Keeping your upholstered pieces looking clean can be as simple as using some pantry staples. But if your furniture is made of specialty fibers (like velvet or leather) or has extensive staining, it’s best to send it off to a local professional cleaner. For simple stains, follow the steps below to create an at-home solution.
Before You Begin: Read Your Furniture Label
Just like our clothes, most furniture and upholstery have labels with important cleaning codes. Some upholstered furniture or items such as blinds and shades are made using delicate fabrics and it’s recommended to have a professional with specialized cleaners and tools to handle those times without the risk of damage.
Most upholstered furniture comes with attached labels, usually under the couch, seat cushion or removable pillow cushions. If you still can’t find them, check out the manufacturer’s website if the piece is new. If it’s vintage, you may have to consult a professional cleaner to give you more details about the material.
Each furniture label should include a cleaning code. That cleaning code gives you specific information that can be helpful in how you approach your cleaning process. There are four common furniture cleaning codes and how to care for them:
W: Use water or a water-based cleaner
S: Use a solvent cleaner
W/S: Use a solvent or water-based cleaner
X: Vacuum only
Angi Tip
Some over-the-counter or DIY stain removers can make stains worse. If you are unsure of the material and the stain is over a week old, a professional cleaner will know the correct solution to use.
Photo: Anastasiia Krivenok / Moment / Getty Images
Due to the natural fibers used on many upholstered pieces, it’s important to tackle any stains, spills or dirt immediately so they don’t have time to settle into the fabric and make it harder, if not impossible, to get it looking great again. Once you determine the type of cleaning method appropriate for your upholstered furniture piece, create a cleaning solution based on that code.
W Cleaning Code
A water-based cleaning solution means your upholstered furniture piece simply needs water to be cleaned. This is most commonly found on high-use furniture like kitchen chairs and couches where stains can accumulate from mealtime (or your family always snacking on the sofa).
If water isn’t enough, mix four cups of warm water with one-fourth cup of dishwashing liquid in a large bowl. You can use either a whisk or hand mixer to make a foam and get a slightly deeper clean.
S Cleaning Code
A solvent-based cleaning solution is similar to needing to be dry cleaned. You do not want to apply water-based cleaning methods to these fibers since they might leave rings, shrink the fabric, warp it or damage it. That doesn’t mean you have to send it off to get cleaned but spot cleaning a smaller and less visible area will be important to see if it can sustain a DIY cleaning solution.
To clean upholstery with an “S” code, pour isopropyl alcohol into a spray bottle. The isopropyl alcohol is a solvent that loosens stains. If the stain has an odor, you’ll want to have baking soda on hand as well.
W/S or X Cleaning Code
Anything labeled with “W/S” can use either of the methods listed above. Anything with an “X” can only be vacuumed and if a deeper stain remains you’ll need to call a cleaning professional.
Before adding your solution, clear the area of dust and debris with a vacuum or brush. If your cleaning tag shows a “X” as its cleaning code, this means the furniture cannot be cleaned by other methods other than a vacuum or gentle brush. If this needs more than a vacuum to clean, it’s best to reach out to a furniture cleaning pro for recommendations.
Spot Test Your Solution
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Before you start using your upholstery cleaner on your piece, find an area that isn’t visible and use your cleanser there first.
For “W” or “W/S” pieces, spot clean the area using water or the foam from your DIY water-based solution with a soft brush in a circular motion. Use sparingly and do not over-wet or saturate the area since that might leave water stains.
For “S” or “W/S” pieces, lightly spray the stained area with the isopropyl alcohol from your spray bottle and gently rub the area using a microfiber cloth. You may need to reapply the alcohol but be conservative with the spraying since you don’t want to destroy the fabric with more alcohol than necessary.
Clean the Entire Furniture
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If your spot treatment doesn’t show further damage, then you’re safe to use it on your upholstery. If it did damage the upholstery (for example, created a water ring or discolored the fabric), double check you have the right solution for the cleaning code or call in a professional.
If the stain has an odor, sprinkle some baking soda on the fabric for 30 minutes up to an hour and then use the vacuum to remove the baking soda.
Allow Furniture to Dry
Depending on the stain and reason for the cleaning, you may need extra time for your upholstery to dry. Don’t be tempted to leave anything out in the sun to speed up drying time as that may cause permanent sun damage. If an item needs to be dried quickly, you can gently use a hair dryer in a circular motion so as not to concentrate on the area and cause a ring to appear. It could take an hour or longer for upholstered pieces to dry so it’s best to be patient.
Save and Store Your Solution
Photo: Anastasiia Krivenok / Moment / Getty Images
As with any household cleaner, you’ll want to safely store any cleaning solutions and keep it out of the reach of young children and animals. If you have any extra solution you want to keep, make sure to label the bottle using a sticker and permanent marker. That way you can use it again in the near future and won’t forget the ingredients you used to create it.
Cleaning Upholstery Yourself vs. Hiring a Pro
Keeping furniture clean and looking fresh doesn’t need to take a lot of time or cost a lot of money. Often, furniture can be spot cleaned with simple ingredients found in a grocery or hardware store. While some items might require a furniture restorer for care, most furniture can be tackled with a little elbow grease and a handful of ingredients that cost less than $20.
The cost for professional upholstery cleaner averages around $170, but varies based on your furniture size, level of damage, and fabric type. Keep in mind that a cleaning company may also charge a flat rate per house visit. It may be cost effective to group similar items together as opposed to having the pro only clean one item each visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Vinegar is acidic and makes a great cleaning agent for many items throughout the house, including some upholstery. It should not be used for any upholstery with the code S or X. It can be used for W labels. To use a vinegar solution, mix equal parts water and vinegar and blot the stain using a gentle circular motion with a clean microfibre cloth and then allow to dry completely. As with any DIY solution, test a small and inconspicuous section first.
If your upholstery has a funky odor or you want to make your couch smell fresh, sprinkle some baking soda on the piece for 30 minutes up to an hour and then use the vacuum to remove the baking soda. If it’s still smelling funky, you may need to hire a professional cleaning service for a deeper clean.
Megy is a writer who enjoys helping homeowners create spaces they love living in. In addition to being a Master Gardener, her forthcoming book, 50 Ways to More Calm, Less Stress: Scientifically Proven Ways to Relieve Anxiety and Boost Your Mental Health Using Your Five Senses, explores different ways each of our senses can help bring more calm into our lives, including how your home impacts your mental health. Her work can be found in Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, and more.
Megy is a writer who enjoys helping homeowners create spaces they love living in. In addition to being a Master Gardener, her forthcoming book, 50 Ways to More Calm, Less Stress: Scientifically Proven Ways to Relieve Anxiety and Boost Your Mental Health Using Your Five Senses, explores different ways each of our senses can help bring more calm into our lives, including how your home impacts your mental health. Her work can be found in Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, and more.
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