Unlike other topics, the cleaning of your sofa doesn’t receive a lot of discussion about how much time you actually spend on these two furniture items. Doesn’t it seem like you spend a third of your life in your bed and spend a significant portion of your evening on the sofa? Hmmmmmmm…how many times have you had your sofa or floors cleaned in comparison? That is a much bigger deal in particular in Malaysia’s climate.
Your sofa and mattress are home to a host of organisms.There are lots of organisms in your sofa and mattress!
This is the bit which makes people feel a little uncomfortable, but it’s important to know. Sweat, dead skin cells, body oils, food particles, hair and fur particles (if you have furry pets), and dust all combine to make a dust mites paradise in sofas and mattresses. These tiny organisms that feed on dead skin cells, grow in warm and moist environment which, unfortunately, is the case for most Malaysian households throughout the year. You can’t typically see them but their waste products have been known to cause allergies and asthma, particularly in children.
Why Malaysia’s Humidity Makes This Worse.
Malaysia’s climate is ideal for dust mites as it is warm and humid, allowing them to reproduce more quickly. We have no natural “off season” for mites like the countries with tropical dry seasons, which naturally reduce their populations. The frequency of attention required for mattresses and upholstered furniture in Malaysian homes is probably greater than any other country in a drier climate, but it’s not because the homes are not clean — it’s because the climate works against us.
Caring for sofa upholstery can be a challenging job.Sofa Cleaning: What to expect and what will it cost?
Typical pricing for sofa cleaning is RM60 per seat, and in Malaysia it is generally around this amount for the clean and is also variable based on fabric type, level of soiling and type of clean (steam, dry or a combination). Fabric sofas will need more careful maintenance than leather, as dust, allergens and odours will be absorbed deeper into the fabric, whereas leather is much easier to wipe and treat on the surface. The proper sofa clean goes past simply cleaning spots, yet gets rid of embedded dust and residue that has collected over a number of months and years of normal use which can cause odours.
Factors that impact on sofa cleaning cost:
The first one being the number of seats (of course, a three-seater is more expensive than an armchair).
The type of fabric — certain fabrics require more specialized handling
The amount of staining or odour accumulation
The types of cushion treatments that can be done in place or removed for treatment
Mattress cleaning prices vary according to the dimensions of the mattress.
The price for mattress cleaning is usually calculated by the size and it is approximately this in Malaysia:
Double mattress: about RM150
For Queen Mattress: about RM150
King mattress: approximately RM180.
These are not fixed prices and may change depending on how dirty the mattress is, if it is stained or if you use a different method of cleaning. It is important to know why this service is necessary in the first place rather than the exact number that is important — a Mattress that appears clean on the outside may actually have dust mites, sweat residue and allergens that have accumulated over several months that cannot be removed by a bed sheet change or vacuuming.
When choosing between steam cleaning and dry cleaning, what does it mean to you?
Steam cleaning is the use of very hot steam to penetrate the fabric fibres, killing dust mites and bacteria, as well as removing dirt that is embedded within the fibres. It is especially effective on sofas and mattresses as it works with the biological aspect of the issue, rather than visible dirt.
Dry cleaning requires little moisture and is safer for fabrics that do not tolerate excess moisture, or when quick drying is necessary (especially in humid weather, when moist upholstery can provide the conditions for mould to grow if it does not dry quickly enough).
Many professional cleaning companies will first determine the type of fabric and condition in order to decide upon a method to be used, as the incorrect method may cause damage to the fabric.
How often is this really necessary?
In Malaysia, there is no hard and fast rule but a sensible guideline would be:
Every six to 12 months or as often as needed if anyone in the home suffers from allergies or asthma.
Sofas: about every 6 to 12 months, also, but homes with young children, pets and/or high usage may need more frequent care
After a spill or stain, immediately clean up instead of waiting for the next scheduled clean as fresh stains are much easier to completely remove
If it has been more than a year since the last time both items of furniture have been properly cleaned, it is likely that it is overdue.
These are the indications that you need it now, not later.
Some signs that it’s time to make your couch or mattress look better ASAP:
A musty or stale smell that doesn’t go away with regular airing
Visible dust during patting and shaking of cushions
More sneezing, congestion or allergy symptoms especially in that room or bed
Staining that is visible and has been present for a long time
Familiarization of the general look of the item is “tired” even after regular vacuuming.
Why This is More Important than People Realize
Unlike a filthy floor, the issue with a dirty sofa and mattress is not apparent on a day-to-day basis, making it easy to neglect them. However, in the context of the amount of direct, prolonged contact with these two items of furniture, and how well Malaysia’s climate is conducive to the growth of dust mites, it is certainly one of the more significant dusting services for the health of the household — especially with young kids and people who have allergies.
Unlike a generic solution, Bamboo Cleaning Services ensures that our sofa and mattress cleaning solutions are tailored to your fabric and furniture condition, providing you with professional cleaning services throughout Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Melaka. It could be time to schedule one, if either of the furniture has not received proper care for a while, your allergies (and your nose!) will thank you.
