Upholstery cleaning is one of those jobs that people often think about doing, but they can't decide if it's actually worth the expense.  After all, your sofa's not really that dirty, right? So, how do you know if your upholstery really needs cleaning, and what are the advantages of having the job done professionally?  Read on to find out more.

The dirty upholstery tests

To find out just how clean (or not) your furniture really is, try these two simple tests.

  1. Take a clean, white cotton cloth and rub it over the arms and back of your sofa and chairs.  If the cloth comes away looking grey and grubby, your furniture really does need cleaning.  
  2. To determine if your furniture is harbouring dust, take a small piece of black or very dark-coloured fabric and fix it over the end of your vacuum cleaner hose using an elastic band.  Now run the vacuum over the furniture.  If the fabric comes back covered in white debris, your upholstery is full of dust and urgently needs cleaning.

Why have your upholstery professionally cleaned?

There are a number of reasons why professional cleaning is the best option for your furniture.

Appearance, wear and tear

The most obvious reason for having your furniture cleaned professionally is to keep it looking good.  Even relatively new upholstery can age rapidly if it's allowed to get dirty.  Regular cleaning can help to keep your suite looking as good as new.

Dust and grime that become engrained can actually damage the fibres of your upholstery, leading to damage and early wear.  In the long run, it's much cheaper to have your furniture cleaned regularly than to continually replace it.

Professional upholstery cleaners can apply a special protective product to your upholstery that prevents staining from spilt food and drinks.  This means that you can simply wipe away spills that would otherwise leave a sticky mess on your upholstery, acting as a dust trap. 

Your family's health

Obviously, your family's health is of paramount importance.  Dusty furniture can trigger allergies, potentially harbour bedbugs, and even provide an environment in which potentially harmful bacteria can proliferate.

Regular cleaning will prevent dust from building up within the fabric of your furniture, keeping the air in your home cleaner and free from potentially damaging allergens.  The cleaning products used by a professional upholstery cleaning services are specially formulated to deal with any bacteria, no matter how deep inside the furniture they might be lurking.  This is particularly important if you have pets.

In conclusion

Although it might at first seem expensive, having your upholstery professionally cleaned is well-worth the outlay.  Your furniture will smell fresher, look better, and last longer.  Not only that, your family will enjoy a healthier home environment, free from dust and bacteria.

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