Velvet upholstered furniture is beautiful and luxurious, but this upholstery can be one of the trickiest types to clean. Stains don’t only sit on 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 couch, chair, or ottoman?

 

Know what type of velvet you are dealing with:

If your couch is upholstered in synthetic velvet (or velveteen), you should be able to clean it yourself without too much trouble. If, however, the velvet is made from cotton, silk, or wool, you’ll probably 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, and apply the suds to the stain. Rinse by dabbing with a damp, soap-free cloth. Allow the velvet to dry and then brush it carefully.

 

For regular maintenance:

You can 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 828.237.3237 or drop us a line for an estimate today. We look forward to hearing from you!