services can fine tune their process according to the fabric or material from which your sofa is made.

Step 8: Be Informed About Cleaning the Sofa

Understanding what’s involved when you visit a dental hygienist can offer some peace of mind. Here’s an overall plan of what will happen:

1. Pre-inspection: Cleaning crew will do a pre-inspection of the sofa to identify what is the best cleaning method and what possible problems they might have.
   
   

2. Pre-treatment: All stains, and heavily soiled areas are pre-treated with a special pre-spray.
   
   

3. Cleaning: Your couch is going to be cleaned using a suitable method (hot water extraction/dry cleaning… etc. ).
   
   

4. Drying: Your sofa will need to dry after it has been cleaned. Fans or air movers may be implemented by the crew to help facilitate drying.
   
   

5. Post-inspection: After the sofa is dry, our crew will have a look around for their final inspection.
   
   

Step 9: Cleaning and Store Maintenance

There are some final measures to maintain your clean sofa for an extended period of time once it has been professionally cleaned:

• Regular vacuuming: If you vacuum your rugs and carpets on a regular basis, then it will lower the accumulation of dirt.
  
  

• Spot cleaning: Address spills and stains immediately to prevent damage.
  
  

• Use a sofa protector: If stains and dirt are a concern, purchase slipcovers or protectant.
  
  

• Schedule regular professional cleanings: If your sofa sees moderate to regular use, and especially if it is made of a more delicate material, book a professional cleaning once every 6 to 12 months.
  
  

Conclusion

Getting your home ready for a professional sofa cleaning is easy and makes the difference between a frustrating experience and an efficient one. Between checking your sofa care guides and clearing the area, to hoovering and treating -and then better understanding the process- there’s a few key step-by-step approaches you should follow that bring up the effectiveness of anything cleaning session, helping it to last longer, making sure you maintain one great looking sofa.

Just remember that nothing lasts if you don’t take care of it! Whether you’re preparing your sofa for a professional cleaning or using these steps to maintain your upholstery between cleanings, here are 4 easy steps that can make all the difference.

If you are interested in getting some advise, or even professional services then ZüriClean can help.