How To Clean A Velvet Sofa

Few things exude comfort, elegance, and luxury like a velvet sofa. This plush and rich fabric was once reserved for kings and queens in palaces – but not anymore!

Velvet furniture is now a part of every modern home as homemakers aim to make their abodes as welcoming and plush as possible. As beautiful as this fabric is, velvet is high maintenance, meaning it needs special care and cleaning techniques.

Here’s how to clean your velvet sofa and keep them as good as new.

Step 1 – Brush to knock up dirt

Velvet attracts dirt and dust like a magnet, and this is not limited to the folds and creases so you need to brush it.

Take a soft, bristled clothing brush and use long even strokes to brush the velvet upholstery. Brush from one end of the sofa to the other a couple of times to shake up the dirt and dust. Brushing the velvet not only gets rid of the larger pieces of dirt but also ruffles the fabric for the next step – vacuuming.

Step 2 – Deep clean with a vacuum

Next, use a handheld vacuum to deep clean the velvet sofa.

A crevice tool and upholstery/dusting tool are the best attachments to get all the dust and dirt collected in the folds and crevices of the sofa. Vacuuming once a week should be scheduled for a sparkling velvet sofa look.

Don’t forget to take the suction action underneath the sofa, too, as it can trap a good amount of dirt and dust.

Step 3 – Steam away the creases

Velvet furniture is also prone to crease, and if you don’t straighten them out, they become permanent, making your sofa look old and saggy.

So after the thorough vacuuming of the velvet sofa is complete, use a steamer to get all the creases out. Keep the steam head about an inch away from the velvet and refrain from holding the steam in one place for a long. Use the lowest setting on the steamer to avoid damaging the velvet fibers.

In case you don’t have a handheld steamer, a steam iron is also a good alternative.

However, keep the steamer at least 4-6 inches away from the velvet. Also, DO NOT let the steam surface come in direct contact with the fabric, as it leaves a permanent impression and destroys the aesthetic appeal of the upholstery.

Step 4 – Spot treat stubborn stains

To treat stubborn stains on a velvet sofa, mix a liquid dish wash or a mild detergent with warm water in a 1:2 ratio. Use a clean and damp microfiber cloth to blot the stains using gentle dabbing motions until the stains are transferred to the cloth.

Refrain from rubbing a stain on a velvet fabric as it can push the stain further deep into the sofa. Allow the treated spot to air-dry completely, and use a steamer to get rid of matted fibers and fluff up the velvet upholstery.

You can also brush the freshly cleaned velvet sofa to fluff up the fabric and restore the fibers.