Professional Upholstery Cleaner Near Me: Finding the Best Service for a Spotless Couch
Furniture is important to the overall appearance of your home. But over time, your upholstery collects dirt and stains that make it look tired and dingy.
A professional upholstery cleaning service can remove those stains and make your furniture look new again for the fraction of the cost of replacement.
About Professional Upholstery Cleaning
Upholstery cleaning is a service typically provided by carpet cleaning companies. You'll rarely find companies that focus solely on upholstery cleaning because there's not a huge market for the service. Professional carpet cleaners are skilled at handling a variety of upholstery types, including very delicate fabrics.
A professional upholstery cleaning can remove dirt from furniture such as couches, love seats, recliners, dining room chairs and mattresses. Many companies also offer their services for upholstery in cars, boats and RVs.
If you need your blinds cleaned, check out our article on ultrasonic blind cleaning services.
We also have you covered when researching the cost of having your curtains or drapery cleaned.
The Perils of the DIY Approach
Of course, the thought of tackling this cleaning challenge yourself is tempting. A quick trip to the store, a bottle of upholstery cleaner in hand, and you're ready to go, right?
Not quite. DIY couch cleaning is best for light stains or refreshing, not heavy soiling. Also, many store-bought cleaners aren't formulated for the delicate fabrics adorning your furniture, and using them can lead to discoloration, shrinkage, or even permanent damage.
Then there's the matter of technique. Vigorous scrubbing or the wrong cleaning methods can spread stains further, distort fabric fibers, and leave behind a host of deeply embedded contaminants that regular vacuuming can't touch.
Before you know it, your well-intentioned DIY efforts have turned into a frustrating, ineffective endeavor.
Cost of Professional Upholstery Cleaning
The cost of professional upholstery cleaning varies from service to service and from one geographic region to the next. Most services charge on a per-item basis. Below is a breakdown of what you can expect to pay.
- Standard couches: $80 to $150
- Large sectionals: Up to $200
- Love seats: $60 to $120
- Recliners: $40 to $80
- Dining room/office chairs: $10 to $20
Stain protection and deodorizing treatments cost anywhere from $10 to $50, depending on the size of the item. Keep in mind that most services have some kind of minimum charge to make the trip worth their while - usually at least $100.
Real Life Upholstery Cleaning Costs: What People Paid
To get a sense of typical upholstery cleaning prices, we asked people to share in their own words how much they recently paid to have different types of furniture and upholstery professionally cleaned.
"I had my living room sofa and loveseat professionally cleaned last month. For the standard sofa, they charged $130 and the loveseat was $95."
"We have a sectional sofa that's seen better days with all the spills and dirt from having kids. I called around and found a deal where they charged $190 to clean the entire large sectional. It was worth every penny."
"My car's interior was really gross from summers of my kids throwing snacks everywhere. I took it to get detailed and the upholstery cleaning for all the seats, floor mats, etc. was $75. Pricey but so satisfying."
"I rent a chair and a half recliner for my den. When I moved out, the company charged me $60 to have it professionally cleaned per their policy before returning it."
"For my small apartment, I had a local upholstery cleaner come and clean my couch and armchair. They charged $115 for the standard couch and $18 per dining chair."
How Upholstery Cleaning Works
Professional upholstery cleaning is a multi-step process.
It starts with a physical inspection and, if necessary, a pre-treatment. Then technicians will apply an upholstery cleaning solution to the fabric to help loosen embedded dirt.
Next, they will use an extraction process to remove dirt and the cleaning solution.
The final step is a physical inspection to make sure the upholstery is clean.
Most professional upholstery cleaning companies also offer some kind of fabric protection treatment to help prevent future stains and extend the life of your furniture, but the treatment usually comes at an added cost.
Choosing an Upholstery Cleaning Company
Start narrowing down the field by asking friends for recommendations. Can they suggest an upholstery company that does a great job? After you've gathered several names, call each of the companies to request a quote.
Ask questions about the cleaning process when you talk to each company. Are the chemicals safe for children and pets? How long will the furniture have to dry before it can be used? Does the company offer stain protection, and if so, does it come at an additional cost?
Finally, look into the background and qualifications of any company you're considering. Is the company certified by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC)? Does it have a good rating with the Better Business Bureau?
Get Bids From Local Upholstery Cleaners - 100% Free and No Obligations to Hire
Use our free request for quote tool and get price quotes from multiple upholstery cleaners in your area. There are no obligations to hire and we won't ask for your credit card information.