How to Care for a Velvet Sofa the Right Way

A velvet sofa is one of those pieces that immediately changes how a room feels. But that soft, luxurious look that made velvet a desired material when designing high-end spaces comes with a bit of homework. Velvet’s plush texture is a result of a dense woven pile, which makes it more sensitive to pressure, moisture, and sunlight than a flat-woven fabric. The good news is that with a few small habits built into your regular cleaning routine, a velvet sofa isn’t fragile at all. Velvet is actually one of the more durable fabrics out there, and it actually looks better with age. Here’s exactly how to keep yours looking amazing for years to come.

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What is Velvet?

To know how to care for a velvet sofa the right way, you are going to need to know what the material is. Historically, velvet used to be made from woven silk, which is quite a costly textile. Unlike other fabrics, this one is not a flat-woven textile. It requires more material to make and is woven in two thicknesses at once, connected by extra threads that are later cut apart to create the fabric’s signature pile. This complicated process gives the fabric its hallmark softness, which is where the expression “soft as velvet” came from.

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Types of Fibres Used in Modern Velvet Sofa Upholstery

Nowadays, other than the classic silk velvet, there is a multitude of other synthetic or natural materials that can be used to make velvet. Some of the more budget-friendly ones it can be made from are:

• Cotton;
• Polyester (often a cotton+polyester blend);
• Viscose;
• Wool;
• Linen;
• Mohair.

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Pure silk velvet has become harder to find in modern days. Even if you do come across real velvet, it is expensive to buy. Now, it is more commonly made from viscose, also known as art silk. Nevertheless, if you do find yourself buying a velvet sofa, no matter the kind, you are going to need to know the best way to go about cleaning it. So, first things first, look at the label of your velvet sofa and check:

• Materials it is made from;
• Care instructions;
• Cleaning instructions;
• Or Cleaning Codes.

Cleaning Codes and Care by Material

Most upholstery labels also carry a cleaning code: W, S, WS, or X. These codes tell you at a glance whether your velvet sofa is safe for water-based cleaning, whether it should be solvent/dry-clean only, or whether it needs to be professionally cleaned or vacuumed only. It’s worth a quick check before you try anything below.

Natural fibre velvet is going to be far more delicate than synthetic velvet. If your velvet sofa is made from synthetic materials, you can steam clean it with no problem at home, as synthetic velvet is more durable and less prone to creasing, fading, and damage than natural fibre velvet. If your velvet sofa is made from natural materials, we advise you to call in professional upholstery cleaners to get the job done.

Here’s a quick side-by-side of the different fabrics used in velvet sofa upholstery:

How to Tell if Your Velvet Sofa is Safe for Water-Based Cleaning if the Label is Missing

If the label has gone missing or faded beyond reading, there is still a quick and reliable way to work out whether you’re dealing with a synthetic or natural fibre.

Wet your finger with lukewarm water and find a hidden spot on the sofa like the back or underneath. Gently press your wet finger to the upholstery and spin it for a few seconds. Then wipe the spot dry with the back of your hand and take a look at the pile.

If it realigns easily, with no matting, darkening, or flattening, this is a strong sign that you’re dealing with a resilient, synthetic velvet that is most likely safe for water-based spot cleaning.

If the fabric darkens deeply, flattens out, or leaves behind a mark, your furniture is most probably upholstered with a delicate natural velvet or a viscose one. If so, it should be dry-cleaned only.

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Here’s a “before” picture of a gorgeous green velvet sofa we were recently called to clean and refresh.

How to Care for a Velvet Sofa the Right Way

Although velvet is classified as a delicate fabric, it is actually quite durable when cared for correctly. That is why it is of the utmost importance to learn how to care for a velvet sofa the right way. The best thing about velvet is that it is like a fine wine, it only gets better with the years.

Care of velvet furniture is actually quite simple. The way to go about it is to incorporate the tasks tied to its care into your regular routine. We advise you to add a few light chores to your weekly cleaning list:

1. When you are vacuuming the floor or carpet in your lounge, quickly swap the attachment fitting for an upholstery cleaner and get rid of any dust, crumbs, fluff, and whatever else off your velvet sofa.
2. Get a velvet brush for your sofa. You must first figure out which way the velvet fibres are woven (this is called the ‘nap’). Brush your couch following that direction. Brushing against it is what causes the flattened, ‘bruised’ look you’ll want to avoid.
3. While you are completing one of the two tasks mentioned above, you may come across old stains that you have missed. This is when you could attempt to remove the stain using lukewarm water (never hot, as it can damage the fibres!) and the method described below. Still, if you know your sofa is made from water-sensitive materials, you may want to consider hiring professional upholstery cleaners. They will clean your furniture using a dry cleaning method that won’t cause any damage to the beautiful fabric.
4. If you notice any creases or unnatural lines, you could get your steam cleaner and run it gently over the upholstery, brushing with the pile to restore it. However, make sure the velvet is safe for water-based cleaning and use the steamer on its lowest setting, otherwise you can damage the pile.

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How to Remove a Stain from a Velvet Sofa

It is practically impossible to go through life without staining something you should not have. If you have pets, kids, or just a messy member in the family, it is going to happen sooner rather than later. So, when the inevitable comes to pass, you need to be prepared.

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The number 1 rule when it comes to stains – catch them on time. If they have time to dry and set into the velvet fabric, it can become near impossible to remove them. Here are our stain removal experts‘ tips on how to tackle a fresh stain:

1. 1. The first thing to get done when a fresh spill has landed on your couch is to grab a few paper towels or an absorbent cloth. Place it on the stain delicately. Do not rub or dab, as this could further push it deeper into the fibres of your settee. Leave it for 5-10 minutes to soak up as much as possible.
   2. Before you use any stain removal solution, dab a little of it onto a hidden patch of the sofa (the back or underside works well). Wait a few minutes to make sure the colour doesn’t lift or transfer onto your cloth. Velvet dye isn’t always colourfast, and this one check can save you from turning a small stain into a noticeable patch.
   3. After you are done with the colourfastness test and you are sure the product you have is safe for your sofa, it is time to treat the stain. We advise you to use a specialised cleaner made for the type of velvet upholstery you have. Mixing DIY stain removal solutions might sound like a quick fix, but on velvet it can leave behind watermarks or a residue that attracts dirt faster than before. Apply your chosen cleaner exactly as the label instructs. As a rule of thumb, when using any cleaning products less is more.
   4. If you need to rinse the stain, blot it gently using a white cleaning cloth dipped in lukewarm water and squeezed out of the excess moisture. Always use lukewarm water to prevent damage to the fabric. If you are dealing with a large stain or a very sudsy cleaner, you might need to change the cloth and repeat a few times until the dirt and residue are gone.
   5. Now leave the upholstery to air out and dry. After it has dried out completely, use a vacuum with the upholstery attachment or your velvet brush going in the direction of the nap to make it look smooth and make sure the spot blends in with the rest of the velvet sofa.

NB: It’s normal to notice small streaks or lines on the fabric right after cleaning, whether you do it yourself or hire professionals. This is not a sign of damage. It simply means the nap needs a little time, usually a day or two, to settle back into place. A gentle brush in the direction of the nap can help speed this along.

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Here’s how gorgeous the green velvet sofa is right after upholstery cleaning and stain removal.

A Few Tips From the Professionals

1. When placing your velvet sofa in your living space, choose a spot where direct sunlight can not reach it.
2. If you have children or pets, it may be worth considering placing a protective cover over your velvet settee to avoid damage and scuffing.
3. Your velvet sofa may or may not have cushions. If it does, fluff them regularly.
4. Always read the upholstery labels before attempting any cleaning process on your velvet couch.
5. In the event that you discover an old stain on your sofa, either deal with it using a steam cleaner, or contact stain removal specialists.
6. If ever in doubt, contact professional upholstery cleaners. You don’t want to cause unnecessary damage to your luxurious furniture.

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