Before the visit: do cleaners move furniture, and how to prepare
Before couch or carpet cleaners come, clear the piece and the floor around it, move the furniture that sits on the area to be cleaned, keep pets and children in another room and tell us about the stains and anything you used on them. We bring our own machines and a drop cloth; WATERFALL's couch cleaning is priced by seats on the prices page, and the guide to how long a cleaning takes covers the time. WATERFALL cleans couches at your home from $130: call (747) 214-6199.
What should I do before upholstery cleaners arrive?
Clear the piece and the space around it. Take toys, clothing, blankets, pillows and anything else off the furniture, empty the pockets of the cushions, and leave a clear path to the room.
Tell us about stains, pets and anything unusual when you book, and keep children and pets in another room while the machines work. We put a drop cloth on the floor and clean the piece where it stands.
- Take everything off the couch and check between the cushions for coins, pens and toys.
- Find the care tag and text a photo of it and of the marks to (747) 214-6199.
- Do not put a household cleaner on a stain beforehand.
- Clear a path from the door.
- Keep pets and children in another room.
- Plan the day so nobody needs the couch until it is dry; drying times by item says how long.
Do you move the couch to clean it?
No, the couch is cleaned where it stands. The cushions come off and are cleaned one by one, and the frame is cleaned on every side, with a drop cloth under it; leave room around it so the technician can reach the sides and the back.
If the couch is tight against a wall or boxed in by tables, pull the tables away before we arrive.
Do I need to move furniture before you arrive?
Yes, the furniture that sits underneath or around what is being cleaned. We ask you to clear the area of clutter such as toys, clothing and other objects and to move any furniture that sits underneath, to leave us a clear workspace.
A piece that is heavy or fixed and cannot be moved is something to tell us about when you book. Text a photo of the room to (747) 214-6199.
Do carpet cleaners move furniture?
Plan to move the furniture off the carpet yourself. The usual rule in the trade is that the cleaner does not move large or heavy furniture, because of the risk to the furniture and the floor, and our FAQ asks you to move furniture that sits underneath.
Move lamps, plants, electronics, toys, breakables and anything on the floor out of the room yourself. Tell us about beds, dressers, cabinets, pianos and anything fixed when you book, and we say what we can clean around; carpet is priced per room, see carpet cleaning.
How do I prepare for carpet cleaning?
Clear the floor, vacuum it and show us where the stains are. A carpet with loose dirt and clutter takes longer and is cleaned less well.
- Move small furniture, toys, clothing and floor items out of the room.
- Vacuum the carpet, including the edges.
- Keep pets and children out of the room, and put pets' bowls and beds aside.
- Note the stains, pet accidents and any spot you have already treated, and tell us what you used.
- Leave the windows ready to open, because the carpet dries faster with air moving.
Should I vacuum before the cleaners arrive?
It is not required: pre-vacuuming is the first step of every WATERFALL visit. A quick pass before we arrive still helps on carpet, because loose grit comes out first and the cleaning then works on the fiber; for a couch, run a vacuum over the crumbs and pet hair if you have a few minutes.
How do I prepare my mattress for cleaning?
Strip the bed, wash the bedding and the mattress protector, and leave the mattress on the bed. We clean it at your home in the bedroom, on a drop cloth; tell us about the bed when you book, and the mattress cleaning page lists the sizes.
Clear the area around the bed of clutter such as clothing and other objects, and plan not to make the bed until the mattress has dried completely.
Do I have to be home for the cleaning?
Someone needs to let us in and show us what to clean. The machine runs at about the noise level of a regular vacuum cleaner, so you can be in the next room. Whether we can work while you are out is something we agree when we confirm the order, so tell us when you book.
Payment comes after the work, in any form of payment, with an invoice on request and a receipt when you pay by card. Text or call (747) 214-6199 with any question about the visit, and see the before and after page for real jobs from our Instagram; a result depends on the piece, and no photo is a promise for yours.
A cream sofa with grey marks, before and after one cleaning.
A grey chaise sectional with dark marks, before and after one cleaning.
Questions and answers
What should I do before couch cleaners come to my house?
Clear the couch and the space around it, take toys, clothing and blankets off, and leave a path to the room. Move any furniture that sits underneath.
Do I need to move furniture for carpet cleaners?
Plan to move furniture off the carpet yourself. The usual rule in the trade is that the cleaner does not move large or heavy furniture.
How should I prepare?
Clear the area that needs cleaning of clutter such as toys, clothing and other objects, and move any furniture that sits underneath to leave us a clear workspace. A mattress also needs the bed stripped, and a carpet needs the floor cleared.
Do cleaners bring their own supplies?
WATERFALL brings its own machines and a drop cloth for your floor. Clear the area; you do not need to provide supplies.
Do you need to vacuum before carpet cleaning?
Pre-vacuuming is the first step of a WATERFALL visit, so loose dirt and debris come out before the shampoo. A quick pass before we arrive helps but is not required.
Can you clean my couch in the evening?
Same-day service is available. Jobs run 7 AM – 5 PM every day, Sunday to Saturday, and requests are accepted 6 AM – 11 PM, so pick a time inside the job hours when you book.
Can you clean a couch in a building with no parking?
Tell us about the building and the parking when you book, and we confirm it with you before the visit. The time and the place are agreed when we confirm the order.
Can I stay home while you clean?
Yes. The machine runs at about the noise level of a regular vacuum cleaner.
Should I apply a household cleaner before the appointment?
No. Leave the stain as it is, because a product can set it or leave residue. Blot a fresh spill and tell us what you used.
Prices and booking
More guides
- Hiring a cleaner: all guides
- How long couch cleaning takes, and tipping — A couch is cleaned in one visit at your home; larger pieces, carpet and rugs take longer, drying comes after, and tipping is your choice.
- How long a couch or carpet takes to dry — Wait until it feels dry to sit, walk on it or put furniture back; drying depends on the weather, and a rug or carpet usually takes longer than a couch.
- How to choose a couch or carpet cleaner — Ask for the method, the total price in writing, when you pay and what is promised in writing; read dated reviews and be wary of a low price that grows at the door.
- How professionals clean a couch, step by step — Check the tag, pre-treat, work in a shampoo, then pull it out with hot-water extraction and let the piece dry.
Sources: IICRC (The cleaning and restoration industry's standards body, for how professionals clean fabrics and carpet.)