May 2004

Q: I am the business manager for a doctor's office, how often should we clean the upholstery? Can't I damage chairs if I clean them too often?

A: It is always surprising to me how many professional offices never have a scheduled program of care for thier chairs, couches, & so on. Usually a great deal of effort & money is expended on getting the right look for waiting room furniture and office chairs. Managers know that setting the right tone for their business starts with what clients see when they walk in the door.

But...how do you feel when you step into a tastefully decorated office and are asked to sit on a soiled piece of furniture? Do you allow your opinion of the calibre of business you are visiting to be affected by neglected furnishings? Of course you do! So do your clients.

Caring for carpets and flooring is very important, but your clients will actually sit on the furniture. If it has food or drink spills, or simply a build up of soil, it will be noticed.

Upholstery, when cleaned regularly by a certfied professional will look better, & have a very long service life. Depending on traffic patterns, a cleaning every 6 to 12 months is suggested. The cost of preventative maintenance for upholstery is a great value when compared to premature replacement due to neglect.

Will cleaning damage upholstery? Not if it is done properly. How can you find someone with the training and competence to handle care of delicate textiles? Call an IICRC Certified Master Textile Cleaner and ask for an estimate. You will likely be surprised at how inexpensive on site cleaning of your office furniture can be. Be sure to confirm credentials. Upholstery care is a highly specialized field and complaints about poorly trained and under equipped operators are common.

Be sure to check on the cleaner you are considering by phoning the IICRC at 1-800-835-4624 and ask if they are a certified firm. Then ask if they have training in the field of upholstery care. The IICRC is the certification body recognized by mfgrs in North America for verifying credentials in this industry.

If you would like more information, please feel welcome to call Les Graham - Graham's Carpet Cleaning (403) 952-0318.
IICRC certified
Master Textile Cleaner
Master Restoration Tech