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Title / Clean upholstery and wall fabrics
Level / 3 / Credits / 4
Purpose / This unit standard is for people in the carpet cleaning industry who wish to acquire specialist skills in cleaning upholstery and wall fabrics.
People credited with this standard are able to: prepare to clean upholstery; conduct a risk assessment of the worksite; clean upholstery; prepare to clean wall fabrics; clean wall fabrics; and complete job-related tasks.
Classification / Cleaning and Caretaking > Carpet and Textile Cleaning
Available grade / Achieved
Entry information
Critical health and safety prerequisites / Unit 25918, Follow safe work practices in the carpet cleaning and restoration industry, or demonstrate equivalent knowledge and skills.
Explanatory notes
1Competence demonstrated during assessment against this standard must comply with the requirements of:
Consumer Guarantees Act 1993;
Employment Relations Act 2000;
Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996;
Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992;
Resource Management Act 1991;
AS/NZS 4849.1:2003 Upholstery cleaning – Fabric upholstery;
AS/NZS 3733:1995 Textile floor coverings – Cleaning maintenance ofresidential and commercial carpeting;
S300 Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Upholstery Cleaning – 2000 (IICRC Publications).
2Definitions
Industry best practice refers to any enterprise and/or establishment requirements, practices, policy, procedures, methods and protocols which are in accordance with applicable legislation, regulations and New Zealand Standards.
A fabric is defined as a cloth or textile made from yarn or fibre.
A material is made from non-woven fabrics eg leather, vinyl, and suede.
A stain is defined as foreign material (soil, liquid, etc) on a fabric or material that is not removable by standard cleaning methods. This also includes discolouration occurring in or on a fabric or material or any colour other that the natural colour of the fabric or material (ie, red stain, black stain).
3All vacuum filtration systems must comply with AS/NZS 3733:1995 (Section 4.3.2).
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Prepare to clean upholstery.
Evidence requirements
1.1Material and/or fabric is identified according to its composition.
Rangeface fibre or yarn, backing material (if any).
1.2Condition of material and/or fabric is assessed and cleaning solution selected is suitable for identified cleaning requirements in accordance with industry best practice.
Rangephysical damage, wear, colour fastness, ultra-violet damage, potential to brown, cleaning instructions on label.
1.3Warning signs are displayed in accordance with industry best practice.
Rangeat least one of – signs, cordons, barriers.
1.4Equipment is selected in accordance with industry best practice.
Rangecloths, cleaning agent, bucket, stain removal kit, sponge, wet extraction unit, air mover, upholstery tool, velvet brush, horse hair brush, prespray equipment.
Outcome 2
Conduct a risk assessment of the worksite.
Evidence requirements
2.1A risk assessment of the worksite is completed in accordance with industry best practice.
Rangeimmediate and secondary risks.
2.2Client is provided with written details of the risk assessment and is in accordance with industry best practice.
2.3Client’s written acceptance of the risk assessment is obtained prior to cleaning and is in accordance with industry best practice.
Outcome 3
Clean upholstery.
Evidence requirements
3.1Material and/or fabric is vacuum cleaned until free from loose soil.
3.2Cleaning solution is prepared in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations.
3.3Material and/or fabric is tested for colour fastness in an inconspicuous area prior to the application of cleaning solution in accordance with industry best practice.
3.4Solution is applied without over-wetting, damage or risk to other surfaces in accordance with industry best practice.
3.5Solution is removed leaving material and/or fabric soil free.
3.6Appearance of finished article is approved by supervisor or client.
3.7Equipment and cleaning materials are cleaned and stored in accordance with manufacturer’s recommendations.
3.8Soiled solutions and waste are disposed of in accordance with the Resource Management Act 1991.
Outcome 4
Prepare to clean wall fabrics.
Evidence requirements
4.1Fabric is identified according to its style.
Rangeprint, velour/velvet, flocked, plain weave.
4.2Condition of fabric is assessed and cleaning solution selected is suitable for identified cleaning requirements.
Rangephysical damage, colour fastness, ultra-violet damage, potential to brown, cleaning instructions on label.
4.3Method of cleaning selected is suitable for identified cleaning requirements.
Rangeon-site by wet process; off-site by dry cleaning.
Outcome 5
Clean wall fabrics.
Evidence requirements
5.1Fabric to be cleaned on-site by wet process is vacuum cleaned until free from loose soil in accordance with industry best practice.
5.2Cleaning solution for fabric to be cleaned on-site by wet process is prepared in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations.
5.3Fabric to be cleaned on-site by wet process is tested for colour fastness in an inconspicuous area prior to the application of cleaning solution in accordance with industry best practice.
5.4Cleaning solution for fabrics to be cleaned on-site by wet process is applied and removed in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations.
5.5Appearance of finished article cleaned on-site by wet process is approved by supervisor or client.
5.6All equipment and cleaning materials are cleaned and stored in accordance with manufacturer’s recommendations.
5.7Soiled solutions and waste are disposed of in accordance with the Resource Management Act 1991.
Outcome 6
Complete job-related tasks.
Evidence requirements
6.1Supervisor or client is provided with written report for approval and sign-off in accordance with industry best practice.
6.2Documentation relating to job is processed in accordance with industry best practice.
Rangeany required job or worksite reporting.
6.3Premises are secured in accordance with client requirements and/or instructions.
Planned review date / 31 December 2017Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process / Version / Date / Last Date for AssessmentRegistration / 1 / 26 May 1994 / 31 December 2011
Review / 2 / 31 August 1996 / 31 December 2011
Revision / 3 / 3 April 2000 / 31 December 2011
Revision / 4 / 8 February 2001 / 31 December 2011
Review / 5 / 26 April 2005 / 31 December 2011
Review / 6 / 9 December 2010 / 31 December 2014
Review / 7 / 18 October 2012 / N/A
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference / 0004
This CMR can be accessed at
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA, before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR). The CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact the Community Support Services ITO Limited (Careerforce) if you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
Community Support Services ITO Limited (Careerforce)SSB Code 101814 / New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2018