Scotchguard Carpet and Upholstery Protector: Parker CO

Just like your clothes, furniture upholstery gets soiled from regular use and needs to be cleaned.

“Any fabric, not unlike clothes, will absorb oils from your skin,” says Jeff Bryant, owner of Pacific Carpet Cleaning in Newport Beach, CA.  Furniture also picks up hair and oils left behind by pets.

How often you clean your furniture depends on whether it’s in a high-traffic area, such as a family room, or if it’s rarely used.

“If it’s a chair you sit in every day, you’re going to want to clean it at least once a year,” Bryant says. “Most people don’t think about it that way.”

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Furniture upholstery is more delicate than carpet, and colors can fade easily if you don’t use the right upholstery cleaner. In most cases, Bryant says, it’s best to leave regular cleaning to the professionals.

Depending on the type of fabric, most professional upholstery cleaners will either steam-clean furniture upholstery or use a dry-cleaning solvent.

The cost of cleaning depends on the size of the furniture, the kind of fabric and the condition of the furniture.

Typically, the cost to clean an armchair or recliner ranges from $30 to $50, Pacific says, while most customers will pay $50 to $60 for a love seat. The cost of having a couch cleaned can range from $70 to $80, and a larger sectional sofa can cost between $100 and $150, he adds.

Cleaning over-sized or overstuffed furniture can cost a bit extra, Pacific says.