Upholstery cleaners near you

Upholstery cleaning involves deep cleaning the fabric on your furniture (sofas, chairs, etc.) to remove stains and odors. Some companies that clean upholstery may also offer carpet cleaning services. 

In most cases, here’s what you can expect when hiring upholstery cleaners: 

• Inspection: The upholstery cleaner will determine what kind of material they're dealing with by looking at the furniture's tag or visually inspecting the upholstery. They may also try to identify stains.

• Vacuum: The upholstery cleaner will remove loose dust and debris with a vacuum.

• Pre-treatment: The cleaner will apply a pre-treatment solution to heavily soiled areas and allow it to soak for several minutes. 

• Cleaning: Upholstery cleaners use different methods depending on the type of fabric and the stain. Common methods include steam cleaning, hot water extraction and dry cleaning. This step is repeated as needed. 

• Drying: Because most of the moisture is extracted during cleaning, air drying is usually sufficient. However, some upholstery cleaners may run a fan to speed up the drying process. 

When looking for a professional upholstery cleaner: 

• Verify their license and insurance: Prioritize upholstery cleaners who have a local business license and liability insurance. You can verify this directly with the licensing authority or insurance provider, since local requirements vary.

• Read their reviews: Avoid hiring pros with consistent negative feedback, such as furniture discoloration, lingering odors, extended dampness or excess residue. 

• Look at their portfolios: Find out if the pro has worked with your specific upholstery material or stain type. If your furniture is antique, consider someone with experience handling these delicate fabrics.

• Find out if they have warranties: Make sure you understand the warranty’s conditions before you hire a pro. A warranty or satisfaction guarantee can usually protect you in case of excess moisture, mold, or dirt due to leftover residue. 

• Ask important questions: For example, ask what cleaning methods they use and how long it will take the furniture to dry? 

For more tips, visit Thumbtack’s Smart Hiring page. 

The national average cost of upholstery cleaning ranges from around $139 to $254*, according to Thumbtack data.

There are several factors that might impact the cost of hiring a professional upholstery cleaner, including: 

• Furniture type: Upholstery cleaners typically charge more for larger pieces or those with more hard-to-reach nooks and crevices. For example, cleaning a sectional sofa will likely cost more than a two-person loveseat or a recliner.

• Fabric or material: Some upholstery materials are harder to clean or require specialized care. Specialty materials like silk or leather often cost more to clean than cotton or wool.

• Condition: You can expect to pay more for upholstery cleaning if your furniture is heavily soiled or in need of repair.

You might be able to save money on your project with these tips: 

• Care and maintenance: Protecting your upholstery and cleaning minor spills before they set in can reduce how often you need to hire a professional cleaner. 

• Take advantage of deals: Look for cleaners in your area offering specials or sales. Some cleaners may offer discounted services for cleaning multiple items instead of just one.

• Request several estimates: Gathering more than one estimate can help ensure you’re not overpaying for services.

*Data on file at Thumbtack. For a personalized cost estimate, request a quote from a professional.

Look for these signs that indicate it’s likely time to hire a professional upholstery cleaner:

• Visible stains or discoloration: While household cleaning products are useful for surface cleaning, professional upholstery cleaners use specialized equipment and cleaning solutions to remove set-in stains and restore fabrics.

• Persistent odors: If your upholstery has a lingering odor even after spraying it with a fabric freshener, it could be a sign of mold, pet waste or food remnants that a professional can eliminate.

• Allergic reactions: Watch out for symptoms like sneezing, itchy eyes or skin irritation after sitting on a piece of furniture. This could be a sign that allergens like pet dander, pollen or dust have become embedded in your furniture.

For most cleaning tasks, professional upholstery cleaners use the following equipment:

• Vacuums: Professional upholstery cleaners usually use powerful vacuums to suck up all the loose dirt and crumbs hiding in your furniture.  

• Pre-treatment sprays: Cleaners may apply special sprays on stains to break them down before the main cleaning starts.  

• Hot water extraction machines: These machines shoot a warm cleaning solution into your upholstery and suck up all the dirty water.  

• Specialized cleaning solutions: Pros usually bring various professional-grade cleaners — typically much stronger than you can buy at the store — for different fabrics and stain types. 

• Steam cleaners: For some fabrics, upholstery cleaners might use hot steam to kill germs and lift stains without getting your furniture too wet.  

• Rotary brushes: Cleaners typically use spinning brushes that work the solution into the fabric without damaging it.   

• Fans: After cleaning, pros may set up big fans to dry your furniture quickly so it doesn’t stay damp.  

• Protective treatments: Many pros finish by applying a protective spray that helps repel future spills and stains.  

Hiring a pro to clean you upholstery can be worth the time and money. Consider these factors to determine if you want to make this investment: 

• Fabric type: Delicate fabrics like silk or velvet can get damaged if you clean them incorrectly. Hiring a professional is often the safest solution for these fabrics.

• Stain severity: Tough stains from wine, pets or oil might not come out with DIY solutions — and might even spread or worsen from the effort.

• Odor issues: Persistent smells from pets, smoke or food often require deep-cleaning methods that many pros can provide.

• Equipment availability: Professional upholstery cleaners have powerful cleaning machines and specialty solutions you can’t buy in stores.   

• Warranty requirements: If your furniture is under warranty, the manufacturer will often provide you with a professional cleaning service or require you to get one, at their cost.  

• Cost-benefit analysis: Think about how much your furniture is worth. Investing in professional cleaning usually makes sense for more expensive or sentimental items, especially compared to replacement costs.