# Upholstery and Sofa Steam Cleaning in Hamilton > Sofa, sectional, chair and mattress steam cleaning in Hamilton and Burlington by a truck-mounted crew: what can be cleaned, what fabric tags mean, and how to book a vetted local cleaner. Source: https://905trades.ca/services/carpet-cleaning/upholstery/ · Last updated: 2026-08-30 · 905 Trades --- Fabric furniture takes on body oils, dust and pet dander the same way carpet takes on foot traffic. Steam extraction lifts it without soaking the cushion filling. Fabric upholstery does not get dirty the way carpet does. Instead of grit ground into a pile, a sofa or chair mostly picks up body oils, dust, pet dander and the occasional spill that gets pressed into the weave rather than walked across it. A truck-mounted steam system cleans it with the same hot water extraction used on carpet, but with lower pressure, a smaller wand and shorter dwell time, because fabric furniture is thinner and the cushion filling underneath can hold moisture longer than a carpet pad does if the technician is not careful about how much water goes in. ## What can be cleaned Sofas and sectionals, armchairs, dining chairs with fabric seats, and mattresses are all handled with the same truck-mounted equipment, which [Deepsteam.ca lists](https://deepsteam.ca/) as separate services alongside its carpet and area rug work. A sectional with a chaise or a reclining mechanism generally takes longer than a straight two-cushion sofa, since a cleaner has to work around the frame and mechanism rather than one flat expanse. Dining chairs with fabric seats are usually quoted per chair rather than per room, because the labour is mostly setup and drying time, not square footage. ## Fabric type decides what the cleaner can use Most upholstered furniture carries a manufacturer's tag on the frame, under a cushion or on the bottom of the piece, with a code that tells a cleaner what the fabric can tolerate: some materials take water-based cleaning safely, some need a solvent-based approach with little or no water, and some blends need a combination of both. Reading that tag before starting is standard practice, and a cleaner who skips it on an unfamiliar fabric is taking a real risk with the material, not just the stain. If the tag is missing or has worn off, an experienced cleaner tests a hidden spot, such as the back of a cushion or the underside of an arm, before treating a visible area. ## Sectionals and reclining furniture A modern sectional often hides a mechanical frame for reclining seats or a pull-out chaise, and steam or moisture reaching that hardware is a real concern, not a hypothetical one. Cushions on a sectional are frequently cleaned with the piece disassembled where the design allows it, which both protects the mechanism and lets each cushion dry faster than if it stayed wedged against the frame. ## Mattresses A mattress cannot be flipped over mid-clean the way a cushion can, and it holds moisture longer than most furniture because of its density, so a mattress clean uses less water and more extraction passes than a sofa does. It is also typically scheduled for a day when the bed will not be slept in that night, since even light dampness in a mattress is uncomfortable and slows drying further under a fitted sheet. ## Pet stains and odour on fabric The same rule that applies to carpet applies here: a stain that has been sitting on fabric furniture for months has usually worked past the surface into the cushion filling, and a single steam pass may reduce the smell without eliminating it entirely. A straight assessment of how deep a stain has set matters more than a blanket promise that it will disappear. ## Drying time Upholstery dries faster than carpet in most cases, typically a few hours to same-day, because a smaller volume of water goes in with the low-moisture technique cleaners use on fabric furniture. A mattress or a densely padded sectional cushion can take longer. Keep windows open or a fan running in the room, and avoid sitting on a damp cushion, which pushes moisture back down into the filling instead of letting it evaporate up and out. ## Common questions ### Is this different equipment than carpet cleaning? Same truck-mounted system, different attachment and a gentler setting. Many households book carpet and upholstery on the same visit; see the [carpet cleaning page](https://905trades.ca/services/carpet-cleaning/) for what that covers. ### Can leather furniture be cleaned this way? Leather is a different material with its own cleaning and conditioning approach, not the same steam extraction process used on fabric. Ask specifically about leather when booking so the right method is scheduled. ### Will cleaning remove pet odour completely from a sofa? It depends on how far the contamination has soaked into the cushion filling, which the cleaner can usually judge in person, not over the phone. ### How long until I can sit on the furniture again? Light use is usually fine once the fabric feels dry to the touch, generally the same day; avoid heavy use or letting kids or pets sit on it while it is still damp. ### Does 905 Trades add anything to the price? No. The cleaner pays 905 Trades a referral fee once the work is done, and your price is whatever the cleaner quotes. For wall-to-wall carpet, area rugs and tile and grout, see the main [carpet cleaning page](https://905trades.ca/services/carpet-cleaning/). The carpet and upholstery cleaning partner for the 905 is being confirmed. Send the request anyway: it comes to us, and we hand it to the contractor the day they sign. 905 Trades is paid a referral fee by the contractors it introduces. It does not change your price. You hire the contractor directly, on their quote and their contract. [How 905 Trades works](https://905trades.ca/how-it-works/) ### Carpet, rugs and tile See the [carpet and area rug cleaning page](https://905trades.ca/services/carpet-cleaning/) for the rest of what the same visit can cover. ## Get this done Send a request: https://905trades.ca/request/ --- 905 Trades is paid a referral fee by the contractors it introduces. It does not change your price. You hire the contractor directly, on their quote and their contract. More: [all services](https://905trades.ca/services/) · [service areas](https://905trades.ca/areas/) · [how it works](https://905trades.ca/how-it-works/) · [request a contractor](https://905trades.ca/request/)