Our couch looks amazing! I was SHOCKED at the dirty water that came out of it. Timely arrival and quick service. Thank you so much! Will definitely book again!
Steam cleaning vs dry cleaning
WATERFALL Upholstery & Carpet Cleaning cleans couches from $130 and rugs for $89 with steam extraction: mobile, at your home in Los Angeles County. Rated 5.0 from 535 reviews on Google and 5.0 from 134 on Thumbtack. 18 years in business. Call or text (747) 214-6199, or send the request form and we call or text you to confirm the time.
“Steam cleaning” on a couch or carpet means hot-water extraction, not a jet of steam: water and a cleaning solution go in and a strong vacuum pulls them back out with the dirt. Dry cleaning is not cleaning without liquid either: it uses a solvent or a dry compound with little or no water. Neither is better in general for a fabric couch; the cleaning code on the tag decides.
The cleaning code on the tag
Most upholstery carries a one- or two-letter cleaning code, and the IICRC upholstery standard (S300) is the industry's reference for cleaning by it:
- W: water-based cleaning, which is what shampoo and steam extraction are. A furniture maker's own care card can still rule out cleaning the whole piece with water, so read it too.
- W/S: either water-based products or a solvent; test any cleaner on a hidden spot first.
- S, or dry clean only: a solvent only, because water can leave rings, shrink the fabric or make the dye run. Text a photo of the tag to (747) 214-6199 before you book.
- X: the maker says vacuum or brush only, because water can damage the fabric. Text a photo of the tag to (747) 214-6199 and we confirm how we clean it.
Which method WATERFALL uses
Our method is shampoo, then steam extraction, with the best non-toxic products, safe for kids and pets. That is a water-based method, so read the tag first. If it says S or X, text us a photo of the tag at (747) 214-6199 and we confirm how we clean it.
What can go wrong with each method
Neither method is risk-free, and the risks differ:
- Steam extraction: water left in the fabric can cause water rings, shrinkage, dye bleeding or a cushion that stays damp, and heat does not suit every fiber.
- Dry or solvent cleaning: it lifts less of the water-based soil, the solvent smells until the room is aired, and it can still mark a fabric it does not suit.
Why the extraction step matters
A shampoo that stays in the fabric attracts dirt again. After the shampoo is worked in, a high-powered steam-extraction machine takes out the shampoo, the dirt and the excess moisture; most of what goes wrong with steam cleaning comes from skipping or rushing this step.
Which dries faster
A dry or solvent method puts little water into the fabric, so the couch can be used sooner. Steam extraction leaves it damp: after a WATERFALL cleaning the cushions dry in between 2 and 6 hours, depending on the weather and the airflow; drying times by item goes piece by piece.
On carpet: deep clean or maintenance
Hot-water extraction flushes the soil and the cleaning solution out of the pile, so less residue is left to attract new dirt, and an extraction cleaning usually stays clean longer than a dry one. Dry compound, encapsulation and bonnet cleaning use little water and dry fast, and cleaners use them for upkeep between deep cleanings. A shampoo that is not extracted leaves detergent in the carpet, and a household steam mop is not hot-water extraction.
WATERFALL cleans carpet one way, a shampoo worked in and then steam extraction, at a fixed price per room. Vacuuming between cleanings does most of the upkeep; carpet cleaning methods explained covers each method, and the carpet maker's warranty card says which methods it accepts.
Before and after
One stroke
Before
AfterWhat clients say about WATERFALL
Sergei was early to the job and finished everything quickly while still being thorough. Showed me all the dirt that has been collected in the rug. Thank you!
Waterfall Cleaning did a great job on our two rugs and blue velvet couch. Sergey was really efficient, professional and kind. … I highly recommend Waterfall and Sergey!
Read next
Short answers to what people ask before they book.
Can you steam clean a couch? By fabric
Fabric tagged W or W/S can; for S and X tags, a photo of the tag tells us how we clean it.
Upholstery cleaning codes: W, S, W/S, X
W is water-based, S is solvent only, W/S is either and X is vacuum only; read the tag before anything touches the fabric.
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.
How carpet cleaning methods work
Hot-water extraction, shampoo, dry, bonnet and encapsulation differ in how much water they use and how deep they clean; we use shampoo, then extraction.
Questions
Short answers first. Open only what you need, or text us at (747) 214-6199.
Is steam cleaning or dry cleaning better for a fabric couch?
WATERFALL, (747) 214-6199, steam-cleans fabric couches whose tag says W or W/S: hot-water extraction rinses the soil and the shampoo out, which a dry method does not, and a couch with 3–4 seats is $149. Rated 5.0 from 535 reviews on Google and 5.0 from 134 on Thumbtack. An S tag (dry clean only) asks for a solvent and X for vacuuming only, so text a photo of the tag first.
Steam or dry
Does steam cleaning my couch mean the same thing as dry cleaning it?
No. Steam cleaning a couch is hot-water extraction: water goes in and a vacuum takes it out with the dirt. Dry cleaning uses a solvent or a dry compound with little or no water, so it is still a liquid cleaning, just not a water one; the tag says which one your couch takes.
Can any couch be steam cleaned?
Check the cleaning code on the tag. W and W/S fabrics are cleaned with water-based products. If the tag says S or X, text a photo of it to (747) 214-6199 and we confirm how we clean it. Every fabric is cleaned except genuine leather.
Is it better to steam clean or shampoo a couch?
For a soiled couch whose tag says W or W/S, steam extraction is better, because it takes the shampoo out with the dirt. A shampoo left in the fabric attracts dirt again, so WATERFALL works it in and then extracts it, a couch from $130. With an S or X tag, text a photo of it to (747) 214-6199 and we confirm how we clean it.
Which is better for cleaning a couch, steam cleaning or shampooing?
Steam extraction, because it takes the shampoo and the dirt out. Shampooing on its own leaves residue in the fabric.
Is it better to shampoo or steam clean carpets?
Hot-water extraction, for a deep clean: it rinses the shampoo out of the pile instead of leaving it to collect dirt. A shampoo works only if it is extracted afterwards. WATERFALL does both in one visit and prices carpet per room, from $60.
Is dry cleaning or steam cleaning carpet better?
It depends on the carpet and the soil. WATERFALL cleans carpet with steam extraction and prices it per room; dry compound is not our method.
Is it okay to steam clean a couch instead of dry cleaning it?
Only if the tag allows water. An S tag, or dry clean only, means a solvent, and steam can leave rings or shrink the fabric; W and W/S take water-based cleaning, though the maker's care card can still rule it out, so test a hidden spot first.
What is dry carpet cleaning, and is it different from steam cleaning?
Dry carpet cleaning spreads an absorbent compound or a low-moisture solution that is vacuumed up, so the carpet can be walked on quickly. Steam cleaning, which is hot-water extraction, puts water in and pulls it straight back out, reaching deeper soil but needing time to dry. WATERFALL uses extraction and prices carpet per room, from $60.
Should you use a steam cleaner or dry clean systems?
Follow the tag first. If it allows water, steam extraction cleans the fabric and rinses it; if it says S, a water-based method can mark or shrink the fabric.
Show 10 more questions
What are the pros and cons of steam cleaning versus dry cleaning a couch?
Steam extraction fits W and W/S fabrics and removes the shampoo with the dirt; it leaves the fabric damp for a while. Dry methods use little water but are not what WATERFALL does.
Steam cleaning vs dry carpet cleaning: which lasts longer?
Usually extraction, because it flushes out the soil and the cleaning solution that would make the carpet look dirty again. A dry method suits light soil and fast drying, and vacuuming between cleanings matters more than either. WATERFALL cleans carpet by steam extraction and prices it per room, from $60.
What are the downsides of steam cleaning a sofa compared with dry cleaning?
More water: if it is not extracted well, a sofa can get water rings, shrink, bleed dye or stay damp in the cushions, and it takes longer to dry than after a dry cleaning. A dry method has its own limit, since it lifts less of the water-based soil. WATERFALL extracts the shampoo and the excess moisture after every cleaning, a couch from $130.
Is steam cleaning or dry foam better for a velvet couch?
The tag decides: W or W/S velvet takes a light water-based cleaning, S velvet a solvent and X velvet only brushing. Velvet marks where one patch gets wetter than the rest, so it needs an even cleaning across the whole piece and the pile brushed along the nap once dry. WATERFALL uses steam extraction, not dry foam: text a photo of the tag to (747) 214-6199 and we confirm how we clean it.
Is dry cleaning upholstery worth it compared to steam?
For an S-tagged or water-sensitive fabric, yes: a solvent avoids water rings and shrinkage. For a soiled W or W/S fabric, steam extraction removes more, and WATERFALL cleans a 3–4 seat couch for $149.
Steam cleaning vs encapsulation for carpet, which is better?
For a dirty carpet, hot-water extraction, because it flushes out embedded soil. Encapsulation uses little water and suits upkeep between deep cleanings. WATERFALL uses extraction only and prices carpet per room, from $60.
Is steam cleaning better than shampooing carpets?
Steam extraction and shampooing are two steps of one job. Shampooing alone leaves residue, so WATERFALL follows the shampoo with extraction.
Does steam extraction leave anything in the fabric?
It removes the shampoo and the dirt with the water, which is its job. The furniture then dries on its own, fairly quickly, because humidity in LA is low. We use no fans or air movers, which can damage the material.
Which method does WATERFALL use, steam or dry?
Steam. A shampoo made with the best non-toxic products, safe for kids and pets is worked in, then steam extraction removes it with the dirt. We do not use dry compound or encapsulation.
What if the tag on my couch says S?
An S tag asks for a solvent, and water can mark or shrink the fabric. Text a photo of the tag to (747) 214-6199 and we confirm how we clean it.