Creating a clean, welcoming home goes beyond floors and benchtops — your furniture plays a major role too. This Upholstery Cleaning Guide is designed to help you eliminate stubborn stains and lingering odours while protecting the comfort and appearance of your upholstered furniture.
At Elite Maintenance Services Group, we help Australian households maintain healthier, fresher homes by delivering professional, proven upholstery cleaning solutions. Whether it’s a sofa, armchair or dining chair, the right approach can extend the life of your furniture and improve your indoor environment.
Why Upholstery Cleaning Really Matters
Upholstery isn’t just about appearance — it directly impacts health and comfort. Over time, dirt, dust, pet dander, bacteria and allergens become embedded deep within fabric fibres. Without regular professional care, these pollutants can affect air quality and trigger allergic reactions.
Routine upholstery cleaning helps preserve furniture, improves hygiene and supports a healthier living space for your family.
Step 1: Assess Your Upholstery Before Cleaning
Before starting any cleaning process, it’s important to understand the fabric and its condition.
Fabric Type
- Identify whether the upholstery is made from natural or synthetic fibres
- Check manufacturer cleaning codes (wet clean, solvent clean, dry clean only, or vacuum only)
Stain Identification
- Note visible stains and their source, such as food spills, drinks or pet accidents
- Older stains often require specialised treatment
Step 2: Gather the Right Cleaning Essentials
If attempting light maintenance cleaning, ensure you have the correct tools on hand:
- Mild upholstery detergent
- Soft-bristled brush
- White vinegar and water solution
- Clean, lint-free cloths
- Vacuum cleaner with upholstery attachment
Step 3: Pre-Cleaning Preparation
- Thorough vacuuming
Vacuum all surfaces carefully to remove loose dirt and debris, paying close attention to seams and crevices. - Spot testing
Always test cleaning solutions on an inconspicuous area first to prevent colour loss or fibre damage.
Step 4: Cleaning the Upholstery
- Targeted stain treatment
Blot stains gently using the appropriate solution — never rub, as this can spread the stain further into the fibres. - Overall fabric cleaning
Lightly clean the entire surface with a mild detergent solution, using gentle brushing to lift embedded grime.
Step 5: Odour Elimination
Odours are often caused by bacteria trapped within the fabric.
- Use a diluted vinegar solution to help neutralise smells
- Ensure good ventilation during and after cleaning
Step 6: Drying and Finishing Touches
- Allow upholstery to air dry naturally, avoiding direct sunlight or heat sources. Once dry, fluff cushions and reshape furniture to restore appearance and comfort.
When to Call the Professionals
While basic maintenance can help, there are times when professional upholstery cleaning is the safest and most effective option.
Choosing Elite’s professional upholstery cleaning gives you access to:
- Deep cleaning power using commercial-grade equipment
- Expert stain treatment for stubborn or widespread stains
- Fabric-safe methods, aligned with IICRC cleaning standards
- Time-saving convenience with efficient, thorough results
- Professional odour removal that eliminates smells at the source
Elite technicians are trained to identify fabric types and apply the correct cleaning method without damage. We use advanced solutions such as Elite Super Sanitiser and Elite Suppa Spotta, designed to help protect upholstery from germs and bacteria while remaining safe for households.
A Cleaner Home Starts with Expert Care
Regular upholstery maintenance improves comfort, hygiene and furniture longevity. When combined with professional care, it creates a cleaner, healthier and more enjoyable living environment.
Elite also offers complementary services such as carpet cleaning and mattress cleaning to help keep your entire home fresh.
Book Professional Upholstery Cleaning with Elite Today
Let Elite help you say goodbye to stains and odours — and hello to a cleaner, healthier home.
Request a quote for professional upholstery cleaning
Or call 131580 to secure your appointment today
Elite Maintenance Services Group — Experts Since 1984. Australia Wide With Pride.
