A spill on the sofa isn't an emergency — if you know the right first moves. Here's the practical guide we give customers, from decoding care codes to handling the classic disasters.
First: find your fabric's cleaning code
Upholstery fabrics carry a one- or two-letter care code (on the tag, or on the fabric listing):
- W — Water-based cleaners are safe. The easiest to live with.
- S — Solvent (dry-clean-type) cleaners only. Water can leave rings.
- W/S — Either works.
- X — Vacuum only; professional cleaning for stains.
If you're buying new fabric and want easy maintenance, choose W or W/S — or a performance fabric, which makes most of this article unnecessary.
The universal first response to any spill
- Blot, never rub. Rubbing grinds the stain into the weave and can damage pile. Press a clean white cloth straight down and lift.
- Work from the outside in so you don't spread the ring.
- Less liquid is more. Over-wetting pushes stains deeper and can leave water marks or mildew in cushions.
- Test any cleaner somewhere hidden first — the back corner, under a cushion.
The classics, handled
Red wine: Blot everything you can, then dab with a mix of a teaspoon of dish soap in two cups of cool water. Repeat patiently.
Coffee: Same soap solution; a splash of white vinegar in the mix helps with the tannins.
Grease and oil: Cover with baking soda or cornstarch, let it absorb 15–20 minutes, vacuum, then treat with the soap solution.
Pet accidents: Blot thoroughly, then use an enzyme cleaner (not just soap) — enzymes break down the odor compounds that make pets return to the spot.
Ink: Dab (don't rub) with rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab, working from the edge inward. Stubborn ink is a job for a professional.
Routine care that prevents deep cleaning
Vacuum upholstery monthly with the brush attachment — grit sitting in the weave acts like sandpaper every time someone sits down. Flip and rotate cushions to even out wear. Keep furniture out of direct sun, or use fade-resistant fabric where sun is unavoidable.
A word on performance and outdoor fabrics
If your furniture wears a performance weave or a solution-dyed acrylic like Sunbrella, cleaning is dramatically simpler: mild soap and water handle almost everything, and solution-dyed acrylics even tolerate a diluted bleach solution for the worst stains. It's the single biggest quality-of-life upgrade for households with kids and pets — and a big reason we stock so much of it.
Questions about caring for a specific fabric you bought from us? Reach out anytime — we're happy to look up the care code and walk you through it.