How to clean a velvet couch: and the mistakes that ruin it

It's a common misconception that velvet is high maintenance, but it's worth knowing how to clean a velvet couch properly

Velvet couches have been soaring in popularity since 2020, with more and more of us choosing this plush material for our living spaces. We all know roughly how to clean a couch, but velvet requires extra careful attention, as it's a higher pile material than other less luxurious fabrics, and a little more delicate.

First things first: check the manufacturer's cleaning instructions. It's also worth knowing whether the velvet is made of synthetic, silk, or cotton fibers, as synthetic tends to be more resistant to stains.

We turned to cleaning professionals to find out how to clean a velvet couch properly, and the mistakes you seriously want to avoid. Below, we have plenty of expert guidance, whether you've got a wet stain that needs removing right now or if things are just looking tired and creased.

First, you'll need your vacuum cleaner at the ready. Use the crevice tool and soft brush attachment to remove dust and dirt gently, and rotate the cushions. Tick off this task when doing a weekly clean and you'll avoid dust building up and keep your couch looking fresh.

Go a step further and invest in one of the best handheld vacuum cleaners to make this job super easy. If you've got pets, a pet vacuum or lint roller will help remove pet hair that may have accumulated.

While cleaning upholstery you might also want to take the time to remove any creases. Remove creases as soon as you notice them to prevent them from becoming permanent. You can either use a clothes steamer held a safe distance away from the fabric or your iron set on a steamer setting. Make sure the iron never makes contact with the fabric.

Clean up spills as soon as they happen. Just to be safe, we recommend spot testing on a hidden area the first time you use a cleaning product on the fabric, in case it causes any discoloration or damage.

Unlike cleaning a leather sofa, you don't actually need any specialist cleaning products. Simply mix warm water and some mild dish soap in a bowl to create lots of suds, and then dip your lint-free cloth into the solution, wring out any excess moisture and gently blot away stains. The key is to blot, don't rub. Rubbing vigorously may damage the fibers and leave a mark.

'I blot blot blot on anything wet, but you mustn't push too hard,' says Homes & Gardens Global Editor in Chief Lucy Searle. 'If I'm going to clean my velvet sofa, I always brush in the direction of the pile. Afterwards, I always use a dry cloth on it to brush the velvet back into shape. I never, ever rub it. I get it professionally cleaned annually, too.'

Lucy Searle has written about interiors, property and gardens for over 30 years, starting within the interiors departments of women's magazines before switching to interiors-only titles in the mid-1990s. She spent five years as Associate Editor on Ideal Home, one of Britain's biggest and oldest interiors titles. In 2018, Lucy took on the role of Global Editor in Chief for Realhomes.com, taking the site from a small magazine add-on to a global success, with a large US audience. She was asked to repeat that success at Homes & Gardens, where she has also taken on the editorship of the magazine, which is the UK's oldest interiors magazine at 103 years old. Lucy is a serial renovator and also owns rental properties in the UK and Europe, so brings first-hand knowledge to the subjects she oversees.

Use these methods to clean a velvet couch and you are more likely to damage it than improve its appearance.

According to the cleaning professionals at Hellamaid, a top-rated cleaning company in Ontario, Canada, the velvet pile of your couch can suffer gradual wear and tear while you move around on the seat if you don't vacuum it regularly. 'The dust particles serve as millions of small abrasive surfaces,' they explain. 'You can avoid this by routinely vacuuming your velvet furniture. This way, dust is eliminated before it has an opportunity to harm the pile.'

If you clean a velvet couch but don't let it dry completely, this will damage the material and will also cause odors over time. Taking too long? Use a hair dryer on its lowest setting, being careful not to go too close to the fabric.

'The chemical components that give velvet its color can be destroyed by UV radiation, which will make it appear dull over time,' says Hellamaid. 'When UV ruins a color, it is permanently lost.' Avoid patches by covering the couch with a blanket or closing blinds and drapes when it's particularly sunny.

Stains that have been left on the velvet for an extended period of time will be far harder to remove, so if you've spilt wine or food on the couch, time is of the essence.

If for some reason your couch has got wet from rain or snow, make sure you leave it to dry before cleaning, advises Hugo Guerrero, a certified House Cleaning Technician and consultant at Mattressive. 'You can't clean wet fabric with soapy water; it will just spread the moisture around and make things worse,' says Hugo.

Hugo explains that products like bleach and ammonia are likely to strip the color out of your couch, which can make it look dull and old. So stick to dish soap and warm water.

'Don't use too much water on the fabric – it'll just make it saggy and wrinkly, which is not what you're going for!' Hugo Guerroro comments.

'Don't put your wet velvet couch in direct sunlight or near a heat source, as this will cause it to shrink and fade prematurely,' Hugo adds.

'Velvet couch cleaning differs from other materials,' say the experts at Hellamaid. 'It is a bit challenging but doable. It would be best if you were more gentle when cleaning velvet furniture since the short, dense pile of velvet fibers that protrude from the support material makes it easier for them to flatten.'

Millie Hurst is Section Editor at Homes & Gardens, overseeing the Solved section, which provides readers with practical advice for their homes. She has been in the world of digital journalism for six years, having previously worked as Senior SEO Editor at News UK both in London and New York. She joined the Future team two years ago, working across a range of homes brands. Millie formerly worked as Senior Content Editor at Ideal Home, taking care of evergreen articles that help and inspire people to make the most of their homes and outdoor spaces. Millie has a degree in French and Italian and lives in North London.

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