You know from One Room Challenge how the Sven Sectional Sofa from Article really tied the room together, but buying a velvet couch for your living space seems like a big thing, right? It’s a nice item that is beautiful, but the maintenance feels intimidating. If you have kids or a busy life, the idea of keeping the couch lush and beautiful can be overwhelming. Surprisingly, velvet couch maintenance is easier than I thought, especially when I have the right tools ready and waiting.

Couch cleaning tools include vacuum cleaner and upholstery attachment, absorbent cloths, and a cleaning solution.

How to Clean a Velvet Sofa

– Get your vacuum ready for a new task! Weekly suctions on your plush couch are best at keeping the dirt from building up. Vacuuming a velvet couch is nothing like vacuuming the floor. When vacuuming the floor the back and forth motion is normal and natural. With a velvet sofa, single strokes moving in the same direction are best. It keeps the fabric from breaking down and maintains that lush look.

– When it comes to spot treatment, get ahead of accidents by testing the cleaning solution on a non-visible part of the couch. This way you know how the product affects the material and you’re prepared for whatever happens. If you want to be mindful of what you’re putting on your couch, many upholstery cleaning experts recommend lemon juice, baking soda, and water. Remember how terrifying the idea of spills on the couch was when the thought of buying a velvet couch crept into your mind? Well terrifying no more! If a spill happens make haste! The sooner you get to it the better. Why? If the liquid dries it damages the fabric. Grab that absorbent cloth and get as much liquid off as possible.

– Think TLC – NO SCRUBS – scrubbing will damage the fabric and nobody wants a spotty velvet couch. There’s no clear consensus about how much pressure to put on the spill. But the big message is, don’t delay, get to that spill asap.  Just like weekly vacuuming single motion strokes are best.

If a major spill or stain happens to the couch, that’s when calling in a professional is the best option, but I have no intention of making a major spill on this beautiful piece and I know my crew will respect the couch too. I love the way this couch looks and feels in my space and am definitely no longer worried about how to keep the color vibrant and the fabric feeling fabulous!

A few other helpful hints

Regular maintenance – Vacuum regularly – weekly – vacuum in a single motion – back and forth will weaken the fibers of the fabric. If the vacuum cleaner has an upholstery setting, use it. The settings for carpets will have too much suction.

Before using cleaning solutions test them on a part of the couch that can’t be seen, the underside of part of the cushion that won’t ever be visible – many upholstery experts recommend a mixture of lemon juice and baking soda.

Spot cleaning – an absorbent cloth is best – don’t rub. Just like weekly vacuuming single motion strokes are best.

Get Your Velvet On

Now, there’s no excuse as to why you can’t have the couch of your dreams! If you’ve been thinking about making the move toward a velvet sofa or chair, know that you can keep it gorgeous with any of the tips that I’ve shared! Please share your feedback with me after you try these out. I would love to know how I’ve helped you…and also swap experiences keeping velve

—

This post is in partnership with Article. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you for supporting the brands that support the blog!

Photos by Christie Spencer Photography