If you want to clean your upholstery, you face a variety of options in cleaning methods and products. If you’re not likely to use your own upholstery-cleaning equipment and products at least twice a year, it’s probably a better value to rent equipment or hire a professional. Here’s what to know:

Tags

To find out whether renting or purchasing a steam cleaner is your best option, always check your upholstery tags. Here’s an explanation of what the tag codes mean:

W: Use a water-based detergent.

S: Use a water-free product.

WS: You can use either a water-based cleaner or a water-free cleaner, depending on the type of stain.

X: This upholstery fabric must be professionally cleaned.

Even after you’ve checked upholstery tags, always test a small area of fabric before applying any type of cleanser to the entire piece of furniture.

Stain types

Steam upholstery cleaners work well for stains from organic materials such as dirt, urine, wine and coffee. Though stubborn stains will require repeated cleaning, steam cleaning is effective for theses types of stains. Any others may require specific chemical-based cleaners.

Equipment

When it comes to choosing upholstery cleaning equipment, consider ease of use. Some machines are heavy and require considerable physical effort, but lightweight options are also available. Along with the weight of the machine, review the attachments; many newer machines are fitted with a number of special attachments designed to make cleaning easier.

Cleanser

Be aware of what type of cleanser each machine uses. You may need several bottles for bigger jobs, and some brands can be  expensive, around $200 to $500. Some renters of upholstery cleaning machines will insist their machines only work with (and that you purchase), their own brand of cleaner; others will recommend generic or even homemade cleaning products.

So it’s helpful to note how expensive the cleanser for a particular machine is, and how easy it is to obtain, before you rent or purchase. Consider a non-toxic cleanser if you have allergies or asthma, and especially if there are pets or children in your household.

Cleaning methods

Two factors that determine the best choice of upholstery-cleaning machine are upholstery type and the type of stain you most frequently encounter. While steam cleaning is appropriate for most synthetic fibers, natural materials like leather and suede require a dry-cleaning process with a water-free cleanser. Applying water to these natural fabrics may cause them to shrink.

For more information about cleaning your furniture, see the Guide to Upholstery Cleaning.

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