What to do before the technician arrives

Worth doing

1. 1Clear the approach — about a meter of free space around the item so the specialist can reach it from every side.
2. 2Remove small items — remotes, toys, chargers and documents from the sofa and floor nearby.
3. 3Show us the outlet — the equipment runs on a regular outlet, one working socket nearby is needed.
4. 4Take your pets out — to another room for the duration of the work, the vacuum noise scares them.
5. 5Show the stains — and tell us what it was and when. The origin of the stain determines which product removes it.
6. 6Plan for drying time — free up the item for a few hours, guidelines are in the table above.

The whole prep takes about ten minutes. If you didn't get to something, no problem — the technician will help move the sofa.

✕ Better not to do

• ✕Don't rub the stain dry — this loosens the fibers and drives dirt in deeper.
• ✕Don't pour soapy solution on it — soap stays in the padding, then quickly attracts new dirt.
• ✕Don't try stain remover blindly — on colored fabric it can leave a light stain forever.
• ✕Don't dry with a hairdryer or heater — protein stains set in from the heat.
• ✕Don't remove covers in advance — the specialist will decide whether to clean on-site or separately.

Fresh liquid should only be blotted with a light-colored cloth from top to bottom, without rubbing — then wait for the technician.