Product Overview

Summary: This Upholstery Cleaning Safe Operating Procedure sets out a safe, consistent method for cleaning fabric, leather, and specialised upholstery in Australian workplaces. It helps your team protect workers, customers, and property while delivering high-quality cleaning results that meet WHS and hygiene expectations.

Upholstery cleaning often takes place in live environments such as offices, hotels, healthcare and aged care facilities, where workers, clients and residents may be present during or shortly after cleaning activities. Without a clear procedure, there is a heightened risk of chemical exposure, slips, cross‑contamination, fabric damage, and customer complaints. This Upholstery Cleaning SOP provides a structured, step‑by‑step approach that integrates WHS obligations with best‑practice cleaning techniques for fabric, leather, and synthetic upholstery commonly found in Australian workplaces.

The document guides workers through pre‑inspection, colour‑fastness testing, chemical selection and dilution, equipment setup, safe manual handling, and controlled application of cleaning solutions. It also covers ventilation, electrical safety for powered equipment, and appropriate drying and post‑cleaning checks to minimise mould, odour and re‑soiling. By implementing this SOP, businesses can demonstrate due diligence under WHS legislation, reduce the likelihood of incidents and property damage, and ensure consistent, professional standards across all staff and sites.

This procedure is particularly valuable for organisations that outsource cleaning services or operate across multiple locations, as it provides a uniform method of work that can be used for inductions, toolbox talks and contractor management. It helps align frontline cleaning practices with Australian standards, infection control expectations, and client service agreements, supporting both compliance and brand reputation.

Key Benefits

• Ensure upholstery cleaning tasks are carried out safely, consistently and in line with Australian WHS requirements.
• Reduce the risk of chemical exposure, slips, trips, and electrical incidents during upholstery cleaning activities.
• Protect soft furnishings from damage and premature wear by standardising pre‑testing, product selection and application methods.
• Improve hygiene outcomes by incorporating basic infection control and cross‑contamination controls into daily cleaning practice.
• Streamline staff training and contractor management with a clear, documented procedure that can be used for inductions and audits.

Who is this for?

• Commercial Cleaning Supervisors
• Contract Cleaning Business Owners
• Hotel and Accommodation Managers
• Aged Care Facility Managers
• Facilities and Operations Managers
• WHS Coordinators
• Training and Induction Coordinators
• Healthcare Environmental Services Managers

Hazards Addressed

• Exposure to cleaning chemicals via skin contact, inhalation or eye splashes
• Allergic reactions or respiratory irritation from fragrances, aerosols and residues
• Slips, trips and falls from wet surfaces, hoses and equipment leads
• Electrical shock or fire from faulty or incorrectly used powered cleaning equipment
• Musculoskeletal injuries from awkward postures, lifting or moving heavy furniture
• Cross‑contamination between different areas or items (e.g. healthcare or aged care settings)
• Mould growth and odour from inadequate drying or over‑wetting of upholstery
• Damage to fabrics, dyes and finishes from incorrect chemical selection or mixing

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Upholstery Types
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities
• 4.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and Codes of Practice
• 5.0 Required Equipment, Chemicals and PPE
• 6.0 Pre‑Task Planning and Area Preparation
• 7.0 Hazard Identification and Risk Controls
• 8.0 Pre‑Inspection, Testing and Client Communication
• 9.0 Step‑by‑Step Upholstery Cleaning Procedure (Fabric, Leather, Synthetic)
• 10.0 Chemical Handling, Dilution and Labelling Requirements
• 11.0 Electrical Safety for Powered Cleaning Equipment
• 12.0 Manual Handling and Safe Movement of Furniture
• 13.0 Ventilation, Drying and Post‑Cleaning Checks
• 14.0 Infection Control and Cross‑Contamination Prevention
• 15.0 Waste Management and Disposal of Contaminated Materials
• 16.0 Emergency Procedures (Spills, Exposure, Equipment Failure)
• 17.0 Training, Competency and Supervision
• 18.0 Recordkeeping, Auditing and Continuous Improvement
• 19.0 Review and Document Control

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and equivalent state and territory WHS legislation
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (Cth) and state and territory equivalents
• Safe Work Australia – Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace: Code of Practice
• Safe Work Australia – How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks: Code of Practice
• Safe Work Australia – Managing the Work Environment and Facilities: Code of Practice
• Safe Work Australia – Hazardous Manual Tasks: Code of Practice
• AS/NZS 1715: Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment
• AS/NZS 2161: Occupational protective gloves (series)
• AS/NZS 3760: In-service safety inspection and testing of electrical equipment
• Relevant state and territory Infection Prevention and Control guidelines for healthcare and aged care settings