Before & after: real cleaning jobs in Houston

Every photo here is from a job I did myself in a Houston-area home. Before shots are taken when I arrive, after shots when I finish. Under each one: what was on the fabric and what came out.

Cream fabric loveseat before cleaning, covered in oil, coffee, pizza, food and marker stains — Cream loveseat with every kind of stain

A small sofa, but I had not seen this many different stains on one piece in a long time: oil, grease from fried food, pizza and other food, a big coffee spill and marker scribbled across the seat. Every one of those needs its own treatment, and they all had to come out without leaving rings on cream fabric. The result honestly surprised me: the sofa looks like new.

Removed
Oil stains, a greasy stain from fried food, pizza and food stains, coffee, marker

Watch the cleaning process on Instagram — @freshsofacleaninghtx

The same cream loveseat after cleaning, every stain removed, looking like new — Cream loveseat with every kind of stain

A small sofa, but I had not seen this many different stains on one piece in a long time: oil, grease from fried food, pizza and other food, a big coffee spill and marker scribbled across the seat. Every one of those needs its own treatment, and they all had to come out without leaving rings on cream fabric. The result honestly surprised me: the sofa looks like new.

Removed
Oil stains, a greasy stain from fried food, pizza and food stains, coffee, marker

Watch the cleaning process on Instagram — @freshsofacleaninghtx

Large beige chenille sectional before cleaning, with pet hair and soil, in a Houston living room — Beige chenille sectional with pets in the home

A big family sectional that the pets use as much as the people. Hair and odor were worked out of the chenille, every cushion stood up to dry all the way through, then the sofa and the client’s new rug were protected so the next spill wipes up.

Removed
Dirt, pet hair, pet odors
Work done
Deep cleaning, full dry-down with air movers, water-repellent protection on the sofa and the new rug, old rug hauled away

Sectional cushions stood on end to dry with air movers after deep cleaning — Beige chenille sectional with pets in the home

A big family sectional that the pets use as much as the people. Hair and odor were worked out of the chenille, every cushion stood up to dry all the way through, then the sofa and the client’s new rug were protected so the next spill wipes up.

Removed
Dirt, pet hair, pet odors
Work done
Deep cleaning, full dry-down with air movers, water-repellent protection on the sofa and the new rug, old rug hauled away

Rust stain on a cream woven area rug before cleaning in a Houston home — Rust stain two other companies called permanent

A rust stain on a woven area rug, roughly 7 by 10 feet. Two other cleaning companies had already looked at it and told the client it was permanent. I said I could take it out, and I did. Rust is a chemistry problem, not a scrubbing problem: with the right treatment it lets go of the fibers. On the same visit I also cleaned the client’s three-seat sofa.

Removed
Rust stain

The same woven rug after rust stain removal, no trace of the stain — Rust stain two other companies called permanent

A rust stain on a woven area rug, roughly 7 by 10 feet. Two other cleaning companies had already looked at it and told the client it was permanent. I said I could take it out, and I did. Rust is a chemistry problem, not a scrubbing problem: with the right treatment it lets go of the fibers. On the same visit I also cleaned the client’s three-seat sofa.

Removed
Rust stain

Rust-colored fabric sofa before cleaning, dulled by dog hair and soil, in a Houston apartment — Rust sofa from a home with three dogs

Three dogs live in this apartment, and the sofa was carrying all of it: hair worked into the fabric, a dull film over the color and a dog smell. After cleaning, the color came back deep and even.

Removed
Dirt, pet hair, pet odors
Work done
Deep cleaning and a full dry-down with air movers

The same sofa drying after deep cleaning, with an air mover in front — Rust sofa from a home with three dogs

Three dogs live in this apartment, and the sofa was carrying all of it: hair worked into the fabric, a dull film over the color and a dog smell. After cleaning, the color came back deep and even.

Removed
Dirt, pet hair, pet odors
Work done
Deep cleaning and a full dry-down with air movers

Beige chenille sofa before cleaning, with a large dog urine stain on the middle seat cushion — Beige sofa after dog accidents

The dog had been having accidents on this sofa, and the whole room smelled of it. The seat and back cushions were taken out to the backyard and cleaned there, so the heavy contamination never touched the house. The urine, the feces and the smell are gone, and the sofa looks like new.

Removed
Dirt, dog urine, dog feces, odor
Work done
Seat and back cushions taken outside and cleaned in the backyard; urine, feces and odor removed

The same beige sofa after dog urine, feces and odor removal — Beige sofa after dog accidents

The dog had been having accidents on this sofa, and the whole room smelled of it. The seat and back cushions were taken out to the backyard and cleaned there, so the heavy contamination never touched the house. The urine, the feces and the smell are gone, and the sofa looks like new.

Removed
Dirt, dog urine, dog feces, odor
Work done
Seat and back cushions taken outside and cleaned in the backyard; urine, feces and odor removed

White memory foam mattress with dirt and yellow organic stains before cleaning in a Houston bedroom — White memory foam mattress

A white quilted cover shows every mark, and this one had about ten yellow organic stains set into the stitching. Organic stains need a treatment that breaks them down, not just a rinse. Every one of them came out, the cover is white again, and the mattress was dried all the way through so nothing is left in the foam.

Removed
Dirt, about ten organic stains (all removed)
Work done
Deep cleaning and a full dry-down with air movers

Close-up of a yellow organic stain on a quilted mattress cover before cleaning — White memory foam mattress

A white quilted cover shows every mark, and this one had about ten yellow organic stains set into the stitching. Organic stains need a treatment that breaks them down, not just a rinse. Every one of them came out, the cover is white again, and the mattress was dried all the way through so nothing is left in the foam.

Removed
Dirt, about ten organic stains (all removed)
Work done
Deep cleaning and a full dry-down with air movers

White quilted mattress with urine and yellow organic stains before cleaning in a Houston bedroom — Quilted mattress with urine and organic stains

Urine and organic stains had spread across the middle of this mattress in yellow rings. On a mattress the smell sits deeper than the stain, so the goal was the odor as well as the marks on the cover. The stains came out and the mattress no longer smells.

Removed
Dirt, organic stains, urine and odor

The same quilted mattress after urine, stain and odor removal — Quilted mattress with urine and organic stains

Urine and organic stains had spread across the middle of this mattress in yellow rings. On a mattress the smell sits deeper than the stain, so the goal was the odor as well as the marks on the cover. The stains came out and the mattress no longer smells.

Removed
Dirt, organic stains, urine and odor

Cream wingback armchair before cleaning, covered in rust-colored water stains and dirty rings — Pair of wingback chairs with rust-water stains

These two chairs were in rough shape. Rusty rainwater had left brown spots all over the arms and headrests, some of the marks looked like mold, and dirty rings had dried across the seats and backs. Rust, mold-like spotting and water rings each need a different approach, and a cream flame-stitch fabric leaves no room for error. Both chairs came back clean and even.

Removed
Rust stains from rainwater, spots that looked like mold, dirty water rings across the whole surface

Both wingback armchairs after cleaning, rust stains and water rings removed — Pair of wingback chairs with rust-water stains

These two chairs were in rough shape. Rusty rainwater had left brown spots all over the arms and headrests, some of the marks looked like mold, and dirty rings had dried across the seats and backs. Rust, mold-like spotting and water rings each need a different approach, and a cream flame-stitch fabric leaves no room for error. Both chairs came back clean and even.

Removed
Rust stains from rainwater, spots that looked like mold, dirty water rings across the whole surface

Two yellow fabric armchairs with dirt, food and marker stains before cleaning in a Houston living room — Pair of yellow armchairs

Light yellow fabric shows everything: food spots and marker on the seats, plus the everyday soil that dulls a bright color. Both chairs were cleaned seat, back and arms, so they match each other again.

Removed
Dirt, food stains, marker

The same pair of yellow armchairs after upholstery cleaning, stains removed — Pair of yellow armchairs

Light yellow fabric shows everything: food spots and marker on the seats, plus the everyday soil that dulls a bright color. Both chairs were cleaned seat, back and arms, so they match each other again.

Removed
Dirt, food stains, marker

Light upholstered bed headboard with a large coffee stain before cleaning in a Houston bedroom — Upholstered headboard with a coffee stain

A coffee spill had soaked into a light linen-look headboard and left a wide brown ring right where it shows most. Headboards cannot go in a machine, so the stain was treated right on the bed. The whole panel was cleaned so there is no clean patch standing out from the rest.

Removed
Dirt, coffee stain

Close-up of the coffee stain spreading across the fabric headboard — Upholstered headboard with a coffee stain

A coffee spill had soaked into a light linen-look headboard and left a wide brown ring right where it shows most. Headboards cannot go in a machine, so the stain was treated right on the bed. The whole panel was cleaned so there is no clean patch standing out from the rest.

Removed
Dirt, coffee stain

Close-up of a cream shag area rug with pet urine stains in the pile before cleaning — 10×14 shag rug soaked with pet urine

Two dogs and a cat had used this 10×14 polypropylene shag, and the urine had soaked through the whole rug, all the way to the backing. Cleaning the surface would only have hidden the smell for a while, so the work went after the sources of the odor in the backing, not just the stains you could see. Every urine stain came out, and so did the smell.

Removed
Pet urine stains from two dogs and a cat, and the odor sources
Work done
Urine treatment through the full depth of the rug, face and backing; three days of work, about 4 hours a day

The same 10x14 shag rug after pet urine removal, drying with air movers and a fan — 10×14 shag rug soaked with pet urine

Two dogs and a cat had used this 10×14 polypropylene shag, and the urine had soaked through the whole rug, all the way to the backing. Cleaning the surface would only have hidden the smell for a while, so the work went after the sources of the odor in the backing, not just the stains you could see. Every urine stain came out, and so did the smell.

Removed
Pet urine stains from two dogs and a cat, and the odor sources
Work done
Urine treatment through the full depth of the rug, face and backing; three days of work, about 4 hours a day

Large black modular sectional and ottoman before cleaning in a Houston high-rise apartment — Black modular sectional covered in feathers and lint

On black fabric every feather and every pale fleck of lint shows, and this sectional was covered in them, along with food and drink spots. It took slow, careful work on every module and cushion to get it back to a clean, fresh black with nothing sitting on the surface.

Removed
Dirt, food and drink stains, feathers, lint and debris

The sectional taken apart during cleaning, cushions stacked, with a hot water extractor — Black modular sectional covered in feathers and lint

On black fabric every feather and every pale fleck of lint shows, and this sectional was covered in them, along with food and drink spots. It took slow, careful work on every module and cushion to get it back to a clean, fresh black with nothing sitting on the surface.

Removed
Dirt, food and drink stains, feathers, lint and debris

Dark brown sectional seat cushions with dirt, food and drink spots before cleaning in a Houston home — Dark brown sectional

Dark fabric hides a lot until you look closely: the seat cushions were covered in spots from food and drinks, plus a layer of everyday soil. After cleaning the fabric is one even dark brown again, and the cushions were propped up so air could reach every side while they dried.

Removed
Dirt, food stains, drink stains

The same dark brown sectional after cleaning, cushions propped up to dry — Dark brown sectional

Dark fabric hides a lot until you look closely: the seat cushions were covered in spots from food and drinks, plus a layer of everyday soil. After cleaning the fabric is one even dark brown again, and the cushions were propped up so air could reach every side while they dried.

Removed
Dirt, food stains, drink stains

Two dark ink marker stains on a gray woven sectional back cushion before cleaning — Gray sectional with marker and nail polish stains

Ink and nail polish are two of the hardest things to get out of fabric, because the wrong product spreads them instead of lifting them. Each stain was treated for what it is, then the whole sectional was cleaned so the gray is even again.

Removed
Dirt, food stains, nail polish, two ink marker stains

The same gray cushion after ink marker stain removal — Gray sectional with marker and nail polish stains

Ink and nail polish are two of the hardest things to get out of fabric, because the wrong product spreads them instead of lifting them. Each stain was treated for what it is, then the whole sectional was cleaned so the gray is even again.

Removed
Dirt, food stains, nail polish, two ink marker stains

White boucle sectional with chaise before cleaning, grayed by dirt and food stains, in a Houston apartment — White boucle sectional with chaise

Boucle is the curly, looped fabric that is everywhere right now, and white boucle shows every mark. Soil had turned it a dull gray, with food spots across the seats and chaise. The loops trap dirt deep inside, so it has to be cleaned out of the fabric, not wiped off the top. After cleaning and a fast dry-down the white came back completely — compare the chaise in the two photos.

Removed
Dirt, food stains
Work done
Deep cleaning and fast drying

The same white boucle sectional after cleaning and fast drying, white color fully restored — White boucle sectional with chaise

Boucle is the curly, looped fabric that is everywhere right now, and white boucle shows every mark. Soil had turned it a dull gray, with food spots across the seats and chaise. The loops trap dirt deep inside, so it has to be cleaned out of the fabric, not wiped off the top. After cleaning and a fast dry-down the white came back completely — compare the chaise in the two photos.

Removed
Dirt, food stains
Work done
Deep cleaning and fast drying

Black tufted fabric sectional before cleaning, faded to a dull charcoal with food and drink stains, in a Houston home — Black tufted sectional: the black came back

Black fabric doesn’t hide dirt, it just turns gray. Food and drink spots plus everyday soil had faded this sectional to a dull charcoal. Once all of that was cleaned out of the fibers, the fabric went back to a deep, even black and the color looks rich again instead of washed out.

Removed
Food stains, drink stains, dirt
Result
Deep black color restored

The same black tufted sectional after cleaning, a deep even black again — Black tufted sectional: the black came back

Black fabric doesn’t hide dirt, it just turns gray. Food and drink spots plus everyday soil had faded this sectional to a dull charcoal. Once all of that was cleaned out of the fibers, the fabric went back to a deep, even black and the color looks rich again instead of washed out.

Removed
Food stains, drink stains, dirt
Result
Deep black color restored

Large cream modular cloud sectional before cleaning, covered in food and drink stains and marker, in a Houston home with four kids and two dogs — Big cream sectional in a home with 4 kids and 2 dogs

Four kids and two dogs share this sectional every day, and it showed: spots from food and drinks all over the seats and arms, marker, local stains here and there, and a smell the family had stopped noticing. Each stain was treated on its own before the whole sectional was deep cleaned. Now the cream fabric is even again, the marker is gone, and the sofa no longer smells.

Removed
Many food and drink stains, marker, local spot stains, odor
Result
Clean, even cream fabric with no smell

The same cream modular sectional after cleaning, stains and marker removed, fabric even and fresh — Big cream sectional in a home with 4 kids and 2 dogs

Four kids and two dogs share this sectional every day, and it showed: spots from food and drinks all over the seats and arms, marker, local stains here and there, and a smell the family had stopped noticing. Each stain was treated on its own before the whole sectional was deep cleaned. Now the cream fabric is even again, the marker is gone, and the sofa no longer smells.

Removed
Many food and drink stains, marker, local spot stains, odor
Result
Clean, even cream fabric with no smell

Light textured sofa with chaise before cleaning, gray soil and food and drink stains on the chaise and seats, in a Houston home — Light sofa with chaise: stains and gray soil

The chaise is where everyone stretches out, and it showed: food and drink stains plus gray patches of soil ground into the light textured weave. Stains were treated first, then the dirt was cleaned out of the fabric itself, not just off the surface. Compare the chaise in the close-ups: the dark patches are gone and the color is even again.

Removed
Food stains, drink stains, dirt

The same light sofa with chaise after cleaning, even light color on the chaise and seats — Light sofa with chaise: stains and gray soil

The chaise is where everyone stretches out, and it showed: food and drink stains plus gray patches of soil ground into the light textured weave. Stains were treated first, then the dirt was cleaned out of the fabric itself, not just off the surface. Compare the chaise in the close-ups: the dark patches are gone and the color is even again.

Removed
Food stains, drink stains, dirt

Cream fabric sectional with chaise before cleaning, with food and drink stains, in a Houston apartment — Cream sectional with chaise

Everyday food and drink spots on the seats and chaise, and a surprising amount of crumbs and debris collected inside the frame under the cushions. Every cushion came off, the inside was cleared out, and the fabric was cleaned so the cream color is even again. The cushions were then lifted on edge to dry.

Removed
Food and drink stains, a lot of debris inside the sofa

The same cream sectional after cleaning, cushions lifted to dry and the inside cleared of debris — Cream sectional with chaise

Everyday food and drink spots on the seats and chaise, and a surprising amount of crumbs and debris collected inside the frame under the cushions. Every cushion came off, the inside was cleared out, and the fabric was cleaned so the cream color is even again. The cushions were then lifted on edge to dry.

Removed
Food and drink stains, a lot of debris inside the sofa

Light reclining sofa with nailhead trim before cleaning, with food and drink stains on the seats — Light reclining sofa with a grease stain

Food and drink spots had darkened the seats of this light three-seat recliner, and a greasy food stain had worked its way into the seam between the cushions. Grease does not come out with water alone; it has to be broken down first. After cleaning the seats are an even light color again and the grease stain is gone.

Removed
Food and drink stains, a greasy food stain

Close-up of a greasy food stain in the seam between seat cushions before cleaning — Light reclining sofa with a grease stain

Food and drink spots had darkened the seats of this light three-seat recliner, and a greasy food stain had worked its way into the seam between the cushions. Grease does not come out with water alone; it has to be broken down first. After cleaning the seats are an even light color again and the grease stain is gone.

Removed
Food and drink stains, a greasy food stain

Large tan microsuede sectional with chaise before cleaning, soiled with dirt and oily stains, in a Houston living room — Large tan microsuede sectional

A big family sectional in soft microsuede, with everyday soil across every seat and a few stubborn oily stains. Oil does not rinse out of microsuede, so each of those stains was treated on its own before the deep clean. Where the fabric had worn and started to pill, the pills were taken off so the surface looks smooth again. The cushions were then set up in front of air movers to start drying.

Removed
Dirt, oily stains
Work done
Deep cleaning of the whole sectional, detailed treatment of the oily stains, pilling removed from worn areas of the fabric, partial drying

The same sectional after deep cleaning, cushions set up to dry with air movers — Large tan microsuede sectional

A big family sectional in soft microsuede, with everyday soil across every seat and a few stubborn oily stains. Oil does not rinse out of microsuede, so each of those stains was treated on its own before the deep clean. Where the fabric had worn and started to pill, the pills were taken off so the surface looks smooth again. The cushions were then set up in front of air movers to start drying.

Removed
Dirt, oily stains
Work done
Deep cleaning of the whole sectional, detailed treatment of the oily stains, pilling removed from worn areas of the fabric, partial drying

Light gray woven sectional seat cushion with dirt, food and drink stains before cleaning in a Houston home — Light gray modular sectional

A light woven sectional that gets used every day. Soil and spill marks had built up across the seat cushions. Every section was cleaned, not just the spots, so the whole piece matches again.

Removed
Everyday dirt, food stains, drink stains

The same sectional seat cushions after upholstery cleaning, stains removed — Light gray modular sectional

A light woven sectional that gets used every day. Soil and spill marks had built up across the seat cushions. Every section was cleaned, not just the spots, so the whole piece matches again.

Removed
Everyday dirt, food stains, drink stains

Brown leather sofa before cleaning, faded and scuffed with dirt and stains, in a Houston home — Brown leather sofa

The seat cushions had gone patchy: dark soiled areas on one side, pale scuffed leather on the other. After cleaning and restoration the whole sofa reads as one even brown again.

Removed
Dirt, stains
Work done
Leather cleaning and restoring the look of the leather

Close-up of worn leather seat cushions with scuffs, dark soil and stains before cleaning — Brown leather sofa

The seat cushions had gone patchy: dark soiled areas on one side, pale scuffed leather on the other. After cleaning and restoration the whole sofa reads as one even brown again.

Removed
Dirt, stains
Work done
Leather cleaning and restoring the look of the leather

Green velvet sofa before cleaning, with water marks and soiling — Green velvet sofa

Water marks and ground-in soil lifted out of velvet without flattening the pile.

Removed
Water marks, ground-in soil

The same velvet sofa after upholstery cleaning — Green velvet sofa

Water marks and ground-in soil lifted out of velvet without flattening the pile.

Removed
Water marks, ground-in soil

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