Steam vs. Dry Cleaning: How Should I Clean My Sofa?

The sofa is often the main attraction in our living rooms. It’s important that it not only looks stylish but is also a spotless and comfortable thing to sit or even lie down on. To achieve that, we need to figure out how to clean its upholstery properly. 

Two popular cleaning methods that you may already be familiar with are steam cleaning and dry cleaning. Both have their merits, but only one may be more suitable for your sofa. While upholstery cleaning services know the best approach, it doesn’t hurt to learn the different ways to clean your furniture, does it? 

Let’s learn more about the differences between these cleaning techniques so you can make the right choice for your sofa. 

How Does Steam Cleaning Work? 

This is a deep cleaning method wherein you use a steam cleaner that heats water to produce steam that is then released through a nozzle that you must hold close to the sofa fabric. As the steam seeps into the upholstery, it will loosen the dirt and stains that have set in. The process also removes odours and kills bacteria and dust mites. 

Steam Cleaning Pros:

• This technique penetrates into the fibres, which makes them highly effective at tackling deep-seated dirt and germs. 
• Since steam cleaning only uses water, it’s generally more eco-friendly than methods that rely heavily on chemicals. 

Steam Cleaning Cons:

• A steam-cleaned sofa takes a long time to completely dry out. It can be inconvenient for those who use it often. 
• Mould can grow if the sofa isn’t fully dry. 
• The method is unsuitable for delicate upholstery materials like suede, velvet, and leather, as they can get damaged by water and high heat. 

What About Dry Cleaning?

Meanwhile, dry cleaning doesn’t use steam or water. Instead, it uses solvents to dissolve dirt and stains. The cleaning agent is applied to the sofa and gently brushed to loosen the particles in the soiled area. Afterward, the solvent and dirt are extracted with a vacuum. 

Dry Cleaning Pros:

• Since this method doesn’t use water, it won’t take long for your sofa to dry and be ready for use again. 
• Dry cleaning is gentler on fabrics that would get damaged by water-based cleaning. 

Dry Cleaning Cons:

• This doesn’t remove deeply embedded dirt and grime from your sofa, only surface-level soiling. 
• Dry cleaning doesn’t effectively kill bacteria, so it’s only ideal for spot cleaning, not intensive deep cleaning sessions. 
• Solvents can leave behind unpleasant smells if they aren’t extracted properly. 

Let’s Weigh Your Options

So which one should we choose for our dirty sofa? 

Get Your Sofa Steam Cleaned If:

• The upholstery material is more durable against water, like polyester, olefin, and nylon. 
• You need to have your sofa completely sanitised.
• You don’t mind waiting for several hours (or days, even!) before you can use the sofa again.

Opt for Dry Cleaning When: 

• You only want to deal with a few minor stains on the sofa. 
• Your upholstery isn’t suited for wet cleaning. 
• You need to use your sofa right after it’s cleaned. 

It’s Best to Call Upholstery Cleaning Services

If you’re still unsure whether to pick steam or dry cleaning, you should book a sofa cleaning company for the job. They work with different types of upholstery fabrics and know what kind of clean-up your furniture needs. Not only that, they have more advanced cleaning equipment to finish the job faster and more thoroughly. Hiring them will definitely save you from all the stress of caring for the sofa yourself. 

Make the Right Choice for Your Furniture

Steam cleaning and dry cleaning have their own applications when it comes to maintaining your sofa. It’s important to pick the right method if you want to extend your furniture’s lifespan. 

So if you’re ever in doubt, don’t hesitate to reach out to your local upholstery experts. Their guidance is the key to your sofa’s cleanliness.