If you’ve been following home decor and furnishing trends, you most likely noticed that velvet furnishing is everywhere. Few upholstery materials can compare to velvet’s lush texture, rich color, and luxurious sheen. But before you’re opting for that breathtaking teal velvet sofa with gold legs, you may wonder, “is a velvet sofa practical? How do you clean velvet furniture?”
While there are many different types of velvet material, they’re all delicate. But with the right care and some gentle cleaning, it can look as good as new even after several years. Here’s how to clean and care for velvet furniture:
Velvet Furniture Care Tips
- Never leave velvet furniture in direct sunlight, as this may cause the color to fade.
- Keep food, dirty shoes, and furry pets away from the upholstery as much as possible.
- Vacuum weekly with a soft brush attachment. The suction will remove any dust and lint and freshen up the pile. Be careful to only go in one direction, and don’t push too hard on the fabric as that may crush the velvet.
Cleaning Velvet Furniture
- Tackle spills right away. Blot the area with a soft dry cloth immediately, so the stain shouldn’t set in.
- Test cleaning products before use. Every velvet material is different, and they’ll react differently to cleaning products, so test it on a hidden spot to make sure it doesn’t ruin the fabric.
- You can use an upholstery cleaner to clean the stains, or mix your own solution of mild detergent and water. For furniture marked with code “S”, which means it must be dry clean only, use a mixture of lemon juice and baking soda instead. Mix vigorously until the solution is sudsy, then dab a soft cloth into the foam. Blot the suds onto the stain, taking care not to wet the velvet fabric more than necessary. Keep on dabbing until the stain disappears.
- Let dry for several hours or overnight. Three to five hours is ideal; avoid using the piece of furniture in the meantime. Placing a fan directly next to the item may help speed up the drying.
- If the stain is still present, apply another coat and allow it to dry again, repeating until the stain is gone.
- If the velvet appears matted after drying, use a soft brush to soften it up again.
Removing Creases from Velvet Furniture
Velvet is highly light reflective, so creases and wrinkles are very conspicuous. Never iron velvet! Doing this could crush the material and do irreparable damage. The best way to remove creases from velvet is to gently steam the material, either with a steam cleaner or with the steam function of your iron. Again, always test this on a hidden spot to make sure you’re not doing any damage to the fabric.
How to Remove Smells from Velvet Furniture
If your velvet couch has gone through a number of years in a home with kids, pets, or both, it may start to feel an unpleasant odor. Here’s how to safely deodorize velvet furniture, without ruining the fabric.
- Fill up a spray bottle with equal parts water and white vinegar, and mist over the velvet. Let air dry for several hours.
- If the odor is still present, sprinkle baking soda over the fabric. Let sit overnight to absorb the odor.
- Vacuum the velvet with a low vacuum setting, taking care to to pull to hard against the pile.
When to turn to a professional
If you’re still hesitant about cleaning your velvet furniture by yourself or the stains are old and set in, turn to a professional cleaning company. This way you can be sure that you’re prized furniture is in good hands.