upholstery cleaning as a whole is more problematic than carpet cleaning. The more expensive the fabric the more trouble it is going to bring to the upholstery cleaners.  The common inherent problems with upholstery are fabric deterioration and fading. Sunlight is the cause for damage and deterioration of the fabric whereas soil may hide the condition. Silk fabrics may become brittle due to staining from body oils and perspiration which makes the cleaning process even riskier. Excessive soil on fabrics leads to permanent discoloration and staining. Older cushions containing latex foam are prone to yellowing or becoming crumbly with the years. Unfortunately, upholstery cleaning can not fix fading problems due to the ageing of upholstery fabrics.

Cleaning related problems encompass bleeding or dye migration of the fabric, cellulosic browning, shrinkage or texture change. Dye migration occurs around buttons and piping when dyes move from one damp area to another. carpet cleaners can prevent cellulosic browning by controlling the moisture application, pH of the chemistry and thorough drying of the fabric. Shrinkage problem is caused as a result of woven fibres swelling with moisture. Avoiding over-wetting will preserve the fabrics from shrinkage. Cushion covers should be cleaned on the cushion itself as machine washing may result in uneven appearance of the upholstery fabric. Velvet pile fabrics are prone to texture change problems if the upholstery technician has not brushed the fabric down after wet cleaning. Velvet pile, natural or synthetic, should be groomed immediately after extraction and in the proper direction.