HOW TO HIRE · CLEANING

How to hire an upholstery cleaner in the UK
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.

No register applies to upholstery cleaners. Check insurance for the sofa or chair, the products used and the scope before booking.

  • Search and compare — no account needed
  • Nearest to you first
  • One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews

THE 60-SECOND VERSION

Hiring an upholstery cleaner in five steps

  1. Read the labelsCare and fire labels on the furniture.
  2. Name the fabricVelvet, suede or silk need dry methods.
  3. Point out stainsPets, food, drink.
  4. Leather?Cleaned and conditioned, not washed.
  5. Drying timeA few hours off the piece.

BEFORE YOU BOOK

Check before you book

No register applies

Nothing licenses upholstery cleaners in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, so upholstery cleaning can be offered by anyone; trader status, insurance and references carry the weight.

Ask for a business name, an invoice for the upholstery cleaning and the name of the insurer.

Cleaning chemicals and COSHH

Strong products used for upholstery cleaning — degreasers, descalers, biocides — are hazardous substances, and HSE says its COSHH rules cover a self-employed cleaner who brings them into your home, except for monitoring and health surveillance.

Ask which products the upholstery cleaning uses, and whether they are safe on your surfaces. hse.gov.uk →

Labels and your rights

Upholstered furniture carries care and fire-safety labels; the 1988 Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations set fire rules for it. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 requires upholstery cleaning to follow reasonable care and skill — reading the label is part of that.

Show the upholstery cleaner the care and fire labels before they start. legislation.gov.uk →

Public liability insurance

Nothing obliges a cleaner to be insured, but public liability cover is the difference between a claim paid and a dispute if upholstery cleaning goes wrong. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, upholstery cleaning that damages something through carelessness is the trader's to put right.

Get the insurer's name from the upholstery cleaner before booking the upholstery cleaning.

VAT

Upholstery cleaning is standard-rated, so VAT is 20%. An upholstery cleaning business over the £90,000 threshold must be registered, charge the 20% on each item and any fabric protector, and show it separately.

Ask the upholstery cleaner for the VAT number and check the 20% is printed under the per-item prices. gov.uk →

“Which upholstery cleaning method suits this fabric?”

A good answer: One chosen from the care label.

“Will the upholstery cleaner test a hidden area first?”

A good answer: Yes.

“How do you clean leather upholstery?”

A good answer: Clean and condition, not wash.

“How long until the upholstery is dry?”

A good answer: A few hours.

“Are cushions included in the upholstery cleaning?”

A good answer: Yes, seat and back.

“Are you insured if fabric is damaged?”

A good answer: Public liability, insurer named.

Getting the quote right

  • Price per item
  • Stain treatment
  • Fabric protector if wanted
  • Minimum charge
  • Who actually attends to clean the furniture, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
  • The VAT number, with VAT at 20% shown apart from the per-item prices

Walk away if

  • Ignores the care label
  • Wet-cleans velvet or silk
  • No patch test
  • No insurance
LOW
£35
TYPICAL
£75
HIGH
£140

What an upholstery cleaner costs: £35–£140 per item

Upholstery cleaning is priced per item by size and fabric. Upholstery Cleaning price guide →

Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.

KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE

Upholstery cleaners near you, with the badges that matter shown

ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.

Or post the job free and let them come to you.

  1. Check labelsCare and fire labels read.
  2. VacuumCrumbs and dust removed.
  3. Pre-treatStains treated.
  4. CleanExtraction or a dry method.
  5. DryCushions cleaned and left to dry.

Care code
A letter on the label showing safe cleaning methods.
Fire label
Shows the furniture met fire-safety rules.
Dry cleaning
Cleaning with solvent, not water.
Fabric protector
A coating that resists stains.
Patch test
Trying a method on a hidden area first.
Pile fabric
Velvet and similar fabrics with raised fibres.

AFTER

When the job is done

Keep off until dryAnd air the room.
Check in daylightStains and water marks.
Keep the invoiceMethod noted.
Review the visitA few lines on the upholstery cleaning help the next household choose. If there is a problem, the make-it-right step sends it to the upholstery cleaner before your review appears.

STEP 1Go back to the upholstery cleanerStart with an email to the upholstery cleaner: the problem, photos and what would put it right. A trader's upholstery cleaning is covered by section 49 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015, and the remedies — doing it again, or a price reduction — follow from sections 55 and 56.
STEP 2Use the make-it-right stepIf you rate the upholstery cleaning under four stars, Locufy asks whether to send the problem to the upholstery cleaner first, and we follow it through before your review goes up.
STEP 3Trading Standards, through the helplinesAn upholstery cleaner who will not engage can be reported through the consumer helplines, which pass cases to Trading Standards — Citizens Advice (0808 223 1133) in England and Wales, Advice Direct Scotland (0808 800 9060), Consumerline (0300 123 6262) in Northern Ireland.
STEP 4Small claims, if money is owedA claim against the upholstery cleaner that will not settle can go to court without a lawyer — the small claims track for up to £10,000 in England and Wales, simple procedure for up to £5,000 in Scotland, and the small claims court for up to £5,000 in Northern Ireland.

Hiring an upholstery cleaner: questions people ask

No. No licence or register applies.

Keep the fire label; the 1988 Regulations set fire rules for upholstered furniture.

Ask about public liability insurance.

£35–£140 per item, about £75 for a three-seater sofa. What pushes it up or down is in the upholstery cleaning price guide; search above by town for cleaners in your area.

Yes, cleaned and conditioned.

About 30 minutes to an hour per piece.

MORE GUIDES

More hiring guides in cleaning

How to hire: Carpet CleaningHow to hire: Mattress CleaningHow to hire: Curtain CleaningHow to hire: Rug CleaningHow to hire: Deep CleaningHow to hire: Spring CleaningHow to hire: House CleaningHow to hire: End of Tenancy CleaningAll 701 hiring guides →

Upholstery cleaners near you

Upholstery cleaners in LondonUpholstery cleaners in ManchesterUpholstery cleaners in BirminghamUpholstery cleaners in GlasgowUpholstery cleaners in BelfastAll upholstery cleaners on Locufy →Do it yourself: cleaning a fabric sofa →

Sources — checked October 2026

  1. Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988
  2. HSE — does COSHH apply to the self-employed?
  3. Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 49 — reasonable care and skill
  4. Citizens Advice — more help with a consumer issue (England)
  5. VAT rates — VAT rates for goods and services: standard rate 20% on most goods and services
  6. GOV.UK — Register for VAT: when to register