How often should upholstery be cleaned?

Vacuum weekly. Spot clean stains immediately. Deep clean every 6-12 months.

Can you steam clean upholstery?

Only W and WS coded fabrics. Never steam S or X coded materials.

Enzyme-based cleaners for biological odors, followed by baking soda for residual smell.

Yes, for expensive pieces, X-coded fabrics, or heavily soiled furniture. Professionals have tools and solutions not available to consumers.

Household

A clean upholstery makes a bigger difference than you'd think. Here's the most effective method, plus the mistakes most people make.

1
Vacuum thoroughly
Vacuum all surfaces and crevices with the upholstery attachment. Remove cushions and vacuum underneath.
2
Check the care code
Find the tag: W = water safe, S = solvent only, WS = either, X = professional only.
3
Spot clean stains
For W-coded fabric, spray Vibes Multi-Surface Cleaner on a cloth and blot stains. For S-coded, use rubbing alcohol.
4
Deodorize and refresh
Sprinkle baking soda over the upholstery, wait 20-30 minutes, then vacuum off. This absorbs odors and refreshes the fabric.

TIPAlways blot, never rub. Rubbing spreads stains and damages fabric fibers.
TIPUse white cloths only to avoid color transfer from the cleaning cloth to your upholstery.
TIPTreat stains immediately -- the longer a stain sits, the harder it is to remove.

XUsing water-based cleaners on S-coded fabrics, which causes permanent water marks and ring stains.
XOver-wetting upholstery, which soaks the padding and creates mold and mildew inside.
XUsing colored rags or towels, which can transfer dye to light-colored upholstery.

W = water-based cleaners safe. S = solvent-based cleaners only. WS = either. X = vacuum or professional cleaning only.