Upholstery cleaning specialists require several tools to get best results with minimal risk to the fabric and minimal fatigue to the cleaner. In this article, I've selected only the tools and accessories that I feel a good cleaning technician really needs.

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Upholstery Cleaning Tool:
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For nearly 30 years, the industry standard has been a small hand tool with a spray nozzle that allows only a fine spray of fluid to reach the fabric. Tools such as these have been adapted to work with truck mounted cleaning units as well by incorporating internal bypass jets to reduce water flow and increase heat at the nozzle.

In the last decade, revolutionary upholstery cleaning tools have taken over as the most popular choice of cleaning professionals. These tools incorporate redirected spray patterns, often with the assistance of the vacuum slot's airflow, to create a solution flow that moves through the surface of the fabric only, rather than penetrating into the back of the fabric. For the purpose of generic discussion, I will refer to these tools as "Dry Tools".

The low wetting factor of "Dry Tools" have greatly reduced the likelihood of bleeding, browning, and shrinkage, even with delicate fabrics such as jacquard and raw cotton fabrics.  Dry Tools have made the use of truck mounts for upholstery cleaning safer than ever before, although most of these tools also work well on many portable cleaning units. 

Remember that these tools REDUCE the risks of bleeding and browning, but do not guarantee against it!  Continue to use products that are designed for the fabric that you are cleaning, and always test fabrics to determine the suitability of your cleaning products and procedures.

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Crevice Tool:
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Narrow vacuum attachments that allow access to difficult to reach areas of furniture fabric allow technicians to vacuum dust and debris from folds, crevices, etc. (Crevice tools may be purchased that have spray nozzles that can rinse extract these hard to service areas as well).

The design of some Dry Tools prevent the tool from reaching deep crevices or folds adequately, therefore crevice tools are a must for professionals who want to give their customers the most thorough cleaning possible.

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Sprayer:
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Use only sprayers that produce a very fine mist, such as chemically resistant trigger sprayers. Compressed air and in line sprayers, such as are typically used in carpet cleaning, often dispense too much fluid and may cause over wetting of the material to be cleaned. Before deciding how much spray should be applied to a fabric, look at your shirt sleeve. Upholstery fabrics are rarely thicker than your garment's fabrics. Imagine how little spray it would require before you would feel moisture through your shirt, and you'll see how little fluid that should be applied to fabric during preconditioning or post treatment of fabrics.

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Floor Protection Coverings: 
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Often called "Drop Cloths", protective coverings are needed to protect carpet or other floor covering materials from spray or drips from tools and sprayers. Drop cloths should be large enough to protect the entire area underneath of the furniture, and also leave a protected area for spotting kits, sprayers, cleaning tools, buckets, and portable equipment.

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Work Table:
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Most cleaners resist carrying extra materials into the home or business, but a lightweight, folding work table can save considerable time and back aches. Cushions cleaned on a table are easier to handle, and having sprayers, brushes, and specialty spotting agents within reach on the top of the table saves your back and knees from cramps and discomfort.

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Drying Fans:
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Carpet dryers, as well as smaller ventilation fans, are extremely effective for rapid drying of upholstery. Most upholstery cleaning problems (bleeding, browning, and shrinkage) are prevented when fabrics are dried rapidly after cleaning.

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Furniture Preconditioning Brush:
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Brushes with horse hair bristles are best for upholstery fabric. Horsehair brushes are aggressive enough to loosen ground in, oily soils, but gentle enough on all but the most fragile materials. After applying upholstery cleaning preconditioning agents, the use of a horsehair brush will loosen soil to the extent that the fabric should begin to look clean before any extraction is done.

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Velvet Brush:
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This brush is used to remove vacuum distortion marks left by your cleaning tool, as well as to restore the original appearance and softness to velvet fabrics. With skill and patience, a cleaning technician can restore the hand and appearance to most delicate natural fiber velvet fabrics. New micro-fiber materials should also be groomed after cleaning to achieve the best appearance and for faster drying.

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White Towels:
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Clean, white, pre-washed towels serve many useful purposes. Preconditioned areas may be rubbed or blotted before rinse extraction occurs to aid in the removal of suspended soil. Fabrics may also be towel dried after extraction to remove the last traces of soil and assist in the drying process.  Towels should also be used to wipe wood trim and legs after cleaning to prevent water marks or migration of furniture stain to adjacent fabric covered areas.

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Chemically Resistant Gloves:
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Lightweight, disposable vinyl gloves will protect your skin from irritation from repeated exposure to cleaning detergents and solvents.

Respirator and Safety Goggles: If you dry clean furniture, or if you apply solvent based protectors after cleaning, you must protect your lungs and eyes from solvent mist and vapors. Choose a respirator with cartridges rated for protection against organic solvents.

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Steamer:
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Small electric steamers that are sold to remove wrinkles from clothing and drapery are very useful in correcting severe pile distortion in velvet fabrics, as well as accelerating the action of reducing and oxidizing agents used in specialty stain removal.

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SUMMARY:
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As was stated in the beginning of the article, the list of tools and accessories could go on for pages. What is most important is that upholstery cleaning technicians choose tools that help them perform a better service for their clients, while protecting the furniture from damage, and themselves from physical strain and possible adverse health effects from cleaning products.  If you have special tools that have improved your results and made cleaning easier, please let me know!  You can e-mail your lists and ideas to me at jimp@pembertons.com.  I'll look forward to hearing from you.