Couch and Upholstery Cleaning: What the Fabric Tag Tells Us

Where is the tag, and what do the letters mean?

Look under the seat cushions first. The tag can also sit along the frame base, under the skirt or on the back of a loose cover. Cushions can carry their own tags, so check each one.

• W: water-based cleaning is suitable. It does not mean the fabric can go in a washing machine.
• S: solvent only. Water can cause rings, colour bleeding or shrinkage. Solvent products need ventilation and no ignition sources, and we follow the product's safety instructions and re-entry guidance.
• WS (also written SW or W/S): either water-based or solvent cleaning can be used.
• X: vacuuming and light brushing only. No liquids of any kind.

These codes are guidance for spot cleaning. Read them as a starting point, not a verdict on what a professional clean can do. Tell us the code when you request the quote, or send the letter from the tag.

No tag, or a faded one? Say so. With no code we treat the fabric as the most sensitive type until a test shows otherwise.

Why we test a hidden patch first

Sun, age and spills can change how a fabric behaves, so the tag does not always tell the whole story. Where wet cleaning suits the fabric code and the item, we apply a small amount of the cleaner to a hidden spot, press a white cloth on it, and look for colour transfer, a change in texture or a spreading ring. If anything shifts, we stop and talk to you. A pass on colour does not prove the backing, filling and shape can take wet cleaning, so we weigh those too.

X-coded pieces get vacuuming and light brushing only, with no liquid test. Please do not test any fabric with water yourself, particularly S or X coded ones, since water can leave rings or shrink the fabric.

What to do before we arrive

• Vacuum the couch, under and between the cushions.
• Take off loose covers and cushions that can come off, and tell us whether they carry their own tags.
• Tell us about stains and what has been used on them already.
• Count the seats. Fully upholstered couches are usually priced per seat, so the number matters.
• Mention pet hair or odours when we call you back.

Fabrics we ask about first

Velvet, suede-type fabrics, silk and wool blends need a closer look because they react to water and heat. Tell us the fabric if you know it.

Leather is a different job. Mention it when you request, and we tell you whether it is something we take on. We do not quote leather from this page.

Drying and getting the couch back in use

We keep moisture low on upholstery. How long a couch takes to dry depends on the fabric, the room and the weather, and we tell you roughly how long when we finish.

• Open windows for ventilation, and run a fan if the air outside is dry.
• A dry surface does not prove the cushion filling is dry. Keep the couch out of normal use until we say it is dry. Unsure? Ask us.
• Keep children and pets away until we have said it is dry, and for any product re-entry time we give you.
• Put cushions back only once we say they are dry.
• Keep pillows and throws off the couch until then.

Price

Published Pretoria and Johannesburg prices are set per seat, plus extras. The cost guide lists two operators' figures with dates and sources.