How To Clean Velvet Upholstery

Velvet is a timeless choice for furniture upholstery and the go-to preference of everybody. It offers many benefits like excellent durability, heavy-duty performance and top-notch luxury, but to prolong all the perks, you gotta invest in good maintenance as well. That’s how you can continue reaping all the pros and also ensure a safe and healthy environment for everyone.

If you don’t know a lot about how to clean velvet upholstery the right way and/or have messed this up ever in the past, Furniture upholstery Store Dubai is here to help you out. We have designed an exclusive guide to help upkeep velvet upholstery. With this useful and practical guide at hand, you can easily benefit from your heirloom furniture pieces and upholstered headboards for years on end!

Caring For Velvet Upholstery The Right Way

A large part of maintaining the incredibly delicate velvet furniture and bed upholstery is preserving its textures and retaining its colors. This is to say that safe and non-toxic materials should be used for cleaning and the techniques must also be gentle.

We shall be talking about both regular cleaning and reversing damages like staining.

1- Cleaning Method For Velvet Upholstery

You can perform this cleanup every other week or whenever there’s any soiling or some other kind of buildup.

Supplies You Will Need

• Vacuum cleaner (having an upholstery attachment)
• Sponge/Microfiber cloth
• Scrubbing brush (get a soft-bristled one)
• Dish soap/upholstery cleaner
• Warm water

Steps Of Cleaning

1. Begin by vacuum cleaning the entire upholstered surface and ensure addressing all corners too, especially in the case of velvet chair upholstery. This will clear out all the loosened debris and dust and the surface will be ready for deep cleaning.
2. If there are any fresh spills or stains, blot them thoroughly using a dry microfiber cloth or a soft sponge. Next up, combine the dish soap (a few drops) and some warm water to make a cleaner. Dip your cleaning fabric or sponge into this solution and wring it well.
3. Dab the fabric onto the stained areas of the upholstery and proceed in a circular motion. The rest of the surface must also be wiped gently; only do blotting and never rub the fibers. Lastly, blot the area with a cloth dampened with clear water to remove cleaner.
4. Dry wipe the surface once again to make sure there’s no moisture residue and allow complete air drying. Avoid placing the furniture item under direct sunlight for drying as velvet can get discolored this way. You can also use a hair dryer on a low setting.

This should clear out any stained or soiled parts of your velvet furniture upholstery and give it a refreshed look.

2- Stain Removal Techniques For Velvet Fabrics

Up ahead, we have talked about some stains that are frequent in households, essentially the kind of damages your velvet upholstery is most likely to get subjected to.

Here’s how you can combat them.

Food/Drink Spills

• Start by taking out all the solid food buildup with the help of a blunt knife, a scraper or a spoon. Liquids should be blotted quickly with a dry and absorbent cloth or paper towels.
• If the food or drink stains are oil-based, sprinkle a little cornstarch or talcum powder over them. Let it stay there for a few hours until all the greasiness gets absorbed.
• Finish off by vacuuming away the powder. You can also perform the above-mentioned cleanup here for even better results. It will also work for all non-greasy food stains.

Ink/Makeup Marks

• Ink stains should be cleaned with rubbing alcohol; moisten a soft cloth with rubbing alcohol and dab the ink stain. You can also use white vinegar and water alternatively.
• Avoid rubbing the stain in either case; gently dab only. Once the stain has been removed, wipe the area with another damp cloth (dampened with clear water) to take residues out.
• For makeup stains, you can use a solution of mild soap and water, rubbing alcohol (similar to the ink removal method) or even makeup removing wipes.
• Oily makeup buildups and stains will require rubbing alcohol in particular, and so will any stubborn or old stains. But make sure to do spot testing first to avoid damages.

Pet Stains/Damages

• If the buildup is of something solid (like pet waste), carefully take it off with paper towels or a spoon. For liquids, blot most of the liquid by pressing cloths or paper towels firmly.
• Next up, combine white vinegar and water in equal quantities and fill the solution in a spray bottle. Spritz the stained area thoroughly but do not soak it excessively.
• Afterwards, sprinkle baking soda over the area dampened with vinegar and there should be some fizzing. Cover the area with a towel and let the baking soda stay overnight.
• After the baking soda has dried out completely, go over the entire treated area with a vacuum cleaner using the upholstery attachment. You can redo this for stubborn stains.

3- Tips To Keep Velvet In A Pristine Condition

Following is a useful piece of advice which will help keep your velvet upholstery in the best condition and add years to its lifestyle, ensuring maximum comfort and aesthetic benefits for you.

• • Reading Care Labels: Practicing utmost caution is crucial when dealing with velvet furniture or headboard upholstery. You must always check the care labels before opting for any cleaning procedure. For example, velvet upholstery featuring an “S” means that you should only go for solvent-cleaning and avoid water-based cleaning methods.

• Testing Everything Beforehand: No matter what cleaner you use, always test it before application as velvet fibers, especially cotton and silk ones, are quite likely to get damaged by strong chemicals and intense substances. Patch testing will save you from unfavorable outcomes. You can also consider steam cleaning or use a dry cleaning foam.

• Getting Professional Help: If your velvet fabric upholstery has tough/old stains or is heavily soiled, then the safest approach is to consult the experts. Besides, you should also consider hiring expert cleaning services for velvet fabric if you are not very sure or confident about practicing a certain cleaning method. This goes the same if there are any lingering odors that don’t seem to go away with any amount of cleaning.

• General Care Considerations: Avoid placing your velvet upholstered furniture in such a space where it is exposed to sunlight. Rotate any cushions or pillows on a regular basis and make use of slipcovers whenever the furniture is not in use. After weekly cleaning or vacuuming, brush the pile back so that the finish stays soft.

To Conclude 

Cleaning velvet upholstery the right way ensures it stays elegant for years. To address this common requirement, we have prepared an all-inclusive guide, with which you can easily maintain your velvet upholstered furniture and also deal with any occasional problems and accidents. Plus, it’s also about keeping the furniture hygienic and hypoallergenic to use. Moreover, any damages are much more likely to get undone if addressed right away, and any delays will only result in more significant issues. We have also provided a number of upkeep practices for velvet sofa upholstery, other than everyday care and cleaning.