What should you base the decision on when deciding whether to clean it yourself?
Start with the care label, the condition of the material and the origin of the stain. If you are considering borrowing a machine, you will find the cost, transport and working-time estimates in the upholstery extractor rental comparison. The price of professional sofa cleaning starts at €65.
What affects the result of cleaning it yourself?
The result is affected by a product suited to the material, correct dosing, earlier treatment of the stain and moisture removal. For first-time use, read the instructions and do a compatibility test on a hidden area. Wrong treatment can leave product residue or damage the fabric.
When can you try it yourself?
You can always do ordinary vacuuming yourself. If you just want to reduce dust and have the time and money to spend, you can try a rented machine. We do not recommend doing anything yourself on a new sofa or on velvet fabric.
What are the risks of cleaning it yourself?
The most common mistakes are using the wrong product, which discolors the sofa, spreading the stains around and not extracting enough water, which makes the sofa start to mold. We recently saw a case where not enough water was extracted from a velvet sofa, the sofa ended up moldy and had to be thrown away. In another case, feather-filled sofa cushions were ruined by cleaning them yourself: they lost their fluffiness and did not return to their former shape. Velvet must not be poked or rubbed yourself, because the fabric can shrink or get damaged, and you also need to be careful with feather-filled cushions.
Is a professional cheaper in the end?
Renting can be cheaper in money terms. When you choose a professional, you also pay for the material assessment and the work of the person doing it; for a final comparison, count your own time and possible damage. We confirm the exact service price before you order. See the prices for sofa cleaning and armchair cleaning.
If you are weighing a household stain remover instead of a machine, read the comparison of household products and product residue.