The answer to 'when to clean upholstery' is that most experts recommend cleaning upholstered furniture every 12-24 months, or when it starts to look dirty or worn. Regular cleaning helps extend the life of your upholstery and keeps it looking fresh and new. Factors like how often the furniture is used, whether you have pets or children, and whether anyone in your home smokes can impact how often you need to clean.
For light-duty cleaning, you can spot clean spills and stains as they happen and vacuum the upholstery regularly to remove dust and dirt. However, a deep cleaning by a professional upholstery cleaning service is recommended every 1-2 years to thoroughly clean and condition the fabric.