Upholstery Cleaning Service
Upholstery Cleaning Guide for Pet Owners
Let’s face it: pets can be messy! Between pet fur and accidents, sometimes your upholstered furniture can take a beating. As a pet owner, you have added steps in caring for your upholstery. It is essential to know how this furniture should regularly be cleaned and what you should do if there is a stain. In addition, it is important to occasionally have an upholstery cleaning by a professional company
Day-to-Day Cleaning
As far as day-to-day cleaning goes, vacuuming is the most important thing. This is especially vital if your cat or dog likes to jump on the furniture. A daily or weekly vacuuming using the upholstery attachment will clean up any fur left behind and will keep your upholstery nice and fresh. Without a frequent vacuum, no one will want to sit on the upholstery because they will get fur all over their clothes
Cleaning After an Accident
Sometimes pets have accidents, and it’s usually in the most unfortunate spots. If your cat or dog has an accident or gets sick on upholstered furniture, it is important to clean up as soon as possible to avoid permanent stains. Check the tag on the piece of furniture to see what kind of solvents can be used. Some pieces can only be vacuumed, while others allow certain types of cleaners
A pet stain and odor remover solvent is the best way to remove pet-related stains. These can be bought at your local pet store. Be sure to test out the cleaner on a hidden spot first to make sure it doesn’t take the color out or ruin the upholstery. If you don’t have a pet cleaning solution in the house, use dish soap and warm water to remove the stain.
have a process that uses less water so that drying time is fast! During this process, tiny effervescent bubbles pull up stains from the upholstery to the surface where they are extracted. The solution we use is non-toxic, meaning it is safe for your pets. We are done working in as little as two hours due to the fast drying time. After the cleaning is done, we can treat your furniture with our upholstery protector to help prevent it from getting stained in the future.
Cleaning Instructions
Code S
Recommended Cleaning Instructions
Spot clean only with a water–free dry cleaning solvent. Pretest a small, inconspicuous area before proceeding. Do not saturate. DO NOT USE WATER. Pile fabrics may require brushing with a non-metallic, soft bristle brush to restore appearance. Cushion covers should not be removed and dry–cleaned. To prevent overall soiling, frequent vacuuming or light brushing with a non–metallic, soft bristle brush to remove dust and grime is recommended. When cleaning a spill, blot immediately to remove spilled material. Evenly clean the entire panel in a seam to seam fashion. Do not clean just the spots or stains. When an overall soiled condition has been reached and professional care is required, contact an IICRC Certified Firm who specializes in upholstery cleaning.
Code W
Recommended Cleaning Instructions
Spot clean only with water based shampoo or foam upholstery cleaner. Pretest a small, inconspicuous area before proceeding. Do not over wet. Do not use solvents to spot clean. Pile fabrics may require brushing with a non–metallic, soft bristle brush to restore appearance or reset nap. Cushion covers should not be removed and laundered. To prevent overall soiling, frequent vacuuming or light brushing with a non–metallic, soft bristle brush to remove dust and grime is recommended. When cleaning a spill, blot immediately to remove spilled material. Evenly clean the entire panel in a seam to seam fashion. Do no clean just the spots or stains. When an overall soiled condition has been reached and professional care is required, contact an IICRC Certified Firm who specializes in upholstery cleaning.
Code SW
Recommended Cleaning Instructions
Spot clean with upholstery shampoo or dry cleaning solvent designed for furniture. Pretest a small, inconspicuous area before proceeding. Do no saturate. Pile fabrics may require brushing with a non–metallic, soft bristle brush to restore appearance. Hot water extraction or steam cleaning is not a recommended cleaning method. Cushion casings should not be removed and laundered or dry–cleaned. To prevent overall soiling, frequent vacuuming or light brushing with a non–metallic, soft bristle brush to remove dust and grime is recommended. When cleaning a spill, blot immediately to remove spilled material. Evenly clean the entire panel in a seam to seam fashion. Do not clean just the spots or stains. When an overall soiled condition has been reached and professional care is required, contact an IICRC Certified Firm who specializes in upholstery cleaning.
Code X
Recommended Cleaning Instructions
Clean only by vacuuming or light brushing with a non–metallic, soft bristle brush. DO NOT USE ANY WATER OR SOLVENT BASED CLEANER.
Slipcovers
Recommended Cleaning Instructions
Slipcovers are designed for style purposes only. Slipcovers are not pre-washed and washing them could result in shrinkage. Dry Clean only. Bernhardt accepts no responsibility for cleaning results. Make sure to check cleaning codes on all fabrics prior to cleaning.
Leather Upholstery
Recommended Cleaning Instructions
Frequent dusting or vacuuming with an upholstery attachment is recommended for preventative maintenance. Do not use furniture polish, saddle soap, oils, varnishes, ammonia water, soaps or dusting agents. To help remove soil or stains, take a lightly dampened cloth and using a mild solution of non-detergent soap and water gently wipe the area of the leather that includes the stain. Avoid dabbing the stained area only. Do not rub. Let dry naturally and repeat if necessary.
Avoid using ink pens, nail polish, nail polish remover or other harmful products near your leather furniture to avoid spills and avoid placing newspapers or magazines on the surface, as the inks may transfer onto the leather. Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight should be avoided at all times, as it will cause fading.
UPHOLSTERY CLEANING INFORMATION & PROCEDURES
Pricing and Income Potential
Consider the following guideline for pricing your upholstery cleaning services:
Synthetic $8 – $10 per Ln. ft. for maintenance cleaning and $10 – $15 per Ln. ft. for restorative cleaning
Blends $12 – $15 per Ln. ft. for maintenance cleaning and $15 – $20 per Ln. ft. for restorative cleaning
Naturals $15 – $20 per Ln. ft. for maintenance cleaning and $20 plus per foot for restorative cleaning.
Silk $20 per Ln. ft. +, depending on the piece
This pricing equates to approximately $150 – $200 per man hour average income depending on fabric and fiber construction, soiling condition and overall technician experience. Many companies demand rates considerably higher than this depending on their target market and whether or not they perform “in-plant” vs “on location” cleaning.Upholstery cleaning has taken on many changes over the last decade or so. The introduction of some new cleaning tools, combined with the furniture industry’s push to produce and sell more “family friendly” fabrics has led the cleaning contractor to believe he can clean virtually any fabric with his standard carpet cleaning chemicals and his upholstery tool. However, this is not the case. It is still extremely important to follow proper cleaning fundamentals when cleaning upholstered fabrics.
There are many companies around the country that clean only furniture and avoid carpet cleaning altogether. They do this because of the lack of competition and the profitability of furniture cleaning with a lot less equipment cost. For example, you don’t need an expensive truck mount to clean upholstery.
Most upholstered fabrics are a blend of more than one fiber, typically containing a natural fiber such as cotton. Every occupied structure you enter has upholstery cleaning opportunities. The right tools, such as the Hydro-Force Hydro-Kinetic tool combined with the right chemistry, such as The Bridgepoint Avenge Upholstery Cleaning System has made cleaning these pieces easier and more profitable than ever before.
Product List (Suggested items to perform this service) Upholstery tool, Synthetic sponge, Disposable nitrile gloves, Horse Hair Brush hand size Lint roller, Dry Cleaning Sponge, Bone Spatula, Small measuring cup, Spotting towels 2-qt pump sprayer, Fan Jet spray Trigger sprayer, Pill Remover, Handi Brush Whiz Groom, Air King Plus air mover, Avenge HD Upholstery Prespray, Dye-Loc, Upholstery Prespray, Fabric Shampoo, Acidic Rinse, Upholstery Protector, Upholstery Training Module, Spotting Kit
Cleaning 101: How to Clean a Sofa
Daily care and at-home cleaners can keep your sofa looking beautiful for years. In the case of a spill, stain, or general wear and tear, follow our tips on how to clean a couch.
Decode Manufacturer’s Instructions
When learning how to clean a couch, the first thing you must do is look at the instructions provided by the manufacturer. This information can be found on the tag of the couch, where you will find cleaning directions or a letter code. The letter codes inform you which cleaning methods can be used safely on your couch.
W: Only water-based detergents are allowed.
S: Only dry, solvent-based cleaners may be used.
S/W: Both water-based or dry, solvent-based cleaners are allowed.
X: Only vacuuming is allowed; further cleaning will have to be done by professionals who specialize in how to clean a couch with this description.
Prep Your Couch
Before going all in, make sure to prep your couch for an initial cleaning phase that will remove any loose crumbs or dirt. Vacuum debris and dirt from the surface and crevices with a hand vacuum or brush attachment. Then use a lint roller to gather up any pet hair or fuzz that the vacuum may have missed. If your couch has removable cushion covers, unzip them and remove them from the cushion – leave the white batting on, though. Then turn them inside out and wash them in the washing machine. Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions – many require the gentle cycle and warm water.
Face the Stains
Now that your couch is free of any surface debris, it is time to tackle any spots. Using the referenced cleaner from the couch label, follow these next steps to feel assured when facing any stain.
A BRIEF GUIDE TO UPHOLSTERY CLEANING
Upholstery cleaning, as you may have guessed, is the process of cleaning the often delicate fabric that upholsters your favourite pieces of furniture.
What are the benefits?
Health
The fibres in the upholstery on your furniture can harbour allergens, dust mites, fleas, mould, and bacteria if they are not regularly cleaned. These can all lead to a wide range of allergies and potential illness. Maintaining regular cleaning drastically reduces the presence of these irritants, and in turn, helps to keep your home and family healthy.
Air Quality
Each time you sit, lay down or move around on your upholstered furniture, you are unknowingly releasing dust, dirt and bacteria into the air in your home. Regular removal of allergens and dust is always encouraged for a clean home with clean air.
Odours
For many families, the living room furniture becomes the favorite spot for watching movies, relaxing or working from home – and whilst it might be your favourite spot, it is likely that your pet loves it too. With some much activity, it is natural for your furniture to pick up some odours, and not all of them are pleasant – particularly if the furniture is close to the cooking area! Cleaning helps remove those odours by removing the source.
Appearance
Over time, it is only natural that your furniture will collect stains and marks. Whether they are from kids or pets, there is only so much that can be covered with blankets or throws! The simple solution is to have your furniture cleaned on a regular basis to keep it looking like new.
A Longer Life for Your Furniture
As we all know, buying new furniture is not cheap. By investing in professional cleaning, you can extend the life expectancy of your favourite furniture and extend the life of your investment.
Durability
Regular upholstery cleaning removes dirt, grime and dust, which in turn improves the durability of the upholstery, removing the faded, thinning and aged look.
Can I do it myself?
Upholstery cleaning is a complex process which is a lot more difficult than it might sound at first. Firstly, upholstery is often made up of relatively delicate natural fabrics such as cotton. Secondly, if you have ever tried cleaning any furniture yourself, you will have found that most furniture can’t simply be removed and put through a washing machine!