Cleaning Methods and Equipment
What the exam tests
Method questions test whether you can match agitation, moisture, chemistry, and drying to the fiber and construction. You should know the main upholstery methods, their moisture levels, and the sequence that prevents resoiling and over-wetting.
Methods
- Hot water extraction (HWE). High cleaning power, high moisture. Use low pressure, fast dry strokes, and air movers; over-wetting causes browning, shrinkage, and backing delamination.
- Rotary shampoo / dry foam. Low moisture, good for delicate fabrics; foam must be worked in and removed, or residue resoils.
- Bonnet / absorbent pad. Low moisture, good for light soil and wool; change pads often.
- Dry cleaning / solvent. Best for acetate, silk, wool, and S-code fabrics; no water, but solvent odor and ventilation matter.
- Encapsulation. Low-moisture polymer crystallizes soil for vacuum removal; good for commercial upholstery, less effective on heavy oily soil.
The sequence
Pre-vacuum with a crevice tool and upholstery nozzle; pre-test hidden areas for colorfastness and shrinkage; pre-spray and allow dwell time; agitate gently by hand or with a soft brush; extract or rinse; dry with air movement and low humidity; groom pile while damp.
Worked example
A wool loveseat has a water ring and a WS code. HWE is permitted but risky: wool felts with heat and agitation, and the ring shows sizing or dye movement. You choose low-moisture dry foam or solvent, test for bleed, clean from the outside of the ring inward, and dry fast with air movers.
Traps
Skipping pre-vacuum; using high pressure on upholstery; overwetting cushions and backs; leaving foam residue; failing to dry within 6–12 hours; cleaning an X-code fabric with any liquid.