Once reserved for royalty, velvet is nowadays a relatively affordable fabric as it can be manufactured at reduced costs and using modern fibers. While it may be very tempting to purchase velvet furniture for your home, you need to know that velvet can be rather high maintenance compared to other fabrics. Owning a velvet couch may require more work on your part and occasional help from a professional couch cleaner.
Before you call us to assist with upholstery cleaning, we are offering you the most important information about velvet furniture and how to care for it.
What Is Velvet?
In order to learn how to care for velvet, first, you need to understand what this type of fabric is and how it is structured.
Velvet is a type of woven tufted fabric made from different types of fibers that are woven on a specialist loom. As a result, a short dense pile is created, creating that unique finish that is both soft and lustrous.
Velvet can be made from all kinds of fibers, natural or synthetic. It was originally made from silk, which made velvet incredibly expensive and accessible only to noble classes. The material originated in Baghdad, around 750 A.D., and then spread to Mediterranean regions and to Europe.
During Renaissance, Florence, Italy, became the most important velvet production center. New technologies were developed, making the production of velvet cheaper and easier. Today, velvet is usually made with fibers such as cotton, linen, wool, mohair, rayon, and others, making it less expensive and suitable for daily wear clothes and upholstery. There are at least seven different types of velvet on the market, including crushed velvet, panne velvet, embossed velvet, ciselé, plain velvet, stretch velvet, and pile-on-pile velvet.
Pros and Cons of Velvet Upholstery
Velvet upholstery, although requiring couch cleaning services every once in a while, is chosen by many homeowners due to the series of benefits it provides. Some people love the ever-changing sheen of velvet and its luxurious look. Velvet has a unique softness to touch, is easy to clean (synthetic velvet), and looks good after wearing out as it will have a vintage look.
However, there are a few downsides to velvet, too, such as attracting dust and hair, and dealing with visible lines and print when someone brushes against the upholstery. Velvet may not be suitable for houses with pets and small children and is not recommended either if you are bothered by marks and lines on your upholstery.
What Are the Challenges of Caring for Velvet Upholstery?
Is velvet upholstery higher maintenance compared to other fabrics? Can you keep it in good shape without regular assistance from a carpet cleaning service?
A major potential problem with velvet upholstery is hairs sticking to each other and getting crushed. The longer the velvet hairs, the more likely they are to stick to each other due to food or liquids getting on them. As a result, the texture of velvet will be ruined, even if the process is sometimes reversible.
Another aspect of cleaning for velvet is the fact that you can only use cold water. While some sources recommend couch steam cleaning for cleaning velvet upholstery and eliminating creases, this is not a good idea. Velvet is a delicate fabric, even if it is made with modern fibers, and high temperatures can damage it.
An additional challenge is making sure that you leave no residue on velvet after cleaning it. Not rinsing the material thoroughly leaves cleaning agent residues on hairs, which will stick together. A couch cleaner in NYC should be able to leave your velvet upholstery perfectly clean and with separated hairs, helping to maintain the specific aspect of velvet furniture.
How Often Should You Vacuum Your Velvet Furniture
Best upholstery cleaning practices include vacuuming couches weekly and using the upholstery accessory. The upholstery brush loosens the dirt so it can be suctioned away more easily. Work in a grid to cover all areas.
The crevice tool is also very useful for cleaning between and under cushions and between cushions and arms.
It’s also important to vacuum the outside of furniture and underneath, where a lot of dust can accumulate.
Why Should You Brush Your Velvet Furniture?
Have you ever wondered why upholstery cleaning companies manage to obtain excellent results when cleaning velvet sofas? Is it because they use a secret carpet cleaning solution? You will be surprised, but the rug shampoo does not necessarily make a difference.
The secret lies in separating velvet hairs after cleaning. And this can be achieved by brushing.
There are special brushes for velvet upholstery, which are indispensable for finishing this type of material after wet cleaning. Dedicated brushes help to restore the plush appearance of velvet due to their unique fine-combed anodized aluminum bristles that prevent the fabric from drying stiffly. If you have velvet furniture in your home, it’s definitely worth investing in one of these brushes!
Other Tips for Velvet Furniture Maintenance
Aside from cleaning at low temperatures and brushing velvet after wet cleaning, there are other tips you can use to maintain velvet upholstery in good condition:
Treat stains immediately
Blot spills away with paper towels as soon as possible. Change to new towels until no moisture is absorbed.
If the liquid causes stains on the upholstery, prepare a mixture of dishwashing liquid and warm water. Use a microfiber cloth to gently wipe the stained area until the stain is transferred to the cloth. Never rub stains to avoid pushing the substance deeper into the fibers.
Keep velvet furniture away from direct sunlight
Sunlight can cause your velvet upholstery’s colors to fade, so make sure your couch does not sit directly into the sun. If there is no other option, cover the exposed areas with throws to block the sun.
Call the professionals every once in a while
Hire a professional upholstery cleaning service for a deep clean once a year. Benefits include saving time and effort, cleaning the furniture with high-end equipment, and obtaining superior results without risking to damage delicate items.
Contact PristineGreen Upholstery and Carpet Cleaning today for professional upholstery cleaning and many other housekeeping services!
