ATLANTA CARPET & UPHOLSTERY CLEANERS

Read our reviews on Atlanta carpet cleaners and carpet cleaning companies

Upholstery cleaning

Most carpet cleaning companies also clean upholstery.  However, due to the wide variety of fabrics involved, upholstery cleaning is more difficult than carpet cleaning.  As with carpet cleaning, attention to detail and technician skill are key for best results.  A common issue with upholstery cleaning is overwetting.  Overly wet upholstery may shrink during the drying process and develop split seams.  Another issue is bleeding.  Depending on the fabric and the cleaning process used, some colors may bleed and permanently damage the upholstery.

Just as with clothing, different cleaning processes are employed for different fabric types to minimize the above problems.  Cleaning instructions are often found on a furniture tag located out of sight, such as underneath a cushion.  Water-based cleaning, usually denoted with a "W" on the tag, is commonly used for synthetic fabrics.  Solvent-based cleaning, or dry cleaning, is usually denoted with an "S" on the tag and is commonly used for natural fibers.  Unfortunately, even though cleaning instructions usually accompany the fabric to the upholstery shop or furniture maker, many shops do not bother to affix this information to the furniture.  If the cleaning instructions were not marked, the furniture store from which the piece was purchased might still have cleaning instructions on file in the back of a fabric book.

If all of these methods of determining cleaning methods fail, a trained technician can use a burn test, in which a strand of fiber is taken from a location that is not visible and burned.  The way in which the fiber burns can reveal the fabric type.

Carpet and upholstery cleaning companies

Many carpet cleaning companies offer coupon deals that seem too good to be true.  As discussed in the Additional Consumer Tips section, prices that seem too good to be true usually are.  Some of these unbeatable deals are a bait and switch.  For example, the fine print may state that the price is based on a one-bedroom house.  After the technician arrives, he or she raises the price considerably, based on the size of your home.  Or, the technician informs you that you need X, Y, and Z, but the deal is only for X.  If you want Y and Z, it costs considerably more.

Other unbeatable deals stretch the definition of carpet cleaning to the extreme.  If a technician arrives, quickly moves the equipment around the house, does an extremely poor job on the carpets, and only stays a short time, has he or she cleaned your carpet?  Such companies give the industry a bad reputation.

Phone estimates are a common practice in the carpet and upholstery cleaning industry.  Because stain removal and other repairs usually cost extra, be sure to mention these problem spots to get an accurate estimate.  If you get an estimate over the phone from a reputable company, the estimate should lie within the ballpark of the final bill. 

Carpet and upholstery cleaners, like any other company working at the home, should carry both workers' compensation and liability insurance. (Click here for more information on insurance.)

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