Upholstery Cleaning
Upholstery Cleaning Codes and Fabric Care in Jackson, TN
4.9 (278 reviews)2 min read
Upholstery cleaning codes sit on a tag under the seat cushion, and they tell us how each piece in a Jackson home can be cleaned. W means water-based cleaning is safe. S means solvent only. WS allows either. X means vacuum only, with no liquid at all. We read the code and identify the fiber first.
Most upholstered furniture carries a manufacturer cleaning code. The tag is usually stapled under a seat cushion or on the deck of the frame beneath the cushions. Four codes cover almost everything. W means water-based cleaning is safe. S means solvent cleaning only. WS, sometimes printed S/W, means either is fine. X means vacuum only, with no liquid of any kind.
The code is not a suggestion. A water-based method on an S-coded fabric can cause shrinkage, water rings and dye bleed that no later work will fix. Wetting an X-coded fabric can ruin it. That is why identifying the fiber is the first step on every piece, and why we say so when a fabric cannot be wet cleaned.
Fiber type matters alongside the code. Polyester, olefin and nylon are forgiving. Cotton, linen, rayon and viscose can brown: tannins inside the fiber rise to the surface as it dries and leave a tan cast. On those we keep the moisture down, and the rinse at the end leaves the fabric neutral to slightly acidic. Call (731) 437-0006 or request an estimate, and we will read your tags with you.
Benefits of Fabric Upholstery Cleaning
- Method chosen by the fiber and the manufacturer code on each piece
- A hidden area tested on every piece
- Solvent-only and vacuum-only fabrics caught before any cleaning
- Less moisture on natural fibers that can brown
- Rinse leaves the fabric neutral to slightly acidic
Who This Is For
- Anyone unsure what their furniture is made from
- Owners of linen, cotton, viscose or blended natural fiber pieces
- Households with microfiber or performance fabric furniture
- Anyone unsure whether a piece can be cleaned at all
- Owners of imported or reupholstered pieces with unfamiliar fabric
Our Process
Find and Read the Cleaning Code
We look under the seat cushions and on the frame deck for the manufacturer tag and read the W, S, WS or X code.
Identify the Fiber
We check whether the fiber is synthetic, natural or blended. Body fabric, piping, welt cord and skirts are often different materials, so we check each one.
Test a Hidden Spot
We put the cleaner on a hidden area and blot it with a white towel. Any color on the towel means we change the method.
Pre-Spray and Dwell
On fabric that can take it, pre-spray goes on and sits 5 to 10 minutes.
Hand-Shampoo or Hot-Water Extraction
Sturdy W and WS fabrics get hot-water extraction. Delicate ones get shampooed by hand with less moisture. X fabrics are vacuumed only, and we will not wet them.
Spot Treatment and Rinse
Spots get treated, and the rinse leaves the fabric neutral to slightly acidic.
Air-Dry and Look It Over
The piece air-dries, and you look at it with us before we leave.
What's Included
- Manufacturer cleaning code found and read on each piece
- Fiber identification, including a check for natural fibers
- Separate check of body fabric, trims and accent panels
- A hidden-spot test with a white towel
- Pre-spray with 5 to 10 minutes of dwell where the fabric allows
- Hand-shampoo or hot-water extraction, chosen by fabric
- A rinse to neutral or slightly acidic
- A straight answer on any fabric we do not think should be wet cleaned
Realistic Results, Honestly
We would rather set an honest expectation than make a promise we cannot keep.
- An X-coded fabric will be vacuumed and nothing more. Liquid on that fabric causes permanent water rings. We will show you the tag and explain it.
- S-coded fabric cannot take a water-based method. Tell us the code when you call if you know it, and we will tell you what we can do for that piece before you book.
- Natural fibers can brown. Cotton, linen, jute and viscose contain tannins that can rise to the surface as the piece dries and leave a tan cast, most often at the edges of a cleaned area. We keep the moisture low to reduce the risk, and we tell you about it first.
- Dye bleed can happen on some imported and hand-dyed fabrics, and the tag does not always predict it. The hidden-spot test is what catches it. If color transfers, we back off to a gentler method, and the result will be more modest.
- Missing tags are common on older, imported and reupholstered furniture. Without a code, we test and use the cautious method. Fading, pilling and thin fabric are wear, and they remain after the soil is gone.
Safe for Your Family and Pets
Our products are family safe and pet safe, and we pick them for the fabric in front of us. Testing a hidden spot first is the step that protects your furniture, and we do it on every piece. Drying generally takes 2 to 6 hours.
What Customers Say
“Great Service - Great Results! We would recommend HydroClean for your Carpets, Upholstery or Tile floors.”
Barry C. · Google review · July 2022 “I had HydroClean clean upholstery and my LVP flooring. They did amazing and I highly recommend!”
Mary C. · Google review · August 2023
Fabric Upholstery Cleaning Questions
What do the upholstery cleaning codes mean?
W means water-based cleaning is safe. S means solvent cleaning only. WS, sometimes printed S/W, means either can be used. X means vacuum only, with no liquid at all. The manufacturer sets the code.
Where is the cleaning code tag?
Usually stapled under a seat cushion, on the deck of the frame beneath the cushions, or under the piece itself. If you cannot find it, we will look when we see the piece. Missing tags are common on older furniture.
What is browning and can it be prevented?
Browning happens when tannin inside natural fibers such as cotton, linen and jute rises to the surface during drying and leaves a tan cast. Keeping the moisture low reduces the risk, and that is how we clean those fabrics.
Can microfiber be cleaned?
Yes. Most microfiber is water-safe, though some is coded S. Microfiber shows water marks while it is damp and evens out as it dries.
My fabric has no tag. What now?
We test it ourselves in a small hidden area and use the more cautious method. That protects the piece, and it can mean a gentler result than a coded fabric would allow.
Wondering about cost? We do not post prices, but you can see what affects the price of upholstery cleaning.
Need Fabric Upholstery Cleaning in West Tennessee?
Request an estimate from our Jackson team. Tell us what needs cleaning, which rooms and the rough sizes. We respond to requests on the same business day. We prepare the estimate, you approve it, and we schedule a time. You get a chance to look at the work before we leave.
Trusted by our neighbors in Jackson, West Tennessee since 2010. Family safe, pet safe.
Related Services
Upholstery Stain Removal
Spot treatment matched to the stain type and the fabric it is sitting on.
Sofa Cleaning
Cleaning for the piece your household uses most, aimed at the arms, headrest and seat fronts where body oil collects.
Leather Cleaning & Conditioning
Leather cleaned with a pH-balanced product and conditioned afterward. It is a small part of our work, and we take it on request.
More Upholstery Cleaning Services
- Sofa Cleaning
- Couch Cleaning
- Sectional Cleaning
- Chair Cleaning
- Recliner Cleaning
- Loveseat Cleaning
- Leather Cleaning & Conditioning
- Upholstery Stain Removal
Fabric Upholstery Cleaning Across West Tennessee
Our Jackson team does this work across these towns and the communities around them.
Not sure we reach your town? Call (731) 437-0006 and ask. David still answers the phone.