Is It Okay To Steam Clean Fabric Sofas? (2023 Guide)

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So you are looking for the best way to clean that fabric sofa, and you aren’t sure what’s the best way to do so. There are many ways to clean fabric, but the standard methods are shampoo cleaning and upholstery steam cleaning.

All have their pros and cons, but mostly pros. The answer to the above question has short and long versions. The shorter version? Yes, it is okay to steam clean your fabric sofa. Now let’s look at the more extended version, and in the process, explain why steam cleaning your fabric sofa is more effective and sanitary.

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Steam Cleaning Is Increasingly Becoming Popular

Upholstery steam cleaning has become more familiar with most people in recent years because of its safe and less-chemical benefits. It doesn’t use chemicals at all. Steam cleaning is fast replacing the traditional shampoo method. That is because more and more people find steam cleaning much safer, leaving their homes and offices clean and pristine.

Did you know that a typical person spends more than 90 percent of their time in an office or a house? It means that there are lots of contaminants in our homes and offices. The situation is even worse if there are kids and pets involved. They significantly increase the volume of incoming pollutants and, over time, grime and dust build up. This is the reason why there is a need to regularly clean our fabric sofas – as well as other upholstery.

Many cleaning methods out there usually use cleaning chemicals, which may be harmful in the long run. Chemicals may have very adverse effects on both children and adults alike, especially for those with allergies. And that’s where steam cleaning comes in.

So what exactly is steam cleaning? And how does it work?

Just as the name goes, the machine is all about “steam,” which applies vaporized water to many surfaces, either in a home setting or at the office. The machine resembles a vacuum cleaner and operates under scorching temperatures, usually about 200º F.

The steam cleaner uses a hot temperature to loosen and break apart dirt particles bonding with the fabric. Afterward, either dry steam or heated water is used to wipe away any remaining dirt. The machine then absorbs all dust and grime into a moistened towel connected directly to it for easy clean-up!

The moisture level that’s applied is easily controlled depending on the surface being worked on. This is to ensure that the material of the sofa is not damaged. If the sofa is made of fabric, the temperature applied will be different from a couch, say, suede or microfiber. It means that steam cleaning is safe health-wise and, at the same time, protects the sofa, thus prolonging its lifetime.

Why Is Steam Cleaning Preferable?

There is no doubt that the usual spot cleaning and traditional vacuuming are effective cleaning methods. And that they are vital when it comes to prolonging the life of your fabric sofa.

However, such methods aren’t as effective in comparison to steam cleaning. This is because vacuuming and spot cleaning tend only to remove debris found at the surface, leaving dirt deeply seated at the fabric. When a more profound treatment is performed, other dirt and harmful contaminants are removed, such as dust, mites, pet hair, and debris that finds its way deep into the fibers.

What About Shampoo Treatments?

Shampoo treatments have been preferable, especially in the past few decades. Yes, the method is just as effective, and of course, you must consider it when cleaning your fabric sofa. That is, shampoo sofa cleaning works by producing a substantial volume of foam that breaks up the dirt and any other contaminant, and then when you wipe the surface, the broken dirt washes out.

Shampoo cleaning is also advantageous since its lubricating texture minimizes damage to the fabric sofa’s fibers; this is common with other methods, such as using a brush. Most people also prefer shampoo cleaning because it’s faster since you only need to clean the spot on the sofa that’s been affected by the dirt, say, maybe a spilled tea or coffee, or something like that.

Steam Cleaning Is Sanitary

Despite all the advantages associated with shampoo sofa cleaning, steam cleaning is sterile and much preferable, especially for those looking to reduce the number of chemicals in their houses and offices.

Remember that shampoo cleaning utilizes chemicals, and its continuous use may lead to the accumulation of chemicals on your sofa, and this may have a long-term (damaging) effect on your health, particularly for those with children. Steam cleaning not only uses natural methods, steam water, but also, through heat application, helps reduce bacteria, mites, germs, and any other toxins embedded in the fabric.

Steam cleaning uses suction to eliminate the heated, weakened dirt. The advantage of this is that it reaches dirt that’s deeply lodged within the fiber, which no other cleaning method can achieve. This means that no dirt, no matter how small, is left behind. Everything gets sucked out whenever you steam-clean your fabric sofa. And that’s probably the main reason why steam cleaning has become so popular.

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Other Steam Cleaning Benefits

With steam cleaning, the sofa has minimal (or no) discoloration. You’ll rarely see the yellowing effect that’s common with other brighteners. Steam cleaning is also faster since it dries the sofa faster than spot cleaning. The overheating effect ensures that the couch dries quicker and is ready for use within minutes. You don’t have to wait for the sofa to dry. Re-soiling is also minimized.

Since there is no chemical use, the air around the office or the house is pure and safe to breathe. This type of cleaning is perfect for guys with allergy issues, such as sinusitis. When cleaning a sofa with a steam cleaner, there is also the advantage that this method is a natural deodorizing and sanitizing agent without chemical odor whatsoever.

You don’t have to put on a mask or anything when using the steam cleaning machine because there are no chemicals. Therefore, to answer whether it is okay to steam clean your sofa, the answer is straightforward; yes, you can.