How to clean a velvet or velour sofa

Every hostess wants her furniture to look like new for a long time. Different materials require a special approach to themselves and it is very important to provide proper care. Especially velvet covering requires careful care. It is quite finicky in terms of care, yet many people still choose furniture with such upholstery. After all, furniture with such upholstery looks spectacular and expensive, especially if its color is carefully matched to curtains and carpets. Velour sofa, armchairs, poufiki create an atmosphere of noble luxury, not pompous, but cozy and smart. Before cleaning your velvet sofa or chair, study the label. Often it contains the right information on how to care for the furniture. This way you will know if the upholstery can be washed or if it is only dry cleanable. In this article we will tell you more about how to clean velvet at home.

“Standard” cleaning of a velvet sofa

Fill a handheld clothes steamer. Hold the nozzle of the steamer a few centimeters from the surface of the velvet. Then wipe the wet velvet with a dry microfiber towel to rinse away the dirt. Add some foam for general cleaning Mix two cups of warm water and 1/2 teaspoon of dishwashing liquid in a large bowl. Create foam using your hands or the pressure from the faucet. Dip the dampened microfiber cloth into the foam only (it should not drip). Start at the top of the sofa and gently wipe it with the damp cloth in circular motions. Continue to move to a clean area of the cloth as the dirt is transferred. After each area has been cleaned, wipe it with a clean, damp microfiber cloth to wash away any soap residue.

If you don’t have a special product on hand, you can use a soap solution or a mixture of lemon juice and baking soda instead. Such a remedy effectively removes even stubborn stains. And here’s what you need to do for this:

• Mix the juice of a small lemon and 2 teaspoons of baking soda.
• When the mixture gives a rich foam, apply it to the upholstery with a soft sponge or washcloth.
• Gently blot the stain, but do not rub the solution in to avoid damaging the fabric.
• When the stain is gone, remove any residue from the furniture with a slightly damp sponge.
• After cleaning, let the velvet dry for at least three to four hours, and then comb the pile with a soft brush.

We recommend that any home remedies for cleaning velvet should first be tested on small, inconspicuous areas of the fabric. After all, there is a risk that the color will become duller in the place where the material is cleaned.

How do I remove dirt?

• To remove surface dirt from velvet, use a medium-hard bristle brush, a vacuum cleaner, and a woolen cloth. First clean the velvet from dust with a vacuum cleaner, but clean very carefully.
• Red wine, berries are removed with a solution of laundry soap, vinegar and ammonia dissolved in cool water. All components take the same amount, for example, 2 tbsp. spoons.
• Stains from velvet can be removed with gasoline, alcohol or vodka.
• Tea, coffee and milk stains are removed with a weak solution of vinegar. 
• Greasy, glossy stains can be removed by pouring heated sand into a bag. The contents will absorb the grease, and the stain will become invisible. After such treatment, the place where the stain was, you need to wipe with a sponge soaked in alcohol.
• Sprinkle a fresh grease stain with starch, talcum powder or food salt. They absorb grease well. Gently wash the stain with a soapy solution of dish gel (1:1 water solution of vinegar). Wipe with a clean damp cloth and blot dry with a clean cotton cloth.
• A solution of 1 aspirin tablet per glass of water will remove dried blood stains, red wine, berries.
• Freeze plasticine, chewing gum, wax with ice from the refrigerator and carefully remove from velour with the blunt side of a knife.

Remember that the use of household chemicals and stain removers will most likely leave streaks and halos on the velvet surface. If the velvet pile is combed in the wrong direction, it will permanently lose its attractive appearance.

To ensure that the result is gorgeous and your furniture does not lose its aesthetic appearance, please contact our cleaning company. Our specialists will gladly take care of cleaning your sofa and armchairs and will do everything at the highest level. Our cleaning in Calgary, in addition to the high quality of our services, also boasts affordable prices for our services.