Upholstery Cleaning
No liquid touches the fabric – dries quickly.
Ready to use the same day!
Not only is it important to survey the condition of your carpet regularly, it is equally important to take care of your upholstery. Like carpet, upholstery will trap oils from skin, dust and dirt from clothing, and food or liquid spills. Over time, this build up will cause your upholstery to look dull and dingy. The colors may not be as bright and vibrant as they were when the furniture was new.
The Von Schrader Dry Foam Extraction System is our method of choice. We trust and believe in it just as we do the HOST System for carpet cleaning. Just as with the HOST System, there is no wet mess, and you can use your upholstery the same day. No liquid touches the fabric. Gentle, soft, dry foam is applied, the dirt is separated from the fabric, and then is removed immediately. No dirt-attracting soaps or detergents or toxic fluids are used. In fact, all the upholstery cleaning materials are Green Seal Certified.
Similar to vacuuming your carpet on a regular basis, it’s a good idea to do the same to your upholstery to remove loose dust and dirt. But to remove the soil, you should have it professionally cleaned. You’ll be surprised at the difference in the appearance and the brightening of the colors. If you have leather furniture, most manufacturers recommend having it cleaned at least once or twice a year. The finishing touch of an application of Leather Lotion will nourish and strengthen the leather, replacing the natural lubricants lost during normal use, leaving it looking beautiful.
BEFORE
AFTER
MY FURNITURE DOESN’T EVEN LOOK DIRTY – WHY CLEAN IT?
Upholstered fabrics are often designed to HIDE or camouflage dirt, dust, and spills…. but that doesn’t mean they aren’t there! Here are a few simple tests you can do at home to see if your furniture is in need of professional cleaning:
TEST # 1: THE “SLAP” TEST
Place a bright light over the top of a cushion and using a stick (like a paint mixing stick or wooden spoon) hit the cushion 2-3 times. Observe the amount of dust that is released into the air. If you see a cloud of dust, keep in mind that you only released a small amount of what is built up in your furniture.
TEST #2: THE BLACK CLOTH TEST
Secure a piece of thin black cloth with a rubber band it to the end of your vacuum hose – let it drape slightly inside the hose. Put the upholstery tool on the end of the hose. Now turn the vacuum on and run it across the top of the cushion. Take off the upholstery tool and observe all the dead skin, dander, and other particles. If you see accumulations of fine particles, it’s time for a cleaning.
TEST #3: THE WHITE TOWEL TEST
Moisten a white terry cloth towel with a small amount of water. Briskly rub it across one of your seat cushions or arm covers. Look at the towel. What do you see?
TEST #4: THE SNIFF TEST
Take a breath and completely exhale. Then place your nose 3” above the seat cushion and waft the surface air to your nose using one hand in a fanning motion. Do you notice any odors? Soil accumulations foster bacterial growth that feeds on the contaminants and creatures living in the fibers of your furniture fabrics. If your furniture has a noticeable odor, it’s an indication that it should be professionally cleaned as soon as possible.
Cleaning Codes
Different types of fabric require different types of care. Most furniture will have an informational tag, usually found under a cushion or in some other inconspicuous area. On this tag is where you will find a cleaning code – either the letter “S” or the letter “W”. An “S” indicates that the piece of furniture requires a solvent-based system for cleaning. “W” means a water-based system is recommended for cleaning. Occasionally, you’ll find both letters, in which case either type of system can be used to clean that particular piece of furniture.
The Von Schrader Dry Foam Extraction System can be used to clean virtually all upholstery fabrics and leather. That being said, we test every fabric prior to cleaning to ensure that no bleeding, water-marking or other damage would occur during the cleaning process.
Protect Your Furniture Once it is Cleaned
Having protectant applied to your upholstery following a professional cleaning gives you an extra guard against future spots and spills. Protectant will aid in keeping dirt, dust and spills near the surface of the fabric where is it more easily removed, rather than penetrating into the cushions where it could cause permanent staining, discoloration, or damage.
