Cleaning Upholstery

I have a pale beige sofa which at four years old is beginning to look a bit tired. Any obvious spillages have been cleaned successfully but I think the whole thing sofa needs cleaning/refreshing. Can anyone recommend an upholstery cleaner that is easy to use and won't ruin it or should I pay a cleaning company to do it?

Re: Cleaning Upholstery

1-Elbow grease-ie get some cleaner and work

2-Cleaning companies do a great job

3-Compare the cost of a cleaning company to the cost of getting new covers

Re: Cleaning Upholstery

1 - Very clever! A four year old £1000 sofa gets ruined!
2 - Right - I agree - any recommendations?
3 - Nope - sofa doesn't take to covers!

I'll be comparing the cost of a professional company to clean my very expensive sofa, against the cost of a vax cleaner or similar and am currently asking for recommendations.

Thanks for your input.

Re: Cleaning Upholstery

Lindyloo I took my cushion covers to a local supermarket (Morrisons) that also has a drycleaners and they did a wonderful job really quite cheaply.

If it is an expensive sofa I wouldn't take chances on using a vax.

A few years ago I got a different one professionally cleaned and it took all the "guts" out of it, never the same again.

Just re-read your post, it doesn't have detatchable covers? Then I think professional cleaner is probably your only option.

Re: Cleaning Upholstery

You could try to clean it yourself but you'd need to do a patch test somewhere hidden from view - just in case!! I think I'd get a professional in, there'll be some in your area if you dig around, I expect.
Above all you don't want to ruin it and a professional should know how to treat each type of material....I would hope!!
I have loose covers on mine but I'm still a bit wary when I remove them for washing and my fingers are crossed 'til they go back on!!

Re: Cleaning Upholstery

Lindy I think it depends what kind of fabric is covering the sofa.

If it was expensive and you employ a company to come in and steam clean it for you they will be insured if there are mishaps

Re: Cleaning Upholstery

Thanks for all the replies. I've just hunted around for the receipt which (of course) doesn't say what its made of, but there's an advert on ebay for the same sofa bed, which says it's made of microfibre.

The three cushions along the back are removable and so are the covers, but the rest of the fabric is fixed.

A friend has offered me the use of her Vax so I'm interested in your comment Baxter 8. Her machine is a V-124A - fairly expensive, but cheaper than a new sofa!

I asked the manager of the department in John Lewis how I should clean it and was told to use Service Master but they don't operate here.

Re: Cleaning Upholstery

Hi Lindyloo

Did you mean the vax steam cleaner? Red hot steam on fibres can't be a good thing. It could be that your friend's vax is perfectly suitable.

About one year ago I bought two rather expensive rugs and the salesman said "whatever you do don't use a vax on them" so that kind of put me off. I always got the idea they were only suitable for tough carpets.

Re: Cleaning Upholstery

Thanks Baxter8
It's the Vax V-124A dual upright carpet and upholstery cleaner. Think I need to find out more about it. My preference is to be as independent as possible, but don't want to ruin the sofa.

Re: Cleaning Upholstery

Stardrops every time for me when cleaning cloth upholstery, it has many uses around the home