Armchair cleaning

How an armchair differs from a sofa

On a sofa, different people sit in different places. An armchair is usually used by one person, in one position, for a long time. So dirt builds up in narrow zones: on the headrest, the ends of the armrests and the front edge of the seat. The chair as a whole can look fine while these spots are visibly darker.

An armchair also often has a mechanism: a reclining back, a pull-out footrest or electric adjustment. Say in the form whether yours has one, and add a photo from the side. Unplug an electric armchair before work starts.

The care label decides what can be done to the chair

The upholstery code is usually on a label under the seat cushion or on the underside of the chair. Photograph it and add it to your request, because the code decides whether the fabric can take water at all.

• W: water-based foam, sparingly, without overwetting the fabric.
• S: only a water-free solvent or dry-cleaning product.
• WS: either one is allowed, testing first in both cases.
• X: no liquids, only vacuuming and light brushing; any other cleaning has to be assessed separately.

The codes are voluntary, so many chairs do not have them, especially older ones. If there is no code, the general advice is to test on a hidden spot first or to ask a specialist. Too much water can leave a ring on the fabric, cause shrinkage, change the colour and wet the filling.

What comes out of an armchair and what may stay

Velour and chenille armchairs usually show pressure marks and differences in shade on the seat. Manufacturers call this a property of the fabric, not a defect, and it is not dirt. So a chair can look clean after cleaning, while the place where you sit will still look different.

If there is a fresh stain on the chair

Gently blot the liquid with a clean, absorbent cloth, without rubbing. You can lightly rinse the stain with cool water, but do not soak the fabric, so that liquid does not reach the filling. Do not use hot water, a hairdryer or chlorine bleach. Do not try to remove a greasy stain on the headrest with solvent: solvents can damage upholstery foam. More detail: grease stains on a sofa and stains on a sofa.

Leather, velour and faux leather armchairs

A leather armchair needs a different approach from fabric, because direct contact with water damages most types of leather. More on our leather furniture cleaning page. Velour and faux leather armchairs have no separate price: the fabric armchair price applies. A faux leather coating can peel over time, and cleaning cannot repair that.

How much armchair cleaning costs

An armchair costs from €20, a leather armchair from €20 and a removable cushion from €2. Smell treatment costs extra, from €15. The price depends on size, fabric, how dirty it is, smell and distance, and we agree it before work starts.

The minimum order is €45: if the total is lower, you pay €45. If you order just one armchair, you pay this minimum, so it usually makes more sense to combine it with a second chair, a sofa or other furniture. Travel is included in Riga and up to about 15 km outside Riga; further out it is from €10. All prices are on the prices page.