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.
Upholstery fabrics: questions answered
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). Day to day, vacuum weekly with the upholstery tool and blot spills at once; tightly woven polyester, olefin and performance fabric tagged W or W/S are the easiest to keep clean, and microfiber varies with its tag. WATERFALL cleans with shampoo and hot-water extraction, which suits fabric tagged W or W/S, and for S and X tags a photo of the tag is enough for us to confirm how we clean it: see fabric furniture cleaning, couch cleaning and the prices page. WATERFALL cleans couches at your home from $130: call (747) 214-6199.
The guides
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.
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.
Scotchgard for couches and rugs: what it does
A protector gives you time to blot a spill; it does not make a couch stain-proof and wears off with use and cleaning.
How to clean leather, suede and vinyl couches
WATERFALL cleans suede and faux leather, not smooth leather; this explains what each is and how it is looked after.
How do I care for upholstery fabric?
Vacuum it, blot spills, and clean only with what the code on the tag allows; everything else follows from that.
- vacuum it weekly with the upholstery tool, seams and the deck under the cushions included
- blot a spill from the edge inward with a white cloth; never rub it or soak it
- test any cleaner on a hidden spot and let it dry before you use it on the front
- keep the piece out of strong sun, which fades dye and weakens fiber
- do not machine-wash removable covers unless their own label says so
- have the whole piece cleaned once a year in daily use, every 6 months with pets or small children, and sooner when the arms and seat look darker than the back (how often)
What should I know about different upholstery fabrics?
How a fabric cleans depends on its fiber, its weave and its code. Fabric by fabric and how to tell what fabric you have go further.
- polyester and microfiber take water well when tagged W or W/S; some microfiber is tagged S, so read the tag
- olefin and performance fabrics resist spills and fading; the finish buys time to blot, and dirt still builds up in the weave
- cotton absorbs spills fast and can shrink or fade when it is soaked
- linen takes in water and can ring, shrink or brown, so it gets little water and a fast dry
- wool felts and shrinks with heat, water and rubbing, and is often tagged S or W/S
- velvet and chenille have a pile that crushes and marks, so it is brushed with the nap and never scrubbed
- rayon, viscose and silk mark, shrink or lose color in water, so they get little water and a fast dry; text a photo of the tag and we confirm how we clean it
What do the cleaning codes on a tag mean?
The code is the manufacturer's instruction for what may touch the fabric: W for water-based cleaning, S for solvent only, W/S for either and X for vacuum only. The guide to cleaning codes covers each one, and D as well.
Which upholstery fabrics can be steam-cleaned?
Most fabric tagged W or W/S can, and fabric tagged S or X is not cleaned with water; for those tags text a photo of the tag to (747) 214-6199 and we confirm how we clean it. The guide to steam cleaning by fabric goes through microfiber, linen, velvet, cotton and polyester, and steam vs dry cleaning compares the two methods.
How do I find out what fabric my couch is?
Read the tag under a cushion or on the frame; it names the fiber and the cleaning code. If it is gone, the guide to telling what fabric you have shows what else gives it away.
Does the fabric change what cleaning costs?
WATERFALL prices by the piece, not by the fabric: a couch by its seats, and each chair, bench or ottoman on its own. The prices page lists them all. If the fabric is unusual, text a photo of the piece and its tag to (747) 214-6199 before you book.
Do you clean leather, suede or vinyl?
Faux leather and suede, yes; smooth leather, no. Vinyl is a faux leather, and a photo of the piece lets us confirm. The explainer says what each of these materials is and how it is looked after.
Questions and answers
Will cleaning make hand-dyed fabric bleed?
It can, which is why a hidden-spot test comes first. If the dye runs on the test, water is not the right method for that fabric, and we say so before you book.
Do you clean performance-fabric couches?
Yes, when the tag allows water. The finish makes spills easier to blot, not the fabric self-cleaning, so dirt still builds up in the weave.
How do you handle furniture with water-sensitive fabrics?
We test first and keep water out when the tag or the test says it would harm the fabric. For an S tag or an X tag, text a photo of the tag to (747) 214-6199 and we confirm how we clean it.
Why can clean-looking fabric still hold buildup?
Because the soil that matters is not the kind you see: body oils, skin flakes, food grease, fine dust and residue from earlier cleaners settle between the yarns and darken the fabric so slowly that you stop noticing. Oils also hold new dirt, so a seat turns dull before it looks dirty. Lift a cushion you never use and compare it with the seat; hot-water extraction rinses this buildup out of fabric whose tag allows water.
Do I need to know the fabric before I book?
Only if the tag says S or X, or the fabric is unusual, such as silk or vintage: then text a photo of the piece and the tag to (747) 214-6199 and we confirm how we clean it. W and W/S fabric is booked as it is.
Does the fabric change what WATERFALL can clean?
WATERFALL, (747) 214-6199, cleans every upholstery fabric except genuine leather, and the tag decides the method. W and W/S fabrics are booked as they are; for an S or X tag, text a photo of the tag and we confirm how we clean it.
What should I send when I ask about an unusual fabric?
A photo of the whole piece and one of the tag, texted to (747) 214-6199. We confirm the details before you book.
What are the easiest upholstery fabrics to keep clean?
Tightly woven polyester, olefin and performance fabrics tagged W or W/S, in a mid-tone or a pattern: they release spills and take water-based cleaning. Microfiber varies, because some is tagged S, so check the tag; cotton, linen, rayon and velvet mark more easily, and X fabric takes no liquid at all. Leather wipes clean but is not fabric, and we do not clean genuine leather.
What clients say about WATERFALL
Soooo convenient, quick, and good quality work. Sergei came and did an amazing job cleaning our performance fabric couches. He cleaned everything very thoroughly and efficiently. It looked brand new and I will be calling them quarterly for cleanings now. Thank you!!! You gained a forever customer
Waterfall Cleaning did a great job on our two rugs and blue velvet couch. Sergey was really efficient, professional and kind. … I highly recommend Waterfall and Sergey!
Sergey did a phenomenal job cleaning our couch and cream chair. He was on time, very thorough and cleaned our couch better than any prior cleaners. Also very reasonably priced and super professional.
