How to Clean Velvet Upholstery

Who doesn’t love the beauty and luxuriousness of rich, velvet upholstery? No one! But this upholstery can be one of the trickiest types to clean. Stains don’t only stick to the surface of the velvet, they also coat the individual fibers and seep into the backing, causing quite a mess! So how do you clean a velvet sofa, chair, or ottoman? Follow these tips to find out how to clean velvet upholstery.

What type of velvet is your upholstery?
If your upholstery is synthetic velvet (or velveteen), you should be able to DIY it without too much trouble. If, however, the velvet is made from cotton, silk, or wool, you may want to call in an expert. Cotton velvet is especially finicky, and the fibers can bunch and kink when they come into contact with soap, water, or cleaning solutions.

To get stains out of synthetic velvets:
Clean the fabric as soon as possible after staining occurs. Do not allow the stain to dry on its own, as it will set into the fabric and become much harder to clean. With a clean cloth or towel, gently press the stain to absorb any moisture and wipe away any loose debris. Prepare a mixture of lukewarm water and dish soap, then apply the suds to the stain. Rinse by dabbing with a damp, soap-free cloth. Allow the velvet to dry and then gently brush it.

For regular maintenance:
Clean your velvet upholstery with a furniture brush to remove dirt, lint, and fuzz. Vacuum regularly with the furniture attachment on your vacuum cleaner. Velveteen can be safely steam cleaned. For cotton, silk, or wool velvet, check the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions.

If you’re not sure whether your upholstery is synthetic velveteen or natural fiber velvet, you’re likely better off calling a professional upholstery cleaning service to handle the job. If you live in the Asheville, NC area, we would be happy to help you with your velvet couch, chair, or other furniture.

Give us a call at 828.237.3277 or drop us a line for an estimate today. We look forward to hearing from you!