How to clean a microfiber, linen, velvet or bouclé couch
Check the tag under the cushions first: W means water-based cleaning, S means solvent only, W/S means either, and X means vacuum only (cleaning codes). Microfiber, polyester and most performance fabrics are usually W or W/S and clean well with a light shampoo and hot-water extraction; linen, cotton, rayon chenille and velvet take in water and can shrink, ring or crush, so they get less water, no heat and a fast dry, and many bouclé fabrics are tagged S. WATERFALL's fabric furniture cleaning and couch cleaning use shampoo and hot-water extraction on fabric the tag allows to be cleaned with water; prices are on the prices page. WATERFALL cleans couches at your home from $130: call (747) 214-6199.
How do you clean a microfiber sofa?
Read the tag, then clean in the order below with as little water as the tag allows; microfiber is a fine, tightly woven synthetic that releases water quickly, but its tag can read W, W/S or S.
Rings on an S tag mean water was used. For heavy soil on a W or W/S microfiber, a professional shampoo and extraction is the next step.
- read the tag (what the codes mean): on S microfiber, a solvent such as isopropyl alcohol replaces water
- vacuum the seams and under the cushions
- test the cleaner on a hidden spot and let it dry
- blot from the outside of the mark inward with a white cloth, and never soak it
- let it dry with moving air, then brush the nap in small circles so it does not stiffen
How do I clean a linen couch without it shrinking?
Use as little water and heat as possible. Read the tag (many linen pieces are W/S or S), vacuum, blot a spill with a white cloth, and if water is allowed, dampen the cloth lightly with distilled water instead of spraying the couch.
Dry with open windows or a fan, never a heater or a hair dryer, and do not machine-wash or tumble-dry linen covers unless their label says so. Linen that is soaked can shrink, ring or brown; a professional extraction pulls the moisture back out.
Is cleaning a linen sofa different from cleaning a synthetic one?
Yes. A natural fiber like linen takes in water and reacts to it, while a synthetic such as polyester releases water fast. The same method works on both, but linen needs less water, less scrubbing and a closer eye on the tag.
When should you call a professional for a linen couch?
Call when the stain has set, when the couch is light-colored or large, or when the tag says S. Text a photo of the couch and its tag to (747) 214-6199 and we confirm the details before you book; for an S or X tag we confirm by the photo of the tag how we clean it.
How do you clean a velvet sofa?
Blot spills, vacuum along the pile and use very little water, because velvet crushes and marks when it is rubbed or soaked. Velvet is made from cotton, polyester or other fibers, so the tag decides what is allowed.
Once it is dry, brush the pile gently in one direction to even it out. For a tag marked S or X, or a silk velvet, text a photo of the tag to (747) 214-6199 and we confirm how we clean it.
When should you call a professional for a velvet couch?
Call when the pile is flattened, a mark has soaked in or you are unsure what the velvet is made of. When the tag says W or W/S, a professional tests a hidden spot, keeps the moisture low, glides the wand along the pile without pressing, cleans the whole piece in one pass so no patch dries differently, and brushes the pile in one direction once it is dry.
A tag marked S, silk velvet or an antique piece is not cleaned with water, and an X tag allows vacuuming only, so the method follows the tag. WATERFALL cleans velvet couches; for an S or X tag we look at a photo of the tag and tell you how we clean it before you book. The green velvet sectional on this page is one of our jobs. Text the photo to (747) 214-6199.
How do you clean bouclé, and is it hard to clean?
Bouclé is harder than most, because its looped yarn catches on brushes and holds dirt between the loops. Vacuum with a soft attachment, blot spills and avoid scrubbing, which pulls the loops and flattens the texture.
Can bouclé be professionally cleaned?
Yes, and the tag decides how. Many bouclé fabrics, especially chunky, teddy and wool bouclé, are tagged S and are cleaned with a water-free solvent; looped weaves tagged W or W/S take a water-based clean with gentle agitation and strong extraction, and steam, soaking and scrubbing pull and flatten the loops. WATERFALL cleans bouclé; for an S or X tag, a photo of the tag tells us how we clean it, so send the piece and its tag to (747) 214-6199.
How do you clean a chenille couch?
Vacuum, blot and clean lightly, working in the direction of the pile. Chenille is a soft, thick-piled yarn that crushes when rubbed, and the cotton and rayon versions take in water readily.
Does chenille shrink when cleaned?
Usually not, if the code is followed and the fabric is not over-wetted. Cotton and rayon chenille, and the backing behind the pile, shrink when soaked or dried with heat, and polyester chenille much less; keep water light, extract it back out, dry with moving air and no heat, and never put chenille cushion covers in a washing machine unless their label says so. An S tag means no water and an X tag means vacuum only; we clean both, so text a photo of the tag to (747) 214-6199 and we confirm how.
How do you clean cotton upholstery?
Blot at once, because cotton absorbs spills fast, and keep the water light. Cotton can also shrink or fade when it is wet through, which is why it needs more care than a synthetic. Check the tag, test a hidden spot and let it dry fully before anyone sits on it.
Can you clean wool and tweed upholstery?
Yes. Wool shrinks and felts with heat, water and rubbing, and many wool and tweed pieces are tagged S or W/S, so the tag decides how the piece is cleaned: text a photo of the piece and its tag to (747) 214-6199 and we confirm how we clean it.
How do you clean a polyester couch?
Polyester is among the easiest: it absorbs little water, so it releases moisture quickly and is usually tagged W or W/S. Vacuum, blot fresh spills and clean with a shampoo and extraction. Oil-based marks hold on to polyester, so deal with them early.
How do you clean a performance fabric couch?
Blot spills at once and follow the maker's care guide. Performance fabrics are engineered, usually synthetic, with a finish that resists liquids, so spills sit on top longer, but body oils and dirt still build up in the weave.
Does performance fabric need professional cleaning?
Yes, when spot cleaning no longer works: when the arms and seats have darkened with body oils, when there is a smell, when the maker's own method has failed, or when the piece is large. Some performance-fabric makers recommend periodic hot-water extraction for built-up soil and others rule out steam devices, so the brand's care sheet decides. We clean performance fabric; text a photo of the tag to (747) 214-6199 and we confirm how.
How do you make a corduroy couch soft again?
Vacuum along the ribs, clean the soil out of the fabric and brush the ribs in one direction when it is dry. The ribs go flat and harsh where dirt and body oils pack the pile, and removing the dirt is what lets them stand up again. Wear is different: a rib worn through will not come back.
Is upholstery cleaning safe for linen or designer fabrics?
It is safe when the cleaner reads the tag, tests a hidden spot and uses a method the fabric accepts. Designer fabrics often have unusual fibers or finishes, so text a photo of the piece and the maker's tag to (747) 214-6199. The guide to telling what fabric you have lists what to look for.
A green curved velvet sectional, before and after one cleaning.
Questions and answers
Can a velvet couch be professionally steam cleaned?
Yes, when the tag says W or W/S: low moisture, the wand never pressed into the pile, the whole piece in one pass and the pile brushed when dry. For an S tag, silk velvet or an X tag, text a photo of the tag to (747) 214-6199 and we confirm how we clean it.
Can boucle furniture be professionally cleaned?
Yes, and the tag decides how: many bouclé fabrics, especially chunky, teddy and wool bouclé, are tagged S and are cleaned with a water-free solvent. Looped weaves tagged W or W/S take a water-based clean with gentle agitation and strong extraction, and steam, soaking and scrubbing flatten the loops. For an S bouclé, text a photo of the piece and its tag to (747) 214-6199 and we confirm how we clean it.
Is performance fabric worth professional cleaning?
Yes, when spot cleaning no longer works: the arms and seats have darkened with body oils, there is a smell, the maker's own method has failed or the piece is large. Some makers recommend periodic hot-water extraction and others rule out steam, so the brand's care sheet decides.
Can a chenille couch be cleaned without shrinking?
Usually, if the code is followed and the fabric is not over-wetted. Cotton and rayon chenille and the backing behind the pile shrink when soaked or dried with heat, polyester chenille much less, so keep the water light and dry it with moving air and no heat. An S tag means no water: text a photo of the tag to (747) 214-6199 and we confirm how we clean it.
What's the best way to clean a microfiber couch?
Read the tag, vacuum, test a hidden spot, then blot from the outside of the mark inward with a white cloth and never soak it. W or W/S microfiber takes a water-based cleaner and S microfiber a solvent such as isopropyl alcohol; brush the nap once it is dry so it does not stiffen.
Can you have a microfiber couch professionally cleaned?
Yes. WATERFALL cleans microfiber couches; for an S tag, text a photo of the tag first and we confirm how we clean it.
Is a velvet couch hard to clean?
It needs a light hand, because velvet marks when it is rubbed or soaked. Cleaning the whole piece in one pass looks better than a single wet patch.
Are linen sofas easy to clean?
Not especially. Linen absorbs water and can ring or shrink, so it is cleaned with little water and a close eye on the tag.
How to make a corduroy couch soft again?
Vacuum along the ribs, clean out the soil and brush the ribs one way when dry. A rib worn through will not come back.
Can microfiber couch cushion covers be washed?
Only if the cover's tag says so. The foam inside never goes in a washing machine.
Show 1 more question
How to clean a cloth chair?
Check the tag, vacuum, blot marks and let it dry fully. A cloth chair is priced per piece.
Prices and booking
More guides
- Upholstery fabrics: all guides
- Upholstery cleaning codes: W, S, W/S, X — W is water-based, S is solvent only, W/S is either and X is vacuum only; read the tag before anything touches the fabric.
- 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 white fabric couch — Vacuum, blot, clean with little water and extract it all; yellowing from age or sun does not come out.
Sources: IICRC (The cleaning and restoration industry's standards body, for how professionals clean fabrics and carpet.)