4 Upholstery Fabric Cleaning Myths To Debunk

If you want your upholstery to last, it's crucial to take proper care of it. But much of the information on how to care for these textiles is contradictory, so how can you know what's right and what's wrong? To lend you a hand, we’ll go over four upholstery fabric cleaning myths that are easily debunked and the truths you should follow instead.

You Should Clean with Hot Water Only

In the case of most synthetic fabrics, this is true. The hot water will help draw out soils and stains, but you should avoid using hot water when cleaning non-colorfast textiles and synthetic velvets. In these cases, the heat can cause color bleeding and fabric distortion. To prevent issues, use lukewarm water for these fabrics instead.

Cleaning Only Removes Surface Dirt & Stains

If done improperly, this myth can seem true. When done properly, however, cleaning doesn't just remove the visible dirt on the surface, it also reaches deep below to remove bacteria, dander, and mold stuck in the fibers.

The Tags Are Always Accurate

Most people assume the fiber content and cleaning code tags on fabrics are accurate, but what if we told you this isn't always the case?

Fabric content tags indicate the material used to fill the fabric, not the material of the fabric itself. So, a fabric labeled as "polyester" may only contain a small amount of polyester. The cleaning code, on the other hand, suggests which kind of cleaning products to use, but these are just general guidelines. You still have to test fabric and furniture cleaners to see how they affect the fabric. Some brands will work, others won’t.

So, while tags can be useful, you shouldn't rely on them too much!

Dry Cleaning is Safest

While it's true that dry cleaning can potentially prevent some common cleaning woes like color bleeding, color fading, and fabric distortion, there's no guarantee. That said, dry cleaning is still one of the safest ways to treat delicate fabrics like chenille, even though it doesn't prevent the risk of bleeding, fading, and distortion entirely.

We hope debunking these four upholstery fabric cleaning myths has provided you with a greater understanding of how to properly clean upholstery. If you want to pick up a new type of furniture upholstery for your next project, come visit the Fabric Outlet. We carry a wide variety of high-quality fabrics—you'll have tons of fun trying out all our options.