How to Clean Velvet Furniture in 3 Simple Steps

Do you have trouble maintaining and cleaning your velvet furniture?

Are you tired of the dust and mess around you?

Fear not! In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through simple and modern methods on how to keep your furniture well-maintained.

You are up for effective remedies that might be new to you, so get ready.

Before we get into details, here is the short version with the methods numbered, in case you don’t feel like reading the entire article.

1. Dish soap and rubbing alcohol: First create a mild solution by mixing a quarter teaspoon of dish soap, and 2 spoons of rubbing alcohol in water. Spray it on a cloth, scrub it, and repeat the process.
2. Truck mount and shampoo: Use the truck mount to remove soil and dust from the upholstery. Spray distilled water evenly. Scrub it using a horsehair brush. Spray the mixture of shampoo with water and scrub it again. Wipe it off using a microfiber towel. Use a 3% oxidizer to remove extra tough stains.
3. Soil-Extraction method: Use cleaning agents and then scrub gently using a brush and rinse with water. Continue this process and at the end use a steam cleaner to remove the leftover dirt and fabric cleaner.
4. Cross-contamination prevention: Clean every accessory you put on the sofa, for example, cushions, to avoid the transfer of dirt from them to the cleaned sofa.

This is a complete guide on how to clean velvet upholstered furniture. I will explain three simple methods. Trust me, these 3 methods will make your life easier.

Let’s get started.

Preparing for Clean-Up

Hold up! Before you start cleaning your velvet furniture, it’s important to prepare adequately to ensure that the process is smooth, effective, and most importantly safe!

If you want less fatigue and the best results, start by gathering all the necessary materials.

Here are the things that you need: a mild dish soap, rubbing alcohol, water, vacuum cleaner, spray bottle, cloth, a blunt knife, truck mount, neutral shampoo, 3% oxidizer, protein spotter, horse hair brush, distilled water, microfiber towel, spot stain remover.

These tools are necessary if you are dealing with minor spots or with stubborn stains. If you are using specialized equipment like a steam cleaner or an upholstery cleaner, make sure that you have the appropriate attachments and solutions ready.

For the cleaning process itself, the first step is always to check the fabric’s cleaning code. This code, found on furniture tags, guides you to the safest cleaning method for your couch.

If it is not available, a swift online search can provide the necessary guidance. Most velvet-cleaning sprays are water-based, which lifts the dirt without compromising the fabric’s color and texture.

You should also refer to expert advice. Conduct a preliminary test of your cleaning solution on a small area. This is just to ensure it doesn’t cause any discoloration or damage.

Once everything is in place, you are ready to proceed with the cleaning method that best suits your couch needs, whether it’s a soft and thorough cleaning, gentle vacuuming, a deep steam clean, or some creative DIY method involving homemade materials.

Method 1: Using Cleaning Formulas

Preparing the solution:

• Take your dishwashing soap and put a quarter teaspoon of soap in 500ml of water. Don’t add an excessive amount of soap, as it’ll leave fabric full of swords and will attract more dirt.
• Add 2 spoons of rubbing alcohol in the same solution and mix it well.

Initial Application:

• Start with grooming And vacuuming the furniture for at least 20 minutes.
• Do a couple of sprays on a cotton tail and then wipe it over the velvet. Continue till you can’t see the transfer of soil and dust on the cloth.
• If the food residues are really hard, use a blunt knife or stiff brushes to remove residues with a very gentle action without damaging the fabric.

Choosing your cleaning tools:

These tools are suggested for this method of cleaning your velvet upholstered furniture.

• Spray Bottle: Spray the homemade cleaning solution on a cloth.
• Microfiber Cloth: To absorb all the sprayed cleaner and wipe off all the stains over the velvet.
• Vacuum Cleaner: To hoover and remove all the dust in it.
• Blunt Knife: To remove extra hard food residues on the furniture.

Repeat as Necessary:

• If the stain is stubborn, You’ll have to repeat the process as mentioned above.
• Remember to stop the process when you see that the stain has been wiped and the entire furniture has been cleaned.

Final Inspection and Cleaning:

• When you are done with cleaning, inspect your furnishings for any residual stains and odors.
• If any traces of stain remain, you should repeat the process again.
• Often, a second or third application will completely remove the stain.

Additional Tips:

• Test the cleaning formula on a small area of the furniture to ensure that it doesn’t cause damage.
• Remember to apply this method once a month, to keep furniture clean and maintained.

Method 2: How to Clean with a Cleaner Machine

Initial Application:

• Start with a truck mount to remove all the dust from the furniture.
• Spray distilled water all over the furniture evenly.
• Take a brush and gently rub all the fabric of the furniture to remove dirt.
• Spray a mixture of neutral shampoo and water.
• Use a horsehair brush to spread the shampoo and remove the stains.
• Use a microfiber towel to dry it off.
• 3 % oxidizer to remove tough protein stains.

Thoroughly vacuum first:

• Vacuum the furniture to remove dust and dirt.
• This step is crucial for preventing diet from mixing with your cleaning solution, making it less effective.

Clean and extract:

• Start by spraying the neutral shampoo solution on the upholstery and scrubbing it using a horsehair brush.
• Use a microfiber towel to remove the excess mixture and dirt.
• This method is less effective than full extraction, but it still improves cleanliness.

Correction of distorted fibers:

• Identify any distorted fibers caused by spilled milk or any other stains or issues.

Post-Cleaning Ventilation and Odor Control:

• Properly ventilate the cleaned furniture to dry and to dispel any lingering bleach odor.
• If odor persists, consider using professional-grade odor neutralizers for a more thorough approach.

Testing Cleaning Products for Safety:

• Always conduct a spot test with any cleaning product on an inconspicuous area of your carpet. This ensures the product doesn’t cause damage or discoloration.

Understanding Warranties and Maintenance:

• Be aware that certain cleaning methods, including DIY shampooing or using certain chemicals, might void carpet warranties.
• Regular professional cleaning is recommended for maintaining the warranty, but in emergencies, immediate DIY cleaning is often necessary.
• You might need adjustments with the procedures depending on the warranty and ideal maintenance of the furniture.

Method 3: Steam Cleaning a Velvet Couch

Steam Cleaner Setup:

• Use a steam cleaner that has a handheld attachment. Most steam cleaners designed for floors also have this feature.
• Equip the steam cleaner with the squeegee tool, which is typically used for upholstery.
• This setup is crucial for protecting the fabric while effectively cleaning it.

Pre-Spray and Agitation:

• Use appropriate pre-spray, which is practically applying a stain remover.
• Use a suitable brush with the right stiffness and apply the appropriate force during agitation, preventing any damage.
• Repeat the process till all the stains and dust are removed.

Upholstery Eligibility for Steam Cleaning:

• It’s important to check the upholstery tags and symbols to determine the eligibility for steam cleaning.
• Process accordingly to the coding system (W, S, WS, X, D), ensuring the safety of upholstery and damage-free cleaning.
• W is for water-based cleaners, so you can clean fabric with water and water-based products. S is for solvent-based cleaners, and WS is for water-based and solvent-based cleaners as it provides more flexibility in selecting cleaning agents. X is for vacuum only, so only vacuum light brushing is required, and any liquid cleaning agent can’t be used. D is for professional cleaning, which means you can’t use any liquid or chemical cleaners as it can damage the fabric.
• Considering these symbols is important as there’s a higher risk of ruining the furniture.

Stain Removal:

• Use a spot stain remover to remove tough stains such as paint stains.
• Soak it in water and continue to scrub until the stain is fully removed.
• Clean thoroughly with water to remove all the products present in it.
• Use a steam cleaner to remove the dirt, dust, and cleaning agents present on the sofa.

Cushion Cleaning and Cross-Contamination Prevention:

Clean your cushions as well, or at least one surface of cushions, before placing them back on the sofa.
As the dust from cushions can be transferred to a fully cleaned and maintained sofa, causing a risk of cross-contamination.

2 Great Tips For Velvet Shine

Prevention is your best defense:

• Vacuum regularly as dust, dirt, and allergens can lead to stains. A weekly vacuuming session will keep your furniture free from all these elements.
• Apply the cleaning spray sparingly to avoid oversaturation, which can lead to watermarks.
• Gently blot stains with a clean, damp cloth and let the sofa air dry.
• Avoid putting your velvet furniture in the sunshine, it can cause fading of the material.
• Avoid putting sharp things around furniture as it can cause tears and cuts.

Maintaining Shine of Velvet:

• Weekly vacuum cleaning helps maintain its shine as there’ll be no dust, dirt, or anything causing dullness to the fabric.
• Gently brush with a soft bristle brush to maintain the softness of the fabric.
• Rotate your cushions, which will help in using the material of furniture evenly, so your couch doesn’t get damaged early just from one side.
• Don’t leave lots of water in it, as it leaves watermarks.

How to Prevent Future Incidents

3 Steps to stop bad things from happening again.

Order Elimination

To keep fabric fresh and without stinky, order using either spray available in the market. Be sure that they are water-based to avoid further fabric issues.
The second option is using Granny’s tip. Mix equal amounts of vinegar and water for order elimination, or simply mix lemon juice and baking soda in water and use it. Both ways work really well in this case.

If you are thinking of putting it in the sunshine to remove odor, then it’s the wrong approach as putting velvet upholstered furniture in the sunshine for a longer time fades the shine of the material and makes it dull.

Small Spills Treatment

Knowing the type of stain you are dealing with is essential, as different stains require different cleaning methods. For example, oil stains are different from vine stains. Always test any cleaning solution on a hidden area of the furniture to ensure that it won’t cause damage.

When tackling a stain, gently blot it with a clean, absorbent cloth instead of rubbing, which can worsen the solution. Use a damp cloth to clean the spill stains. If the stain still remains, mix a mild dish soap into lukewarm water and dip your cloth. Gently scrub it on the spot and let the fabric air dry completely.

Avoid using strong cleaning agents and water-based cleaning agents are perfect for velvet maintenance as they preserve fabric’s color, reduce the chance of material shrinkage, and are environmentally friendly. Use a fabric protector, because the invisible barrier helps in repelling stains and makes cleaning easier.

Using blankets can also protect from these spilling stains as the material will be absorbed by the blanket instead of directly reaching the furniture.
Be persistent and repeat the blotting and cleaning process of the stain till the stain is completely removed.

Delicate Velvet Care

Start with checking the care instructions present on the furniture’s tag. As velvet is sensitive to sunlight, avoiding direct sunlight on the furniture helps in maintaining its shine.

Regularly vacuuming every three days helps avoid dust and dirt accumulation on furniture for a longer time as the dust sets in. It gets harder to clean and requires more energy.

Spot cleaning with cleaning agents helps in preventing stubborn and tough stains. You can restore the fluff of velvet by brushing it once a week, don’t brush in the opposite direction of the fiber as it’ll cause damage.
Rotating cushions also help in damaging furniture from one side. All of these small cares help in avoiding or reducing the fatigue of deep cleaning. Use a steam cleaner to avoid wrinkles on the velvet.

Keep the furniture in a less humid environment as lots of moisture causes damage to the fabric and make sure that the furniture is fully dried. Avoid harsh chemicals such as bleach or any other substance which can ruin the color of fabric.
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Keep sharp objects away from furniture as it has the risk of cuts and tears on the upholstery of furniture.

Call Professionals

Professional help is also important, and at least once a year. Calling professionals is important as they know multiple ways of cleaning and with specified tools and machinery, making the cleaning process more effective.

For larger stains such as wine spilling, or you end up spilling any food material as removing oil from velvet material is hard, consider consulting a professional help even if you want to clean the entire piece as they understand the delicacy of fabrics like velvet.

In the end, I have provided a complete guide on how to clean velvet furniture, and keep it protected, with tips and tricks and methods to keep it maintained.

All the methods have been explained clearly.

For a more detailed guide on how to clean velvet sofas, check out our other articles.