What It Means
Upholstery cleaning is the care of the fabric or leather on sofas, chairs and other padded furniture. Most of it is routine: furniture makers recommend vacuuming upholstery weekly to keep dust and grit from working into the fibers. Spills and stains are spot cleaned with whatever the piece's cleaning code allows, and a professional cleaner handles a piece that has become soiled all over.
Try It: Flip the Four Cleaning Codes
Find the tag under a seat cushion or beneath the piece, then open the card for its code.
W
Water-based cleaning. Spot clean with a water-based shampoo or foam upholstery cleaner.
S
Solvent only. Spot clean with a water-free dry cleaning solvent. Keep water off it.
WS
Either one. A water-based cleaner or a water-free solvent may be used.
X
No liquids of any kind. Vacuum or brush only.
Every code gets the same weekly vacuum with the upholstery attachment.
How It Sounds at Home
- "Don't sit on the couch with that spaghetti."
- "I ran the vacuum over the cushions."
- "Check the tag before you put anything wet on it."
The Breakdown
How often, per furniture makers' care pages (Ashley, La-Z-Boy, Ethan Allen)
| Job | How often |
|---|---|
| Vacuum fabric with the upholstery attachment | Weekly |
| Brush fabric lightly with a soft, non-metallic brush | Often, in place of or between vacuums |
| Dust and vacuum leather with a brush attachment | Daily or weekly |
| Spot clean a spill or stain | As it happens, using the method the cleaning code allows |
| Professional cleaning | When the piece is soiled all over |
The cleaning code. The tag sits under a seat cushion or beneath the piece. W means a water-based shampoo or foam upholstery cleaner. S means a water-free solvent only. WS means either is fine, and X means no liquid at all, just vacuuming or brushing.
Make it last between cleanings. Weekly vacuuming is the makers' main defense against overall soiling, because the dust and grime it lifts would otherwise settle into the fabric. Deal with spills while they're fresh, and clean them only the way the code allows.
Good to Know
Read the tag before any cleaner touches the fabric, and follow the product's label as well. Use one product at a time and never mix cleaners. An X code allows vacuuming and brushing only, so anything more on that piece is a job for a professional cleaner. Leather gets its own care: the makers recommend dusting and vacuuming it with a brush attachment daily or weekly.
FAQ
How often should you vacuum a couch?
Weekly, according to the care pages of furniture makers such as Ashley, La-Z-Boy and Ethan Allen. Use the vacuum's upholstery attachment.
What do W, S, WS and X mean on a furniture tag?
W is water-based cleaner, S is water-free solvent only, WS allows either, and X means vacuum or brush only with no liquid.
When should I pay for professional upholstery cleaning?
The makers suggest a professional furniture cleaner once the piece has become soiled all over, rather than on a fixed calendar.
Do It in Buhata
Tasks with a repeat
Add "Vacuum the sofa and chairs" as a weekly task in your Household Space, or share it out with Duty Rotation (Premium) if several people take turns.
Open BuhataRelated Terms and Categories
- Pet hair removal
Getting shed dog or cat hair off floors, furniture and clothes, and cutting how much gets there by brushing the pet regularly.
- Carpet shampooing
Deep cleaning a carpet with a cleaning solution and a machine, most often by hot water extraction, to lift dirt that weekly vacuuming leaves behind.
- Mattress cleaning
Cleaning a mattress itself, not just its sheets, by spot treating spills and giving it a fuller clean about every six months, the timing Cleveland Clinic suggests.
Sources
Ashley, "How to Care and Clean Your Furnishings"; La-Z-Boy, "Fabric & Leather Care"; Ethan Allen, "Use & Care"
- www.ashleyfurniture.com/care-and-cleaning
- mobile.la-z-boy.com/mobile/content/CustomerCare/fabric-and-leather-care
- www.ethanallen.com/on/demandware.static/-/Sites-ethanallen-us-Library/default/dwc044cdf2/pdf/EthanAllen_UseCare.pdf
Last updated .