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Sofa cleaning at home: how often, how it is done and drying time

By AHC Team · Reviewed by CONFIRM name and role · Published 2026-10-08 · Updated 2026-10-08 · 3 min read

Quick answer

Vacuum a fabric sofa every week or two and get it wet-shampooed every 6 to 12 months, or every 4 to 6 months with pets, small children or heavy dust. A shampoo with extraction takes about an hour for a 5-seater and the sofa is dry in 4 to 6 hours with the fan on. Standalone sofa cleaning is ₹199 per seat; with a home deep clean, a 3/4-seater shampoo is an add-on.

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A sofa is the hardest-working piece of furniture in most Delhi homes: daily dust through open windows, tea and snacks, children, pets and, in summer, sweat. Vacuuming keeps the surface tidy, but the dust and grime that settle into the fabric and foam need a proper wet clean every few months. Here is how often, how it is done, and how long you will be without your sofa.

How often to clean a sofa

  • Vacuum every week or two, including under the cushions and along the seams. This is regular cleaning and you can do it yourself.
  • Wet shampoo every 6 to 12 months for most homes.
  • Every 4 to 6 months if you have pets, small children, someone with a dust allergy, or a home near a main road or construction site.
  • Before festivals or guests, and after a family member has been unwell.

What a proper sofa shampoo involves

A sofa shampoo is not a spray and a wipe. Done properly, it has four steps:

  1. Dry vacuuming of the whole sofa, under the cushions and along the seams, to lift loose dust and crumbs.
  2. Shampoo, a fabric-safe one, worked into the fabric with a soft brush, with extra attention to armrests and headrests where body oil builds up.
  3. Extraction: a machine pulls the dirty water back out of the fabric. This is what separates a real deep clean from a surface wipe, and it is why the sofa dries in hours rather than days.
  4. Spot treatment of marks the technician points out to you before starting.

Leather sofas are not shampooed. They are cleaned with a leather-safe cleaner instead.

Drying time

Plan for 4 to 6 hours with the fan on and windows open. Thick cushions or humid monsoon days can take longer, so a morning booking works best if you want to sit on it the same evening. Do not cover the sofa or put cushions back in their covers until they are fully dry.

What it costs

Standalone sofa cleaning is ₹199 per seat, with a minimum of 3 seats. If you are booking a home deep clean, sofa wet shampoo is an add-on on the same visit:

  • 3/4-seater: ₹399
  • 5/6-seater: ₹599
  • 7+ seater: ₹799
  • Dining chairs: ₹99 per chair

Dry vacuuming of the sofa is already part of every home deep clean. Mattresses can be shampooed on the same visit too, from ₹349 for a single bed.

Between cleans

  • Vacuum regularly, and turn and swap seat cushions every few weeks so they wear evenly.
  • Blot spills straight away with a dry cloth; rubbing pushes the stain deeper.
  • Keep the sofa out of direct afternoon sun, which fades fabric.
  • Use a washable throw where pets or children sit most.

You can add sofa shampoo while booking a deep clean in the price calculator, or book it on its own on the sofa cleaning page.

FAQ

How long does a sofa take to dry after shampoo?
Usually 4 to 6 hours with the fan on and windows open. Thick cushions and humid monsoon days can take a little longer, so a morning booking is best if you want to use the sofa the same evening.
Is sofa cleaning included in a home deep clean?
Dry vacuuming of the sofa is included in every home deep clean. Wet shampoo with extraction is an add-on on the same visit, priced by sofa size.
Can leather sofas be shampooed?
Leather is not shampooed. It is cleaned with a leather-safe cleaner and conditioned, which is priced a little higher per seat.
Will shampoo remove every stain?
Most food, dust and sweat marks come out. Old ink, dye transfer and stains that have set for years may only lighten. Point them out before we start and the technician will tell you what to expect.
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