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When your couch has suffered one too many spills, it may be time to call in a professional upholstery-cleaning service. When considering a professional service, the IICRC recommends looking for the following: [Note: Ad or content links featured on this page are not necessarily affiliated with IICRC (The cleantrust) and should not be considered a recommendation or endorsement by IICRC (The cleantrust)].
1. Technicians should be courteous. They should be willing to take the time to pre-inspect upholstery in all areas that need cleaning. They should identify the fabric’s construction (plain, twill, satin, pile weave) and fiber content (silk, wool, cotton, nylon, polyester, acrylic, olefin or blends), and evaluate and recommend an appropriate cleaning method and procedure based on the fabric’s age. Trained, conscientious technicians are the key to quality cleaning; not a particular method, machine or process.
2. You have a right to expect an itemized listing of services, along with firm prices, before technicians begin work. While they may offer added services at additional cost, you never should feel pressured to accept anything more than the services you request and authorize.
3. All cleaning, specialty agents and equipment should be used in strict accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations and appropriate safety and environmental regulations.
4. Firms should offer workmanship guarantees in writing. Fabric age, fiber type, and construction, as well as furniture use and maintenance, may present circumstances beyond a technician’s control; however, responsible workmanship should be implicit in any work performed.
Procedure Checklist
1. Fabrics and fibers should be identified, if possible, before cleaning agents or processes are used. Further, once a cleaning agent or process has been selected, it should be tested in an inconspicuous area to ensure it does not adversely affect upholstery fibers, dyes or fabrics.
2. Upholstery should be thoroughly vacuumed before other cleaning is performed, regardless of the method used, with special emphasis on vacuuming arms, seat cushions and other areas where soil accumulates.
3. Special attention to spots or stains should be included in normal cleaning. However, time-consuming specialized spotting or prolonged effort on color-added stains may require additional charges. Technicians should advise you of additional charges before attempting extensive spotting or color repair.
4. Preconditioning heavily soiled areas normally is included in the cost of cleaning. However, overall job cost may increase in heavy soiling situations. You should be advised in advance of the need for increased charges.
5. It is the technician’s responsibility, with your cooperation, to help ensure that upholstery is dried and returned to normal use within a reasonable time. Rapid drying of fabrics is essential; however, drying time varies with different fiber types and cleaning methods, the amount of moisture used and climatic conditions. Under no circumstances should drying time exceed six (6) hours. Again, the need for customer cooperation in providing continuous airflow or ventilation to expedite drying is vital.
6. Effort should be made to physically remove as much soil as practical from the fabric, without changing its appearance, color or texture.
7. Technicians should take the required measures to leave the fabric as residue-free as possible, to help prevent abnormal resoiling.
This information is based on the IICRC S300 Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Upholstery Cleaning. For more information, visit the IICRC at www.certifiedcleaners.org.
