Consultation & Providing You a Quote/Estimate
When you call us to request upholstery cleaning services (or a quote), we are going to request some specific information so that we can provide you as accurate an estimate as possible. We will need photos and the fabric content (if known) of each piece. With this information, we can discuss your concerns and provide a solution for you. The more information we have up front, the more accurate we can be with your estimate.
Why do we want to know the fiber content of your upholstery?
We at Benedict Fine Upholstery Cleaning not only focus on your concerns (soiling, stains, odor) but we also focus on the fiber content (for example 20% cotton 80% polyester) of your upholstery. Fiber content identification is important because it affects how we clean your upholstery, how we price your upholstery, and helps us to set your expectations as to cleanability and appearance. In general, natural fibers tend to take more time and effort to clean than synthetic fibers.
Below is our 9 step upholstery cleaning process we follow every time we clean your upholstery. We do not skip steps but take the time to clean all upholstery thoroughly without cutting corners.
1. We Assess Your Fabric
Day of Cleaning
Once we arrive to your location, we will review the estimate with you and confirm the scope of work. We will review the items we will be cleaning and confirm the fabric makeup. The look, feel, shininess, weight, and other characteristics help us to choose the proper chemistry and cleaning approach to produce the best results. The skill to properly identify fabrics so that the correct chemistry and cleaning approach is used takes years of experience. Inexperienced cleaners can damage your upholstery.
2. We Remove Dry Soil
This is the important first step in cleaning. We want to remove as much dry/particulate soil (dust, dirt, dry skin, dander, hair, etc) as possible prior to extraction. If this step is skipped, this dry soil adheres to the fabric and becomes less likely to be removed during the pre-conditioning and extraction step. Some cleaners skip this vital step to cut corners.
3. We Select the Proper Cleaning Chemistry
Our years of experience allow us to not only properly identify your fabric but to also choose the best chemistry to maximize soil removal. Through many years of research and experience we have perfected how to properly clean all types of fabrics and soil conditions. There are many products on the market with different chemistry and some are more effective than others. Time, effort, and experience has allowed us to determine which products work best given your particular fabric/fiber and soiling conditions. Inexperienced cleaners do not always know the best chemistry to use.
4. We Apply Pre-Conditioning Agents
Once we have selected the proper chemistry, we apply pre-conditioning agents which are gently agitated into the fabric by hand to loosen the soil. We then use dwell time to allow the chemistry to break down the soils. Inexperienced cleaners may not perform the pre-conditioning step and just extract your upholstery. Pre-conditioning is as important as the Extraction Step.
5. We Perform Soil Extraction
When we extract the soil loosened from the pre-conditioning step above, we actually are doing two things at once. We use a specially designed tool that injects a rinse agent into the fabric while simultaneously flushing out the soils. This rinse agent is actually a special chemistry that minimizes drying problems and promotes quick drying. Inexperienced cleaners may cause adverse reactions due to using the incorrect chemistry or soil extraction technique.
6. We Groom Your Upholstery
Some fabrics require extensive grooming including chenille, mohair, silk and other fabrics. Inexperienced cleaners may not have the skills to properly groom these more temperamental fabrics.
7. We Apply Fabric Protection (included with all our cleaning*)
We apply our standard fabric protection with all our upholstery cleaning.
*minimum purchase required.
8. We Situate/Arrange Your Upholstery for Drying
Upholstery that has loose cushions are placed properly to allow for drying overnight. Some cleaners need to use fans to dry your upholstery. We have found that fans are unnecessary unless the cleaner has over-wet your upholstery and/or poorly extracted your upholstery (leaving too much moisture) during cleaning. Proper cleaning and moisture extraction does not cause drying problems and takes years of experience to master. We are certified Master Textile Cleaners.
9. We Perform a Final Inspection
Once we are done with cleaning, we review the results with you to ensure your satisfaction.
Our No Hassle Guarantee
We promise to use the finest products and the best equipment to clean your upholstery. We take time up front before we even schedule your job to understand the scope of work, discuss your concerns, and discuss your cleaning options. Actually, there should be no surprises by the time we arrive at your home/business. Prior to arriving, we have gotten photos of the items we are cleaning, discussed your concerns and the fiber content of your items, discussed your cleaning options, and have attempted to set your expectations about the cleanability and appearance of the cleaning results prior to even starting the job. In the event you are not completely satisfied with any aspect of our work and we have failed to resolve your concerns, we will refund your money on whatever part of the job you are not satisfied with.