Many of you love velvet, especially the blue kind, but either have a hard time keeping it clean or just haven't given in (to avoid such velvety dilemmas). You want it to retain its luster for years, you want to keep the hair and cat fur under control, you WANT VELVET. Here are some cleaning tips from around the web since we lack personal experience:
How To: Take Care of Velvet Upholstery
If it's hair and fuzz you've got:
• "Vacuum any accumulated dust or dirt with a special upholstery attachment for velvet. This will also remove any fuzz that has formed on the surface of the fabric. Run the attachment back and forth over the velvet until the dirt and fuzz are removed." (via eHow)
• If you don't have a vacuum attachment, "simply place a piece of pantyhose over the nozzle; it will work just as well. Lightly vacuum your velvet...fuzz and fur will vanish." (via Associated Content)
If you spill:
"The best thing you can do is take a clean, super-absorbent cloth or paper towel and soak up the excess liquid. Don't dab or rub the spill, as this will force the liquid deeper into the fibers. Instead, leave the cloth in place until most or all of the liquid has been absorbed. Then air-dry the fabric." (via Articlesbase)
If it's lost some sheen:
"Try directing a steamer at the reverse side of the matted areas to make the fibers fluffy again. Then dry brush the area, making sure the pile is going in the same direction." (via Contract Barstools)
Other suggestions welcome!
Image: Shak In Style
Comments (5)
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I thought I would add this-
If water alone will not remove the stain, a diluted carpet/upholstery shampoo can be used in accordance
with the manufacturer’s instructions. Never apply the cleaning solution directly onto the upholstery, but
onto a dampened white cloth. This should then be rubbed gently onto the stain (rubbing too hard may
affect the surface structure pf the fabric), working from its edge to the middle. Any residual shampoo
should be carefully removed with a damp cloth.
The last rubbing should always be in the direction of the nap.
The upholstery fabric should be dried thoroughly before being used again.
A hair dryer on a low temperature setting can be used for this purpose.
view LoriSF's profile
i just want that chair. it's beautiful, it would look awesome in my lemonaide yellow living room.
view pseudodesigns's profile
Thanks, AT, for this post as a follow up. Makes me not as afraid of velvet.
view bitdot's profile
i have a velvet couch and it it the worst! Can't wait to get it reupolstered. I need to try that panty hose thing though, because it has so much fur on it, it's turning into a 4th cat.
view chusmabilly's profile
I use a sticky lint brush for stray fuzz! works like a charm!
view okgoodanswer's profile