Four costly misconceptions about upholstery cleaning

For the next few weeks I'm going blog about misconceptions regarding upholstery cleaning. Many people often forget that having their upholstery cleaned is just as important as having their carpets cleaned.

But my furniture doesn't look dirty!
Oh but it is....

And now here’s misconception #1:

“You should wait as long as possible before cleaning your upholstery.”

That’s not true. Soiling can accumulate rather quickly on upholstery through use. It’s transferred to the fabric from clothing, body perspiration and items placed on it, such as newspaper, food and drinks. Dust also settles on upholstery, along with airborne soils containing cooking fats or cigarette smoke. Many of these soils are tacky and will hold the dust to the fabric. In fact, the closer your upholstery is to the kitchen, the tackier the dust becomes and thus more harmful to the fabric.

Combine that with the exposure of pet dander, dust mite accumulation and every day use, consumer groups therefore recommend cleaning at least every 12-24 months. If cleaning is postponed any length of time, fabric and colors can begin to dull, and the original appearance becomes more difficult to restore, shortening the life of the upholstery considerably.