We start with a thorough vacuuming. Then comes a pre-spray treatment to break up and soften deep residues and ground-in dirt. The final, crucial step is the deep scrub and steam (the jets fire 25 times per second). When we finish, the carpet is already nearly dry, needing only about two and a half hours on average to be completely ready for use.

The major carpet manufacturers recommend a professional cleaning every 12 to 18 months for peak appearance and to maintain warranties. With small children or pets, more often is recommended; greater frequency is also beneficial if there are health issues such as allergies.

Drapes and mini-blinds are often—too often—the last item on the cleaning list. That is a mistake because it makes them all too often the one lackluster item in an otherwise impeccable room. And they are an investment to protect, too, when you consider the cost of window treatments and the labor involved to install them. This is all the more true for hard to find materials, colors and sizes.

We approach drapes in the same meticulous and systematic way as in cleaning upholstery: identify the material and its condition, then proceed with the indicated tools and materials. With drapes just as with upholstery, we use late-model equipment specially designed for that very purpose.

An art in itself, and with its own dedicated equipment, upholstery cleaning is a delicate task. First we do a careful inspection, identifying the fabric or fabrics, their age, condition and colors. Then we determine the appropriate cleaning procedure—wet or dry, and just the right chemical solution for the particular fabric—and the right cleaning tools. Then we proceed with non-abrasive hand vacuuming followed by the special cleaning regimen.

Remember, you sit on the sofas almost as often as you walk on the carpet: they need regular professional cleaning to look their best and to last as long as they should.