A sofa isn't a carpet, and cleaning it like one is how sofas get ruined. Different fabrics react completely differently to heat, moisture and chemistry — get it wrong and you don't just fail to clean it, you can leave a permanent watermark, a crushed pile, or a stiffened patch that wasn't there before. Here's what we actually check and do before a sponge or a machine ever touches the fabric.
Why we identify the fabric before we touch it
Wool felt and linen hold water and can watermark or shrink if they're over-wetted. Velvet can crush or change pile direction under the wrong equipment — you'll have seen this if a velvet sofa has ever come back from a clean looking patchy or "brushed the wrong way." Faux suede can stiffen or streak. Synthetic weaves are generally more forgiving, but even those vary between manufacturers.
We identify what we're working with first, then choose the product and moisture level for that specific fabric, testing in a hidden area first whenever there's any doubt. It's the same principle as the wool-safe carpet cleaning we do — the wrong product on the wrong material causes damage that doesn't always show up until later, by which point it's too late to undo.
How we actually clean it
- Fabric identification and a hidden-area test — before anything is applied to the visible sofa.
- Full seat, back and arm clean — not just the seat cushions, which is where a quicker "clean" often stops.
- Low-moisture extraction — enough to properly lift dirt, body oils and stains out of the weave, not so much that it soaks through to the frame and padding underneath.
- Choice of standard, fragrance-free or 100% plant-based products — the same three options as our carpet cleaning, at no extra cost.
- Fast, assisted drying — usually sit-on ready within a few hours or sooner, fabric depending.
It's not just sofas
Armchairs and recliners get the same fabric-first treatment — recliners in particular tend to show the most wear exactly where you'd expect, on the headrest and armrests, since that's where body oils build up fastest.
Honest, transparent pricing
- Pouffe — £35
- Armchair — £55
- Love / cuddle seat — £82.50
- 2-seater sofa — £90
- 3-seater sofa — £125
- 4-seater / corner — £160
Unusual configuration or an oversized corner unit? Custom pricing is £35 per seat plus £10 per arm. Cushions, arms and frame are all included in the price for the seat count you book — we don't charge extra to do the job properly.
What's worth knowing before you book
Most sofa and upholstery jobs come up beautifully. A few things are worth knowing upfront: very old set-in stains, some dyes, and certain heavily degraded fabrics may not fully restore to like-new. We'll always tell you honestly what we think is achievable before starting, not after — as with any upholstery work, we don't guarantee 100% stain removal, only a straight assessment first.
Combining a sofa clean with your carpets?
Use the calculator for an instant, exact price — including combined carpet and sofa bookings.