How to Clean Velvet Furniture

By
Mary Marlowe Leverette
Mary Marlowe Leverette 2018
Mary Marlowe Leverette
Mary Marlowe Leverette is one of the industry's most highly-regarded housekeeping and fabric care experts, sharing her knowledge on efficient housekeeping, laundry, and textile conservation. She is also a Master Gardener with over 40 years' experience; writing for over 20 years.
Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
Updated on 06/21/22
Velvet furniture being cleaned with vacuum attachment head

The Spruce / Sarah Lee

Project Overview
  • Working Time: 15 mins - 1 hr, 30 mins
  • Total Time: 15 mins - 8 hrs
  • Skill Level: Intermediate
  • Estimated Cost: $0-5

Once reserved for royalty and the very wealthy and traditionally woven from silk, velvet furniture is now available to everyone to add a spot of elegance to your decor, and its popularity is spiking lately. Velvet furniture, just like velvet bedding, is plush, usually richly colored, and is relatively easy to care for.

Before you purchase a velvet couch, chair, or bed headboard, take time to find out the fiber content of the velvet and review the cleaning care tag. Modern velvets are woven from both cotton and synthetic fibers. If the piece will be used daily, especially by children and pets, choose a velvet made from synthetic fibers. They help repel stains easier than cotton velvet. Synthetic fibers also hold their color better if exposed to bright sunlight.

Cleaning velvet furniture doesn't require special products or equipment, but it does take some patience and time. Here's how to keep your velvet furniture looking beautiful.

How Often to Clean Velvet Furniture

As with all upholstered furniture, velvet should be vacuumed weekly to remove dust that can weaken fibers and leave a stale odor in the upholstery. Depending on how frequently the piece is used, a clothes steamer can help lift the pile so that you don't have crushed velvet. This can be incorporated into your weekly vacuuming routine.

Attend to spills right away by blotting them with paper towels. Be sure to lift away any solid spills with a dull knife—never rub!

When the furniture begins to look dull or show signs of grit or grime, especially on the arms, it's time for deeper cleaning.

The 7 Best Upholstery Cleaners of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Vacuum with upholstery attachment
  • Clothes steamer
  • Microfiber cloth
  • Whisk
  • Medium bowl
  • Dull-edged knife or spatula

Materials

  • Dishwashing liquid
  • Paper towels

Instructions

Materials and tools to clean velvet furniture

The Spruce / Sarah Lee

How to Properly Clean Your Velvet Furniture

  1. Vacuum Weekly

    The best attachments for vacuuming velvet upholstery are the dusting or upholstery brush and the crevice tool. Using the upholstery brush, start at the top of the chair or sofa and work in a grid to cover every area. The brush will loosen the dust and soil so it can be suctioned away.

    Use the crevice tool to clean between and under cushions and between the cushions and arms. Don't forget to vacuum the outside of the furniture and underneath.

    Green velvet furniture being vacuumed

    The Spruce / Sarah Lee

    The 8 Best Sofas for Small Spaces of 2023

  2. Use Steam to Remove Creases

    Just as the nap on a velvet dress or pants can become crushed or creased after sitting, so can velvet upholstery. If the creases are not removed, they can become almost permanent and leave the backing of the velvet fabric exposed.

    A handheld clothes steamer or one with a wand works great to lift the nap or pile of the velvet. Use a low heat setting to avoid damaging (melting) the fibers. Hold the steam head several inches from the fabric and move in a grid over the problem areas. Always keep the steam moving. Use your hand to gently brush the nap in the opposite direction to help release the wrinkles.

    Tip

    If you don't have a clothes steamer, you can use a steam iron. Fill the iron with water and use the steam setting. Be sure to keep the iron face at least six inches away from the velvet. NEVER allow the iron to touch the fabric, or it will leave a lasting impression.

    Green velvet furniture cleaned with handheld clothes steamer

    The Spruce / Sarah Lee

  3. Spot Treat Stains

    As soon as spills happen, lift away any solids with the edge of a dull knife. Then, blot any moisture away with paper towels. Keep changing to a new towel until no more moisture is absorbed. Never rub a stain, because it will push the problem deeper into the fibers.

    To spot treat any type of stain, mix a few drops of dishwashing liquid into two cups of warm water. Use a whisk to create suds. Dip a microfiber cloth into fresh water and wring until damp. Dip the damp cloth into just the suds and gently blot the stained area. Keep moving to a clean area of the cloth as the stain is transferred.

    Allow the area to air-dry. Use your hand or a steamer to lift any matted fibers.

    Green velvet furniture spot cleaned with microfiber cloth

    The Spruce / Sarah Lee

  4. Schedule an Overall Cleaning

    There will come a time when the entire sofa or chair needs to be cleaned. An overall cleaning will leave the upholstery more even in color than continued spot cleaning.

    Green velvet furniture cleaned overall with microfiber cloth

    The Spruce / Sarah Lee

Tips to Keep Velvet Furniture Clean Longer

  • Treat spills and stains as soon as they happen.
  • Vacuum the upholstery weekly to remove dust and crumbs.
  • Use steam to lift any matted pile and remove creases.
  • Test any cleaning products in a hidden area to make sure there are no color changes to the velvet.
  • Keep velvet furniture away from direct sunlight. If there are no other options, cover exposed areas with throws to help block the sun.

When to Call a Professional

To get a deep cleaning done of your velvet furniture, you might hire a professional cleaning service, especially if you don't have the equipment or the time to do it. A professional upholstery cleaning service has more experience in doing these types of jobs, plus they have higher-end equipment, and the job will get done faster than you can yourself. The size and material of the furniture will determine how much it will cost. The average cost to professionally clean a couch, for example, is around $150 to $200.

Best Couch Cleaning Services