Think about the things that you use around your home every day. Not things like your computer or phone, but things like your floor or the furniture that you sit on. How often do you clean these things? How does that frequency compare with the number of times you would, say, replace an air filter or take a shower? With upholstery, you should be thinking in much the same way.

Most people buy furniture and let the fabric on that furniture go its entire lifespan without ever doing anything more than using the occasional spot cleaner on it. If that sounds like you, don’t beat yourself up about it. It’s less a matter of neglect and more a matter of just not knowing better. The reality is, even when upholstery looks clean, it usually isn’t. A clean white cloth and a little bit of water rubbed on one of the arms or headrests will show you that pretty quickly.

Manufacturers and professional cleaners recommend getting upholstery (like carpet) professionally cleaned once every 6 months to 1 year, depending on use. For light colors, that frequency may increase. For homes with pets or similar circumstances, it may even be an as-needed basis.

The Process of Cleaning Upholstery

The upholstery cleaning process goes through a number of simple steps to ensure a thorough and accurate cleaning:

• The professional will examine the piece of upholstery, noting any specific concerns or trouble areas and then discuss with the owner.
• Spotters and chemicals will be tested in an inconspicuous area of the fabric to ensure the colors won’t run and no damage will be done, always in accordance with manufacturer labels or recommendations.
• Stains and problem areas will be addressed with the appropriate cleaning methods.
• Steam extraction or similar method will remove remaining dirt and grime from the upholstery.
• Post-inspection will be performed with the owner, noting any issues.
• Optionally, there could be the application of a protector, like ScotchGuard, to help reduce soiling in the future.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, whether your upholstery needs to be cleaned or not is a choice that is up to the individual. If it is dirty and isn’t a problem for you, don’t clean it. However, bear in mind that regular cleaning and inspection can greatly extend the life of your fabrics. At the very least, I would personally recommend cleaning your most-used pieces once a year and having a protector applied. That will save you money in the long run by not requiring the same frequency of cleaning down the road.

I’d love to hear from you if you have questions or concerns. For more information or an inspection of your own upholstery, call Alex with Bon-Care at 757-715-0503 or email info@bon-care.com. We service many areas in southeastern Virginia, including Hampton, Yorktown, Newport News, and Norfolk.