When Should You Hire A Professional Upholstery Cleaner?
Having your upholstery steam cleaning regularly will help keep your home cleaner and fresher, but hiring an upholstery cleaning company isn’t always necessary. When should you hire a professional upholstery cleaner, and when can you get away with DIY? Here are five things to consider before calling in the pros for steam cleaning your carpets, couches, and other upholstered surfaces around the house.
The benefits of hiring a pro
When should you hire a professional upholstery cleaner, and when can you save money by cleaning your own home’s upholstery instead? There are many factors to take into account in order to determine which is right for you: cost, your schedule, and more. If you’re wondering Can I clean my own upholstery? keep reading.
The risks of hiring a pro
You might be tempted to hire someone to clean your upholstery because of how involved and potentially risky it can be. But unless you’re in a pinch, cleaning your own furniture is usually the safer bet. For example, if you spill something on fabric that contains asbestos or formaldehyde (like an old window treatment), it’s easy to breathe it in, which can cause respiratory issues like asthma. These substances are also carcinogenic, which means they have been found to cause cancer when exposure levels are high enough over time.
Since professionals may not know exactly what kind of material is used to make your furniture—which could put them at risk for unknowingly exposing themselves and their clients to hazardous materials—it’s best to avoid hiring one altogether if possible.
How to avoid the risks
Baking soda is one of those unusual kitchen ingredients that have multiple uses. A good example of how to use it for cleaning purposes is when it’s combined with vinegar to clean carpets. This does a great job of lifting out stains and odors from carpets, but when used on your sofa and chairs, it can be problematic. One thing to be aware of is that baking soda isn’t acidic, which means that it won’t work well at lifting out set-in stains. Instead, opt for products designed specifically for cleaning your upholstery, like Upholstery steam cleaning
How to find the right pro
If you have especially delicate pieces that can’t be cleaned with baking soda and water, or if you don’t have time to clean your furniture at all, it’s worth hiring a pro. You can find a local pro by Googling upholstery cleaning near me. If you want to do even more research before contacting someone, Yelp is an invaluable tool—you can read reviews of people who were happy or not so happy with their experience. Most importantly, whether or not to contact an expert is ultimately about deciding how much money and time you want to spend.
Conclusion
To maximize your results, take care of any spills or stains as soon as possible. Always read labels, but it’s generally a good idea to call for professional help when dealing with tough, set-in stains or if there’s any question about an item’s fabric composition. Regardless of whether or not you hire out for certain cleaning tasks, learning how to deep clean and protect your home’s textiles will give you added peace of mind about their long-term state and ensure that they last as long as possible. Upholstery steam cleaning is an effective technique for freshening and preserving soft furnishings without putting them through too much wear and tear; the key is knowing when to use it.