Upholstery Care & Fabric Maintenance Quick Guide

Simple ways to keep your upholstery looking its best.

Performance fabric is made for real life, but even hardworking upholstery benefi ts from a little routine care. Dust, crumbs, pet hair, spills, and over time everyday use will build up on the surface of your furniture. These few simple habits can help you keep your upholstery fabric looking fresh and clean.

matcha spill on white upholstery fabric

Upholstery care at a glance

  • Vacuum upholstered furniture every 1 to 2 weeks
  • Treat spills and stains before they have a chance to settle in
  • Rotate loose cushions regularly for more even wear
  • Removing all soap residue after spot cleaning
  • Professionally deep clean your upholstered furniture once a year

Stain-Resistant

Odor-Resistant

white upholstery fabric that is kid friendly

Routine upholstery maintenance

Your sofa may not look dusty, but it collects the same airborne dust and debris like the rest of your home. Add crumbs, pet hair, lint, and everyday life, and that buildup can eventually make upholstery look dull or dingy (yes, it’s inevitable).

This is especially noticeable on white, cream, and other light-colored fabrics (hello Nomad Snow).

Vacuum regularly

Vacuum upholstered furniture every 1 to 2 weeks using an upholstery attachment. This helps remove dust, lint, pet hair, crumbs, and other debris before they become embedded in the fabric fibers.

Regular vacuuming also makes future stain removal easier because you are not trying to clean through
a layer of surface debris.

cleaning chocolate on white couch upholstery fabric
ice cream spilled on couch fabric

Clean spills quickly

The sooner you tackle a spill, the easier it should be
to remove.

Start by blotting liquid from the surface with a clean, absorbent towel. Avoid rubbing, which can spread the stain or work it deeper into the fabric.

Download our printable instructions for quick reference.

Need a little extra cleaning power?

Crypton’s professional fabric cleaning sprays tackle everything from everyday spills to tougher stains and pet messes. These fabric cleaning sprays not just for Crypton fabric. Use them on any upholstery fabrics, rugs, carpet, curtains, clothing, and more.

Crypton also has a specialized vinyl leather cleaner and a conditioner.

upholstery cleaning spray for stubborn stains like ink, lipstick, grease, and more

Give your upholstery a deep clean

Even with regular vacuuming and spot cleaning, furniture can collect dirt and grime over time. For up-holstery that gets regular use, we recommend a professional steam cleaning about once a year.

The process is called hot water extraction. It uses hot water and suction to lift dirt and residue from the fabric. Professional cleaners such as Stanley Steemer commonly use this method.

When is it time for a deep clean?

  • Your furniture looks dull or dingy after vacuuming
  • Light-colored fabric is starting to look gray
  • Dirt has built up in high-use areas
  • Spot cleaning is no longer doing the trick
  • Your sofa could simply use a refresh

Spot cleaning handles individual messes. Steam cleaning refreshes the entire piece.

Professional upholstery cleaning

For the best results, especially with white or light-colored upholstery, we recommend using a professional cleaning service.

Let your cleaner know the furniture is upholstered in Crypton fabric and request hot water extraction with no added solvents. For residential upholstery cleaning, we recommend Stanley Steemer.

Using an upholstery cleaner at home

If you own or rent an upholstery extractor, follow the machine manufacturer’s instructions and spot clean any stains fi rst. Use clean water without added detergent.

A few cleaning mistakes to avoid

  • Don’t oversaturate the fabric
  • Don’t scrub aggressively
  • Don’t leave soap residue behind
  • Don’t use solvent-based cleaners unless it is
  • Crypton’s fabric cleaner sprays

For residential furniture cleaning services, we recommend Stanley Steemer.