Upholstery cleaning codes W, S, WS (W/S), X and D, and where the tag is
The cleaning code on the tag says what may touch the fabric: W means water-based cleaning, S solvent only, W/S either and X vacuum only. WATERFALL's fabric furniture cleaning is shampoo and then hot-water extraction, so the code is the first thing to read on any piece; for an S or X tag, text a photo of the tag and we confirm how we clean it. WATERFALL cleans couches at your home from $130: call (747) 214-6199.
What is an upholstery cleaning code?
It is the letter or letters on the manufacturer's tag that say which kind of cleaning the fabric tolerates. Fabrics are dyed and finished differently, and the maker prints the code because the wrong liquid can leave rings, shrink the fabric or lift the dye.
The tag sits under a seat cushion, on the frame under the seat or on the underside of the piece. Four codes are in common use: W, S, W/S and X.
Where is the cleaning code tag on a couch and what does it look like?
Lift the seat cushions: the tag is usually sewn to the deck, the fabric platform under them. If it is not there, look under the frame, behind the skirt or inside a cushion zipper.
It is a small white or cream label with the maker's name, a model or fabric number and the fiber content, and the code is one or two capital letters on it, sometimes with a line of instructions beside it. A laundry label inside a removable cushion cover is a different tag; the cleaning code is for the whole piece.
What does cleaning code W mean?
W means the fabric may be cleaned with water-based products, such as a shampoo or a cleaning solution in water. Shampoo followed by hot-water extraction is a water-based method, so it suits fabric tagged W or W/S; for an S or X tag, a photo of the tag tells us how we clean the piece.
A W tag is permission, not a promise of the result: a careful cleaner still tests a hidden spot and keeps the fabric from getting soaked.
What does cleaning code S mean?
S means solvent only: the fabric is cleaned with a dry-cleaning solvent and no water, because water can leave rings, shrink the fabric or make the dye run.
A damp cloth counts as water, so on S fabric blot a spill with a dry white cloth, and for a stain use a water-free upholstery solvent after a hidden-spot test.
A professional cleans S fabric with a solvent and never with steam or an extraction machine, in the steps below. For an S tag, a photo of the tag tells us how we clean it: text it to (747) 214-6199.
- read the tag and check the fabric
- vacuum the whole piece
- test the solvent on a hidden spot
- ventilate the room and protect the floor and the legs
- apply a small amount, work it in and lift the soil out with a clean cloth
- treat oily marks and water-based marks separately, the mildest product first
- let it air-dry and brush the pile
What does cleaning code WS mean on a sofa and what can I clean it with?
WS, also printed W/S or SW, means either kind of cleaner is allowed: an upholstery shampoo or foam, which is water-based, or a mild water-free dry-cleaning solvent. Water-based suits food and drink spills; a solvent does better on oily marks such as grease or makeup.
Use a product labeled for upholstery, a small amount, blotted from the edge in, after a hidden-spot test, and do not soak the fabric. Because water is allowed, shampoo and hot-water extraction, WATERFALL's method, can be used on WS fabric.
What does cleaning code X mean, and is it really vacuum only?
Yes. X means vacuum or light brushing only: no water, no shampoo, no steam and no solvent spot cleaner, because any of them can ring, shrink or distort the fabric. Vacuum with a soft brush tool on low suction, blot a fresh spill with a dry cloth, and for a stain ask the maker first.
For an X tag, a photo of the tag tells us how we clean it: text it to (747) 214-6199. The code says which cleaner the fabric tolerates, not whether the cushion covers can go in a washing machine.
What does fabric cleaning code D mean?
D is not one of the four standard codes, so treat it as a maker's own mark until you have read the rest of the tag. Some tags add a line of words next to the letter, and that line is the instruction.
If the tag does not explain it, look up the manufacturer's care guide for the model, or text a photo of the tag to (747) 214-6199.
What if the tag is missing or unreadable?
Look for the maker's name and the model on the frame, then find the care guide for it. If nothing is left, treat the fabric as if it might not tolerate water until a hidden-spot test shows otherwise. The guide to telling what fabric you have shows what else gives the fabric away.
Is the code a promise that cleaning will be safe?
No. The code is the maker's instruction for the fabric as it was made. Age, sun, earlier cleaning products and the dyes in the fabric change how it reacts, which is why a test on a hidden spot matters and why no cleaner can promise a result before seeing the piece.
Which code do I need for steam cleaning?
W or W/S. Steam cleaning, properly hot-water extraction, uses water, so it suits those two codes; for S and X, text a photo of the tag to (747) 214-6199 and we confirm how we clean it. The steam cleaning by fabric guide goes through the common fabrics, and steam vs dry cleaning compares the methods.
Questions and answers
What do the W, S, WS and X cleaning codes on a couch tag mean?
W means water-based cleaning, S solvent only, W/S either, and X vacuum or brush only. Read the code before any liquid touches the fabric.
How do professionals clean an S-code couch?
With a water-free dry-cleaning solvent and no steam or extraction machine: they vacuum, test the solvent on a hidden spot, ventilate, work a small amount in and lift the soil out, then let it air-dry and brush the pile. For an S piece, text a photo of the tag to (747) 214-6199 and we confirm how we clean it.
What does clean code S mean on a couch?
Solvent only. Water can mark, shrink or run the dye on that fabric.
What are the different cleaning codes?
W, S, W/S and X are the four standard ones. Some tags add words beside the letter, and those words are the instruction.
How to clean a couch with cleaning code S?
Use a dry solvent cleaner made for upholstery, in a ventilated room, and test a hidden spot first. Never use water on it.
My couch has an S code, is a damp cloth ok?
No. A damp cloth is water, and S means solvent only, because water can ring, shrink or lift the dye. Blot with a dry white cloth, and for a stain use a water-free upholstery solvent after a hidden-spot test.
Where to find the cleaning code on a couch?
On the tag under a seat cushion or on the frame. It is a letter or letters near the fiber content.
What cleaning code is my couch?
Look at the tag: W, S, W/S or X. If it is missing, treat the fabric as if it might not tolerate water until a hidden-spot test shows otherwise.
How to clean upholstery fabrics with cleaning code WS?
Either a water-based cleaner or a solvent may be used. WATERFALL uses the water-based method on W/S fabric, after a hidden-spot test.
Why do upholstery cleaning codes matter?
Because the wrong liquid can leave rings, shrink the fabric or lift the dye. The code is the maker's instruction for what the fabric tolerates.
Show 1 more question
What does the code under my dining chair mean?
It is the same code system: W for water-based, S for solvent, W/S for either, X for vacuum only. Read it before cleaning the seat.
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More guides
- Upholstery fabrics: all guides
- Can you steam clean a couch? By fabric — Fabric tagged W or W/S can; for S and X tags, a photo of the tag tells us how we clean it.
- Durable upholstery fabric and how to tell yours — Read the tag under a cushion; if it is gone, the maker's care guide and the weave tell you the rest.
- How to clean a microfiber, linen or velvet couch — Each fabric reacts differently to water; the tag and a hidden-spot test decide, and light moisture with strong extraction suits most.
Sources: IICRC (The cleaning and restoration industry's standards body, for how professionals clean fabrics and carpet.)