Velvet fabrics, like the fabric range at Homeline Furniture, gives you the luxurious feel of cotton velvet and is easier to care for. That coffee spill from the fidgety kids won’t stain as easily.

Tips on General Maintenance

Have you ever been away from home and come back to some dusty velvet cushions after a holiday away? For dust and any other dry messes, such as crumbs, a quick vacuum will deal with everyday dry messes that seem to creep up. Just make you're using the soft brush attachment to prevent any scuffs or scratches. 

Velvet is a plush material and has a higher pile than most fabrics. It can get compressed when put under pressure or weight for long periods of time, which will appear as a crease or white stain. Noticed a crease in your's? Here's an easy fix.

Firstly, get a good quality steamer and set it to the lowest setting, or alternatively select the steam setting on your iron. Find a stiff brush or a specific Velvet brush - which can be found online relatively inexpensive. Once the steamer has heated up, start in one corner and move the steamer across the fabric in the opposite direction of the pile, whilst brushing the fibers up as you steam in the direction of the velvet fibers. Make sure to not hold the steamer in the same spot for more than a few seconds. 

By incorporating these tasks into your regular cleaning routine, caring for velvet furniture is fairly simple. Quickly swap the attachment fitting for an upholstery cleaner to keep your velvet sofa dust and scuff-free, whilst you are vacuuming the floor or carpet in your lounge.

Cushions on velvet furniture

Next, Stain Removal

If you have household pets, kids, or just a messy person in the family (husband), it is going to happen eventually. It is practically impossible to live without staining something you should not have. So, when the inevitable does happen, you need to be ready. The main rule is to act immediately as they happen - allowing time to dry will make it near impossible to remove. Here's our guide on how to deal with a fresh stain on Velvet furniture.

1. Get some paper towels or a clean absorbent cloth preferably white

Firstly, scrape off any solids whilst avoiding going against the grain. Delicately place the towels on the stain. Do not rub or dab, as this may push the stain deeper into the fibers of the fabric. Leave it for approx 10 minutes to soak up as much as possible. 

2. Prepare a solution for your Velvet Furniture

Whilst the towels are soaking up the stain, get a large bowl and pour in approx 100ml of lemon juice and stir in a tablespoon of bicarbonate soda. The mixture will fizz, creating foam and bubbles on the surface of the liquid. Alternatively, shake up 50ml of water and a few drops of washing-up liquid to create suds. 

3. Applying the Solution

Whichever solution is used, use only the bubbly foam to clean the velvet fabric. Dip a clean white cloth into the foamy bubbles and gently blot the stain - keep blotting until the stain is no longer visible. Remember to only use the foamy bubbles, take care not to saturate the velvet.

4. Drying

Now leave the velvet to air dry. After it has completely dried out, use the vacuuming technique above to ensure it looks smooth and blends in with the rest of the fabric.

Some Tips from the Professionals

When moving furniture and putting your furniture in your living space, find a spot that is not in direct sunlight as this can lead to fading. Also, if you have children or pets, consider a protective cover or throw to avoid damage and scuffing. Always read the care label before attempting to machine wash cushion covers. 

If you are ever in doubt about how to deal with a new stain, or if you have discovered a tough old stain, contact a professional upholstery cleaner. 

Velvet fabric sofas, chairs, stools and beds are available on our website which come with various footstools, and headrests. For answers to any questions of more information on our range of Velvet furniture please call 0818 333757 or email [email protected]