Oftentimes when cleaning our homes, we turn our attention to carpets, rugs, the kitchen area and tables. Because it might not be on our radar, we might miss cleaning the important items, like your couch for example.

Inarguably, your couch is probably one of the surfaces and pieces of furniture used the most. From those movie nights to eating dinner to pets and kids jumping on the furniture, our couches get a lot dirtier than we think.

Depending on the type of couch you have, maintenance could be harder or easier. While cleaning leather couches requires more labor, cotton or linen are easier to clean. Color also plays a factor in maintaining the cleanliness of a couch, as white couches require more labor to get stains out rather than darker couches. Thinking about the type of sofa you have comes into play. For example, sectional and modular couches are larger and take longer to clean versus a loveseat or lounge chair.

Some people may have their standard cleaners for couches, or they might use something powerful like a Bissell to get stains out of their couches. But, what happens if you have a couch with a special type of material, like velvet for example? Is it easy to clean, or does it require a labor of love? Here’s your guide on how to clean a velvet couch.

How to Clean a Velvet Couch

Velvet may look and feel fancy, but this texture is surprisingly easier to clean than others. For regular maintenance upkeep, you should vacuum your couch at least once a week to remove dust, fur and other particles. It is important to note that the type of velvet matters when it comes to actually cleaning. Most couches will have a tag to indicate safe cleaning instructions. These tags will usually be labeled for water cleaning, dry solvent cleaning, both, or professional cleaning only.

Besides vacuuming, there are other ways to clean velvet, including steaming, spot cleaning and deep cleaning. You can also create your own cleaning solution that won’t damage the velvet.

What You’ll Need For Cleaning

• A Vacuum
• Steamer
• Microfiber cloths
• Water
• Bowl
• Whisk
• Dishwashing Liquid
• Gloves
• Talcum powder or cornstarch
• Lint roller

Cleaning Methods for Different Stains

To spot-clean your velvet couch and remove stains and stills, a steamer goes a long way. A steamer can also get rid of any creases in your couch to make it look brand new again. Just use the steamer and then take a dry microfiber cloth to blot any stains away. You can also deep clean your couch with a cleaning machine like a Bissell up to twice a year or so.

To clean your couch regularly or clean without a machine or steamer, you can use a simple cleaning solution to get the job done. Mix some warm water and a little bit of dishwashing liquid in a bowl. Stir it with a whisk to let it foam a bit. Damp (do not soak) your cloth into the soapy mixture and rub the couch with the damp cloth in a circular motion. Wipe the couch with a clean, damp cloth afterward to make sure no soap residue is left behind.

Remove oil stains by spreading cornstarch or talcum powder over the stain and letting it sit between eight and 24 hours. Vacuum the powder up and the stain should be gone. To remove things like pet hair and lint, use a lint roller to remove it from the couch.

Velvet is very durable and can last for years, but it is important that you keep up the maintenance on your furniture. Vacuum and clean your couch regularly, clean stains as soon as they appear and try to keep pets off of your couch.