Upholstery collects body oils, food, drink and pet hair, and unlike a carpet it is right up against you. A sofa that looks tired usually is not worn out, it is dirty — and the difference between the two is often a clean.
Fabric matters enormously here. Cotton, linen, velvet, chenille and synthetic mixes all behave differently, and some will mark with water alone. So the first thing we do is identify the fabric and test in a hidden spot.
Then it is the same principle as carpet: pre-treat what needs it, clean, extract thoroughly, and dry properly. Over-wetting upholstery is worse than over-wetting a carpet because the moisture gets into the foam and the frame.
How we do it
Identify and test
Fabric identified and a test done somewhere it will not show. Some fabrics need a low-moisture method, and it is better to know before than after.
Treat what needs treating
Arms, headrests and seat fronts take the most and get worked individually, along with any specific marks.
Clean, extract, dry
Cleaned, extracted thoroughly so the foam is not left wet, and dried with air movement where needed.
What is covered
- Sofas, armchairs and dining chairs
- Fabric tested before cleaning
- Pet hair and odour treatment
- Office and reception seating
- Mattresses on request
- Low-moisture methods for delicate fabrics
See the difference
Before and after
Photographs of jobs we have actually done. Drag the handle across the image to compare.
Traffic lane lifted out of a lounge carpet
Patterned rug, colour brought back
Stair carpet, cleaned through
Questions
Upholstery Cleaning — your questions answered
Can all fabrics be cleaned?
Nearly all, but not all the same way — and that is why we test first. Most synthetics and cotton mixes take a standard wet clean happily. Velvets, some linens and a few silk blends will watermark or shrink, so they need a low-moisture method or, occasionally, should not be wet cleaned at all. We check the manufacturer's code where there is one and test in a hidden spot regardless, because labels are often missing or wrong. If we do not think a piece should be wet cleaned we will say so.
How long does a sofa take to dry?
A few hours with good extraction and some air movement. The thing to avoid is a sofa that is still damp the next day, because moisture sitting in foam causes smells and can reach the frame. Proper extraction is the whole difference. We would rather spend the extra time drawing the moisture out than hand you back something that needs a window open for two days.
Will it get rid of pet smells?
Usually, yes. Pet odour in upholstery is generally in the fabric and the top of the foam, which is reachable, unlike urine that has soaked into a carpet underlay. We treat with products that break the odour down rather than mask it. Where an animal has repeatedly used the same spot over a long period the result may be an improvement rather than a complete fix, and we will tell you that up front.
Do you clean mattresses?
Yes, on request, and it is worth doing more often than people think — a mattress accumulates a great deal over the years. It is cleaned and extracted rather than soaked, and needs proper drying time before it is made up again. We will tell you how long to leave it.
Can you clean office and reception seating?
Yes. Reception and breakout seating takes constant use and shows it quickly, and it is the first thing a visitor sits on. We do it outside working hours so the chairs are dry and back in use by the morning, and for contract customers it can be scheduled in with the rest of the cleaning.
Is it worth cleaning an old sofa?
Often it is — a great many sofas that people are ready to replace are simply dirty rather than worn. If the frame is sound and the cushions still have shape, a clean can buy years. Where the fabric is actually worn through or the foam has collapsed, cleaning will not bring it back and we will say so rather than take the money.
“We would like to thank Ashton Cleaning for all the hard work, assistance and commitment you have shown, to help us meet some tight deadlines. This has encouraged us to positively look forward to the future, knowing we have a strong team of sub-contractors to work with us.”