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fabric sofa care guide with the rest sofa

How to clean your fabric sofa

Looking to find out how to clean a fabric sofa? Or seeking fabric sofa care tips, to ensure yours stays looking good for years to come? Either way - you’re in the right place!

This guide looks at advice that applies specifically to the fabric on our sofas, chairs and footstools - covering everything from classic flat weaves, to opulent velvets and nubby boucle. We also recommend checking out our Upholstery Care Guide, for tips to keep your sofa fillings looking great too.

Fabric sofa care tips

We know you want to keep your new fabric sofa, chair or footstool in tip-top condition for as long as possible - so here’s our best advice to help you care for it!

1. Keep out of direct sunlight

Direct sunlight can cause colours to fade, ageing your sofa before its time - so to help it keep its youthful looks for longer, we recommend placing it out of direct sunlight. For more tips on how you can reduce the effects of UV damage on your sofa, check out our Upholstery Care Guide.

2. Beware of dark dyed clothing

Watch those new black jeans on your light-coloured sofa - there’s a chance that the dye might transfer onto the upholstery. Once your new jeans have been through the wash a couple of times, most of the loose dye will have come out, and it’ll be safe to sit on the sofa again!

3. Clean up any spills immediately

Don’t give stains the chance to settle in - clean up any spills or splashes immediately by gently patting them dry. Preventing a stain is much easier than removing one!

4. Clean weekly

Give your sofa a gentle dust with a soft cloth or brush to remove dust and debris, paying particular attention to anywhere dirt might collect. Don’t forget to clean under the cushions too! If you do decide to vacuum, be mindful of fabric type - powerful modern vacuums can damage upholstery fabrics, and should be avoided, particularly on velvets and other deep pile fabrics, so we generally don’t recommend vacuuming your sofa. If you do decide to vacuum, take all the cushions off, give your sofa a quick once over to remove any collected crumbs, then run the vacuum over all the cushions to lift off any surface dirt and dust. Be sure to use an attachment with a soft brush, and set your hoover on a low suction setting to avoid damaging the fabric.

5. Lift stains with our DFS Fabric Care Kits

Our specially designed DFS Fabric Care Kits include stain removal sprays to help you lift a variety of common stains. Follow the treatment instructions in the kit and you’ll be safe in the knowledge that you aren’t risking further damage to your sofa. Add your DFS Fabric Care Kit at checkout or purchase refills in store, or via our official DFS eBay Outlet.

6. Don’t machine wash your sofa cushion covers

Stay away from the washing machine. Even if they are removable, our sofa fabrics aren’t designed to be washed. Giving your sofa covers a spin - even at a low temperature - could affect how fire retardant they are, cause the colours to seep, and the fabric to shrink.

7. Consider a professional deep clean every few years

To ensure your sofa stays looking its best for the long haul, it’s a great idea to consider a professional deep clean every 3-5 years. DFS recommends Safeclean by Guardsman.

How to clean a fabric sofa

Fabric sofas and chairs are easy to clean - and regular maintenance will prolong the life of your sofa, letting you enjoy it for many years. Watch the video below for a short guide on how to clean your fabric sofa.

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DFS Fabric Sofa Care Kits

To help you look after your fabric sofa and keep it looking great, we’ve developed a specialist stain removal and protection kit specially designed to work with sofa upholstery fabrics - taking the guesswork out of what products to use on your sofa.

Fabric Care Kit

Keep your fabric sofa looking great with our easy to use stain removal kit. This six-piece kit is specially formulated to gently lift a variety of everyday stains without damaging your sofa, and includes three different cleaners, a soft cloth, a cleaning sponge, and full instructions.

To keep your sofa in tip-top condition, add your Fabric care kit at checkout!

Get extra peace of mind with our Sofacare Protection Plans

Want reassurance your new fabric sofa will stay looking great? Our Sofacare Protection Plans offer just that! They cover your sofa against accidental damage, like spills, stains, rips and pet scratches; extend motion furniture warranties from 2 to 5 years; and ensure any damage is repaired or replaced - for a full 5 years from the day your sofa is delivered. There’s no annual renewals or premiums to pay - just a one-off payment at checkout.

Fabric sofa FAQs

When should I clean my fabric sofa?

We recommend removing the cushions and gently dusting your fabric sofa once a week. This should be enough to keep everyday dust and dirt at bay - for any specific spills or stains, we recommend our DFS Fabric Care Kits, which come with several stain lifting products, depending on the type of stain.

What should I clean a fabric sofa with?

You don’t need an entire arsenal of cleaning products to care for your fabric sofa! Our DFS Fabric Sofa Care Kit contains everything you need to keep your fabric sofa in great condition - including stain removal sprays, a soft lint-free cloth, and a cleaning sponge.

What should NOT I clean a fabric sofa with?

When cleaning your fabric sofa, we recommend avoiding baby wipes (including water wipes), household cleaning wipes, nail varnish remover and general household cleaners. We also advise avoiding vacuuming your fabric sofa, particularly if upholstered in velvet or another deep pile fabric. Never use stiff brushes, sponges, or scourers, and don’t rub spills - pat them dry instead. Don’t machine wash any covers, as they are not designed to go into domestic washing machines, and could lose their shape.

Can I steam clean my sofa?

With so many different types of sofa fabrics on the market, it is difficult to generalise whether all fabric sofas are suitable to be steam cleaned, so we wouldn’t recommend any customers attempting this at home. If your sofa needs a deeper clean, we recommend booking a professional upholstery cleaning service - they will know the best approach for your types of sofa.

What stains cannot be removed from a fabric sofa?

Most stains can be removed using our Fabric Care Kits - but the likelihood of being able to remove a stain decreases with the length of time it is left to settle into the fabric, so it’s best to clean up any spills right away. Stains from bleach and nail varnish cannot be removed, so it’s best to avoid having these two things anywhere near your sofa!

How do you remove water marks from a fabric sofa?

Water marks can be difficult to remove from a fabric sofa - if this is something you are struggling with, we would recommend booking a professional upholstery cleaning service.

Are fabric sofas hard to clean?

Not at all - fabric sofas are fairly low maintenance and require minimal cleaning. Most spills and stains can be removed with our Fabric Care Kits. A few spills, like red wine, oily foods, bleach and nail varnish can be difficult or impossible to remove, so it’s best to be very careful around your sofa with any of these. Fabric sofas can be difficult to deep clean at home, and may require specialist equipment, so if yours is looking a bit tired, we recommend booking a professional upholstery cleaning service.