Wet cleaning can mean shampooing, sponge cleaning, or steam cleaning - with steam cleaning being the most common method. More and more fabrics are being produced which can be wet cleaned, but there are many which cannot be, as they will shrink, fade, or bleed. In those cases, dry cleaning is the only option. Because dry cleaning utilizes solvents, there is no risk of shrinkage, fading or bleeding.

When you are making a decision to purchase furniture, I highly recommend you buy furniture which is wet cleanable, as wet cleaning - particularly steam cleaning - is infinitely more effective in removing household dirt and grime than solvents.

Look for a tag, which is usually on the platform under the cushion of a chair or under the center cushion of a couch,
and look for the cleaning code. The letter S means solvent clean only; the letter W means it can be wet cleaned; both S and W mean it can be cleaned with either; and if it has an X, it means neither solvents nor water can be used on it.

It is not uncommon for a technician to be faced with a dry-clean only fabric that is soiled to the point where only wet cleaning will produce a desirable effect. A reputable serviceman will, most likely, explain to you that dry cleaning will have no effect and that wet cleaning, though it will remove the soil, may also shrink or fade the fabric. Should you decide to proceed with wet cleaning, you will probably be asked to sign some kind of release form which will hold the cleaning company harmless for any damage to your furniture. If you have dry cleanable furniture in your house as well as children or pets who eat or play on them, you should be prepared to hear this from the technician. If you don't hear this, be wary. You could be dealing with a novice (or worse), and you would be best served by showing him the door.

Drapes, particularly custom ones, are almost always dry cleanable only. Most drapes can be well maintained by regular vacuuming, though occasionally it may be necessary to have them dry cleaned. If they aren't too bad, they can be cleaned while hanging. If they are fairly soiled, I recommend you take them down, and take them to a professional dry cleaner.

The cleaning of drapes in the home is priced by the pleat, and the price will vary depending on fabric type, length, whether lined or not, and soil condition. It is a good idea to inspect your drapes prior to cleaning for sun rot, tears, etc. and to let the technician know about these. Many wet cleanable drapes, usually identified by having a latex backing, can be easily laundered at home or at a laundromat. By doing so, you can save a lot of money and you will be more pleased with the results.

Upholstery is priced either by the piece or by the linear foot. As with drapes, the price will depend on the type of fabric, which will determine the cleaning method, whether or not the back and sides need to be cleaned, degree of soiling, whether or not it has skirting or upholstered legs, and number of loose pillows.

From the previous section on carpet cleaning, you read some tips on how to choose a carpet cleaner. Basically you should use the same criteria in choosing who cleans your drapes and furniture. Most carpet cleaning companies clean upholstery and drapes, as well, and often the same technician will do both.

Our technicians at A-1 Cleaning Connection, Inc. have many years of experience in cleaning upholstery. We will be glad to come to your house and provide you with an estimate for cleaning your upholstery and drapes.