Fabric furniture is cleaned in your home once its care label has been read. Armchairs are £33 and dining chairs £13 each; headboards, ottomans and footstools are priced on the call.
Most upholstered furniture carries a cleaning code on a small label, usually under a seat cushion, on the platform beneath it or stapled to the underside of the frame. That code says what the fabric will tolerate, and it decides whether a piece can be booked at all, so find it before you ring if you can.
Fabric care codes and what each allows
| Code | Meaning | At booking |
|---|---|---|
| W | Water-based cleaning | Suits hot water extraction and is booked as normal |
| WS or SW | Water or solvent | Usually fine with extraction; delicate weaves get a spot test |
| S | Solvent cleaning only | Water can shrink it, ring it or make the dye run, so mention it on the call and we will say whether we can take it on |
| X | Vacuum only | No wet cleaning of any kind, so it cannot be booked for a clean |
No label, or one snipped off long ago? The cleaner tests a hidden patch, for example the back of the skirt or the underside of a cushion, and tells you the result before going further. Velvet, chenille, linen and silk blends get the closest look whatever the label says.
Prices for chairs, headboards and other pieces
| Piece | Price |
|---|---|
| Armchair | £33 |
| Dining chair (fabric seat, back or both) | £13 |
| Two-seat sofa | £57 |
| Headboard | Priced on the call |
| Ottoman or footstool | Priced on the call |
Headboards and ottomans differ too much in size and cover for one fixed figure, so describe them when you ring: height and width, the fabric and any buttons or piping. Sofas are priced seat by seat on the sofa and upholstery cleaning page. A one-off job is never less than £67, which a handful of dining chairs alone may not reach; an armchair or a mattress on the same booking usually tips it over. Your date is held once half the price has gone through, by card or bank transfer.
Cleaning each piece where it stands
None of the furniture leaves the house. The cleaner starts by vacuuming the seams, the piping and the gap beneath loose cushions, then pre-sprays the arms and the top of the back, where hands and hair leave a greasy line. A hand tool on the extraction machine rinses the cover and draws the water straight back out, keeping the filling underneath as dry as it can be. Dining chairs with wooden backs only need the seat pad doing. A headboard fixed to the wall or the bed is cleaned in position, so strip the bed and pull it forward a little before the cleaner arrives. An ottoman is done on the lid and sides; empty a storage ottoman beforehand so the lid can be lifted.
Drying fabric furniture
Allow a few hours of drying with fresh air or heating, and longer where seat cushions are thick or backs are stuffed with feathers. Stand loose cushions on their edges so both faces get air. Keep dark throws, coloured scatter cushions and newspapers off pale fabric until it is dry, because damp fabric picks up dye. Resist pushing a chair against a hot radiator to hurry it along; direct heat can leave a tide line. Pets should stay off until the cover feels dry when you press it.
Questions about upholstery cleaning
Will marks come out of an armchair?
Everyday soiling usually lifts: food, drink and the grey film where arms and heads rest. Marks that have changed the fibre itself, such as bleach, scorch marks and sun fade, stay put, and the cleaner points them out before starting.
Can a mattress or curtains be cleaned on the same visit?
Yes, with the same machine. Mattress cleaning and curtain cleaning each have their own prices and notes on getting ready.
Can a carpet be done as well?
Yes. Fitted carpets are priced per room under carpet cleaning. When both are booked, the chairs are done before the floor.
What if a piece turns out to be too delicate?
If the spot test shows the dye bleeding or the pile distorting, the cleaner stops before touching the rest of that piece and talks through the options with you there and then.