How to clean and care for our performance fabric.
Let’s face it, life can get messy.
Coffee spills. Dogs jump. Kids play.
Upholstery fabric in high traffic areas takes a beating. If you’re wondering how to clean upholstery fabric, how to maintain your stain-resistant textiles, or how to keep your white couch clean, you’re in the right place. This page covers exactly how to care for Crypton performance fabric the right way. Simple. Easy. Stress free.
Download our printable cleaning instructions.
How to clean performance fabric
Before we dive into the details, check out this quick video. It shows the whole cleaning process in action to help you keep your upholstery fabric looking fresh and clean for years to come.
Routine maintenance for performance fabric.
High-traffic upholstery takes a beating. Living rooms. Dining rooms. Hospitality spaces. Commercial seating. You name it. Crypton’s performance fabric technology resists stains, spills, and odors. Liquids bead up on the surface instead of soaking in. But even high-performance upholstery fabric still needs basic care. Routine fabric care keeps your upholstery looking fresh and clean.
Weekly maintenance checklist
Dust settles everywhere. Yes, even on your couch. If you have lighter shades like white or ivory (hello Nomad Snow), you’ll see it faster. Don’t let it sneak up on you.
Vacuum weekly using the upholstery attachment
Remove dirt and debris quickly before it embeds in fibers
Address spills immediately
Remember, a quick cleanup now helps keep your performance fabric looking new.
Make our simple homemade cleaning solution
You do not need anything fancy.
Mix:
¼ teaspoon mild detergent (Dawn or Tide works well)
1 cup lukewarm water
Shake gently in a misting spray bottle.
Have a second spray bottle with clean water ready. That’s your rinse. And yes, rinsing is important. Soap left behind will grab dust like a magnet.
Pro Tip:
Less soap is better. Too much detergent leaves a residue.
How to Spot Clean Performance Fabric
Messes happen. Most liquid spills bead up and roll right off the surface, making cleanup a cinch. But if it sits too long, soaks in or leaves a stubborn mark, don’t panic. Stain removal is easy if you have Crypton. Here’s how to spot clean your performance fabric properly.
Step-by-step spot cleaning instructions.
- Brush off any loose dirt and crumbs and blot up liquids on the surface with a clean, soft, dry towel.
- Apply a simple cleaning solution* with a misting spray bottle, careful not to oversaturate. Allow cleaning solution to soak into the fabric.
- Lightly scrub the area with a clean white cloth or soft bristle brush, working from the outside of the stain in. That inward motion matters. It keeps stain from spreading.
- Rinse cloth/brush and the area frequently with clean water and soak with a clean towel as you go.
- Repeat steps 2-4 as needed.
- Once the stain is gone, rinse the area again to ensure no soap residue remains. Remember, soap residue attracts dirt and can make your fabric look dingy.
- Allow fabric to air dry.
Pro Tip:
Avoid soaking the fabric. Oversaturation can cause water rings.
Deep cleaning: hot water extraction
If upholstery starts looking tired or slightly gray over time, hot water extraction works beautifully. You can hire a professional upholstery cleaner like Stanley Steemer or purchase an at-home extraction machine like the Bissell Little Green Machine.
At-home hot water extraction:
- Before extraction cleaning ensure all spots or spills have been cleaned by following the spot cleaning steps above.
- Follow directions on filling your extraction machine (we recommend only hot water, no cleaning solution as soap can attract more dirt over time).
- Place the nozzle on the upholstery. Slowly and evenly suction off the moisture. Always wet connected upholstered surfaces completely with water to avoid water marks during drying.
- Repeat the procedure until you can no longer extract any dirt from the fabric.
- Allow ample time for upholstery to dry.
Professional cleaning fabric sprays for stubborn stains.
Clean stains on ANY upholstery fabric with our professional cleaning fabric sprays.
Shop all of our upholstery fabric cleaners on Amazon.
Purple Upholstery Stain Remover
Ready-to-use upholstery cleaner made to remove the toughest stains including ink, iodine, grease, markers, lipstick and red stains.
Gold Upholstery Stain Remover
Ready-to-use upholstery cleaner made to remove the toughest stains including food, beverage, mud, blood, grass, and more.
Mess Eliminator for Pets Stains
Powerful enzyme cleaner made specifically for cleaning stains and eliminating odor caused by dogs, cats, and other pets. Cleaning spray for dog urine, cat odor, and other pet smells.
Disinfectant & Deodorizer
Ready-to-use upholstery cleaner made to remove the toughest stains including ink, iodine, grease, markers, lipstick and red stains.
Leather & Vinyl Cleaner
Ready-to-use upholstery cleaner made to remove the toughest stains including food, beverage, mud, blood, grass, and more.
Leather & Vinyl Protector
Powerful enzyme cleaner made specifically for cleaning stains and eliminating odor caused by dogs, cats, and other pets. Cleaning spray for dog urine, cat odor, and other pet smells.
Learn more about our EPA-approved Disinfectant & Deodorizer fabric spray, specifically made to disinfect Crypton Fabric.
Advanced cleaning advice
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