Caring for woven upholstery fabric

Good care keeps an upholstered sofa looking right for longer. The advice below is general guidance for woven upholstery fabrics. The care instructions for the specific article always come first: if they differ from this guide, follow the care instructions.

Furniture makers and brands: please pass the care instructions for each fabric on to your customers, for example on a label or in the product information.

Everyday care

• Vacuum regularly with a soft upholstery brush on low suction. It removes dust and grit before they work into the weave.
• Turn and plump loose cushions every week or two, so wear and fading spread evenly.
• Keep the sofa out of strong direct sunlight where you can. Sunlight fades all dyed textiles over time; curtains or blinds help.
• Keep heat away. Radiators, heaters and fireplaces can dry out fibres and backings.
• Watch out for sharp edges. Buckles, rivets, jewellery and pet claws can snag loops and threads.

Spills and stains

1. Act quickly. Blot the spill with a clean, white, absorbent cloth. Do not rub: rubbing spreads the stain and can damage the surface.
2. Work from the outside in, so the stain does not spread.
3. Test first. Before you use water or any cleaning product, test it on a hidden area and let it dry.
4. Use as little moisture as possible, and blot dry. Too much water can leave rings or reach the filling.
5. Call a professional for large or stubborn stains, and for fabrics marked "dry clean only".

Pilling

Some fabrics form small balls of fibre in areas of heavy friction, especially early in their life. Remove them with a fabric shaver or a de-pilling comb held flat against the surface. Never pull pills off by hand: you may pull out fibres with them.

Pile, chenille and velvety surfaces

• Brush or vacuum in the direction of the pile.
• Pressure can flatten the pile and make areas look lighter or darker. This "shading" is a natural property of pile surfaces. Brushing gently in the direction of the pile often helps it recover. Check the care instructions before you try anything else.

Bouclé and looped surfaces

• Vacuum gently with a brush; avoid stiff bristles.
• If a loop is pulled, do not cut or pull it. Ease it back into the fabric with a blunt needle from the reverse, or ask an upholsterer.

Removable covers

Only wash or dry-clean covers as the care instructions allow. Many upholstery fabrics, and many backings, are not made to be machine-washed; washing can shrink the cover or damage the backing. Clean all covers of one sofa at the same time so the colours stay even.

Care instructions on our product pages

Each dé product page shows the care instructions as published for that article, for example "Low temperature, dry clean only". If an article page shows no care instructions yet, ask us before you advise your customers.