Before cleaning your upholstery, apply your cleaning method to a hidden area of the furniture. For example, do a small section of the back of the sofa before applying the chemical to the rest of the location. When you do this, you can successfully remove the dirt and know that the product you are using is safe for that particular material.
Calling on a professional upholstery cleaning company is a good thing. They have specialized equipment that can come into your home, clean your items and be removed. In many cases, these pieces will keep the material safe from discoloration or even worse from being ruined.