Upholstery furniture such as sofas and armchairs get used day-in and day-out, so inevitably they’re going to need cleaning every now and again to combat accumulated dirt and debris, stains and allergens. But what are the telltale signs to signal the time is due to call in an upholstery & sofa cleaning London specialist to tackle your upholstery? Here’s what to look out for.

1. Your upholstery looks dull

If your brilliant white or cream sofa has started to look grey and faded, or a colourful armchair has lost its vibrant sparkle and shine, this could indicate it needs professional cleaning.

Dirt and dust can build up in the fabrics of your upholstery, causing them to appear discoloured over time. The only way to bring colour back to your furnishings, is through regular deep cleaning from a professional sofa cleaning company.

Whether you require sofa cleaning in London or elsewhere, always look for a business that uses high-tech equipment, such as steam cleaners, that not only eliminate the dirt from the surface of your upholstery, but from deep inside fabrics. This ensures your upholstery stands the best chance of being returned looking more like its original clean and vibrant self, with the maximum amount of dirt eradicated.

2. Stains are hard to ignore

If stains have become increasingly visible in your upholstery lately, you’ve attempted to remove the stains yourself with limited success, or persistent stains keep re-emerging, it’s time to call in the experts.

Stains left too long in your upholstery will become increasingly more difficult to remove as time goes by, so it’s essential that you act fast and don’t let them linger.

3. Your upholstery smells

Old stains that haven’t been properly removed from your sofa can attract bacteria which starts to feed off them, which can result in stale odours occurring. Bad smells in your sofas can also arise from dirt, stale smoke and cooking odours trapped in fabrics.

If you notice your sofa smelling, you might be able to nip mild odours in the bud by applying baking soda to your upholstery, which acts like a natural deodoriser. However, if this doesn’t work and odours still persist, it’s definitely time to speak to our upholstery & sofa cleaning London team of experts.

Professional sofa cleaners, like ours, will deep clean fabrics to remove the dirt, stains and debris responsible for causing odours, whilst deodorising your upholstery so it smells fresher and more appealing.

4. You feel embarrassed by your upholstery

If your sofa or armchair used to be your pride and joy, but now you feel embarrassed whenever guests come over and sit down, it could mean your upholstery has lost its appeal because of general wear and tear. A lifeless chair or settee can be revived with a professional deep clean, where it can enjoy a cleaner, brighter, fresher and more appealing appearance, without causing you any shame.

5. You can see dust

Dust can hide deep inside your upholstery, so it’s not always visible, but if you start to notice it when you sit down, or if you plump the cushions on your sofa and a cloud of dust rises up, it’s a sure sign your upholstery needs a good deep cleaning. 

Check hidden parts of your upholstery that aren’t as visible, such as underneath padding and cushions, and down the back of the sofa. These can also easily gather dust, crumbs and dirt particles over time, without you noticing.

6. You’re experiencing an increase in allergy symptoms

If you suffer from asthma, hay fever, eczema or other allergy-related illnesses, unclean upholstery can worsen symptoms for sufferers of these conditions. That’s because dust mites, pollen, pet dander and other allergens can build up in sofas, chairs and other soft furnishings over time, causing problems for your health.

If you start to experience an increase in your allergy symptoms, particularly inside your home and when sitting on your sofa, it could mean that your upholstery needs deep cleaning and sanitising to remove harmful health allergens and irritants.

Bear in mind that allergens don’t just live in upholstery. They can thrive in other fabric items, such as carpets, curtains and rugs, so just getting your sofa cleaned might not be enough to resolve the problem. A full deep clean of all your upholstery and fabric items may be needed to keep allergens at bay, which can have a positive impact on your health, and even improve the quality of the air inside your home.

7. You spot mould

Mould or mildew can start to grow in unclean upholstery that’s had stains, or been left damp for too long. If you spot telltale mould or mildew spores, it’s not good news. Not only could your upholstery be at risk of damage, but your health could suffer.

Act immediately and contact a professional upholstery cleaning company which specialises in mould and mildew removal. Choose one that uses deep cleaning methods that won’t saturate your upholstery with water, because this can encourage even more mould and mildew to grow.

8. Your upholstery is covered in pet hairs

Like people, our pets like to enjoy the comfort of sitting on a soft, comfy chair or sofa, and over time, their presence will become evident. Pet hairs can build up in upholstery, which can often be kept on top of with regular vacuuming and the use of a lint roller. But, if your upholstery is still covered in pet hairs, despite your best attempts to remove it, it might need extra help from a professional cleaning company.

The added benefit of getting your upholstery professionally cleaned is that a reputable sofa cleaning company will also be able to help with removing other types of pet dirt and soiling in your upholstery, including dander, pests, odours and urine stains.

9. It’s been a while since it was last cleaned

Even if your upholstery doesn’t necessarily look visibly stained or dirty, it could still harbour dirt and particles that you can’t see. Therefore, if you’re unsure whether your upholstery needs cleaning or not, think about when it was last cleaned. 

Experts advise that upholstery should be professionally cleaned at least once every 12 months, although this timescale can vary depending on how frequently your upholstery is used, and what condition it’s in.

If it’s been more than a year, however, since your upholstery was cleaned, now’s a good time to book an appointment with a reputable sofa cleaning company.

If you’re looking for sofa cleaning in London or other parts of the South East, choose a company that specialises in different upholstery fabrics, and uses effective cleaning methods that provide long-lasting results.

When you’re seeking upholstery & sofa cleaning London professionals, contact the award-winning team at Carpet Bright UK.