How to Clean Velvet

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Velvet is a luxurious and interesting looking fabric that’s used on furniture, clothing, and accessories. From time to time, your velvet items will need to be cleaned to ensure that they’re looking their best. In most cases, you can clean your velvet items at home, but sometimes you’ll have to go to a professional. You should always use special care when cleaning velvet to avoid creasing, stains, and matting of the fabric.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Removing Stains

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  1. You can use a soft bristle brush for this purpose. [1] Brushing the velvet will remove dirt and lint, and loosen any mats in the fabric. This prepares the fabric for treatment and can remove caked-on dirt before spot cleaning.
    • When brushing accessories, make sure you’re getting into corners and areas where there might be hardware to remove dirt and lint.
  2. The suction will remove any dirt and lint, and the brush attachment will loosen up mats in the fabric to prepare it for cleaning. Be gentle and don’t push too hard on the fabric as you can crush the pile. [2]
    • To prevent further stains and dirt from damaging the fabric, you can vacuum your velvet once per week.
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  3. You may need to add extra lemon juice to create more foam. You won’t be using any of the liquid portion of this mixture, so don’t worry about having excess liquid. [3]
    • If you’re cleaning the entire piece of furniture, you’ll probably need to add more baking soda and lemon juice as you work.
  4. Make sure there are a lot of bubbles while you’re mixing. If you need to, you can add more water and detergent to create the foam.
  5. Gently pick up some of the foam that was created by the mixture. You don’t need a large amount, just enough to cover the top of the cloth. [4]
  6. You can remove excess foam with a dry area of the cloth. Let the area dry and brush it with the cloth or a clothing brush.
    • For furniture, you should apply the foam by wiping in long strokes with the nap of the fabric. [5]
    • You should test this method in a small, inconspicuous area first, such as the inner lining or hem hem of a piece of clothing if it has velvet on it, or a non-visible portion of the furniture or accessory.
  7. Although the mixture might appear to dry quickly, give it some time to completely dry from the fabric and allow the pile of the velvet to return to its original form. Avoid using the item or piece of furniture during this time. [6]
    • If the stain is still present, apply another coat and allow it to dry again, repeating until the stain is gone.
  8. You can find protective coating for velvet furniture at department stores, furniture stores, or online. Make sure you’re misting the item by spraying at least 6 inches (15 cm) away from the fabric, rather than saturating it with the spray. [7]
    • After the spray dries, wipe the furniture with a clothing brush or lint-free cloth to remove any mats or creases.
    • Protective coatings made specifically for delicate fabrics, such as Scotchguard and Nano Protector, are great solutions for accessories that tend to get dirty quickly. You can also use furniture protector spray to ensure waterproofing for velvet shoes. [8]
    • Applying a protective coating might void your item’s warranty, so make sure you check the care information before spraying the item with the solution.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Washing and Drying Velvet

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  1. The label will tell you most of the information that you need to know for cleaning your velvet item. It will also tell you what the velvet is made out of. There are a few types of velvet, such as pure, polyester blend, and crushed velvet. [9]
    • If the tag has an “S” on it, you should treat it with dry cleaning solvents, not water, or get it professionally cleaned. [10]
  2. If you have an article of pure velvet clothing, the best way to get it cleaned is at the dry cleaner. [11] [12] They’ll be able to treat the clothing and are experts at the best methods for removing dirt and stains from delicate clothing. [13]
  3. Wash crushed or polyester velvet in cold water with delicate detergent. If your item is a polyester blend or crushed velvet, it’s safe to wash in the washing machine. Make sure it’s on the cold water setting and use a delicate care detergent. [14]
  4. Other articles of clothing can press against your velvet items in the washer and cause creases or mats in the fabric. A mesh delicates bag can protect the clothing, or you can wash the piece of clothing by itself. [15]
    • This method works best for articles of clothing as well as velvet pillow cases, and scarves.
  5. Velvet should never be put in a dryer. Find a clean, flat surface in a dry area to lay your piece of clothing on. It can take up to 12 hours for a piece of clothing to dry depending on the weight of the material, so be patient. Check on it after a few hours and flip the article over if you think it’s not drying evenly. [16]
  6. Keeping your velvet clothing upright and stored in your closet will help prevent creases and wrinkles. Make sure your other clothing isn’t pressing against the velvet and crushing the fabric.
    • If your velvet accessory comes with a dust cover, like a purse or a pair of shoes might, use it while you’re storing the item. This will prevent dirt and lint from getting into the fabric.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Pressing Velvet

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  1. If your piece of clothing or other velvet item has a wrinkle or crease in the pile, you can use a steamer on its low setting to remove the crease. Hold the steamer about 10 centimetres (3.9 in) away from the fabric and move the steamer in the direction of the nap.
    • For accessories like shoes or purses that tend to be lined or structured, steaming won’t work as well. If you have a crease, try brushing it out or placing a form or tissue inside of the accessory to help it maintain its shape.
  2. For some wrinkles, the steam from a hot shower can release the creases and return the item to good as new. Be careful not to get the item wet as water can leave spots on velvet!
  3. You can use an iron on the steam setting to remove wrinkles and creases. Like the steamer, you’ll hold the iron about 10 centimetres (3.9 in) away from the fabric and move the iron in the direction of the nap. Be careful not to touch the velvet with the iron. [17]
  4. Place the spare velvet on the ironing board, pile side up. Then, place your velvet item pile side down on top of the spare velvet. Hover the steamer or iron on steamer setting over the top of the velvet for 15 seconds, repeating until the crease is removed.
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  • Question
    What should I do for wrinkled velvet cloth?
    Community Answer
    You can try hanging it in the bathroom when you have a shower; the steam will help the wrinkles to drop out - but make sure not to get water droplets directly on the velvet, as it can leave a mark. If this doesn't get the wrinkles out, you can try using a clothing steamer on the inside of the cloth, taking care not to get the material wet.
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  • Question
    I already washed my velvet dress and it's no longer soft - is it possible to fix it? I used a small amount of gentle detergent and washed it in water, hung to dry.
    Community Answer
    Have it dry cleaned. That might help restore it.
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  • Question
    I got my vomit-stained velvet jacket dry-cleaned, but the stink still lingers. What should I do?
    Community Answer
    If the dry cleaner did their job correctly, all traces of the stain should be gone. Either return it to be cleaned again or take it to a different, more careful dry cleaning service.
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      Tips

      Tips from our Readers

      The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
      • Store velvet items in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight to prevent fading.
      • Refrain from pressing down hard when cleaning to avoid crushing the fabric's pile.
      • If you have velvet cushions, rotate them regularly to ensure even wear.
      • Use minimal water during cleaning to prevent watermarks and shrinkage.
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      Things You’ll Need

      Removing Stains

      • Clothing brush
      • Lint-free cloth
      • 1 tablespoon delicate laundry detergent
      • 2 cups of water
      • 2 tablespoons of baking soda
      • ½ cup of lemon juice
      • Protective coating

      Washing and Drying Velvet

      • Delicate laundry detergent
      • Mesh bag
      • Washing machine
      • Hanger
      • Dust cover

      Pressing Velvet

      • Steamer or iron
      • Strong hanger
      • Ironing board
      • Spare piece of velvet

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      References

      1. ↑ Robert Shapiro. Laundry Specialist. Expert Interview. 24 August 2021.
      2. ↑ https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-clean-velvet-upholstery-apartment-therapy-tutorials-213084
      3. ↑ https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-clean-velvet-upholstery-apartment-therapy-tutorials-213084
      4. ↑ https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-clean-velvet-upholstery-apartment-therapy-tutorials-213084
      5. ↑ https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-clean-velvet-upholstery-apartment-therapy-tutorials-213084
      6. ↑ https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-clean-velvet-upholstery-apartment-therapy-tutorials-213084
      7. ↑ https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/a9139/how-to-clean-velvet/
      8. ↑ https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/a9139/how-to-clean-velvet/
      9. ↑ https://www.racked.com/2016/11/18/13589878/velvet-care-shoes
      1. ↑ https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-clean-velvet-upholstery-apartment-therapy-tutorials-213084
      2. ↑ Robert Shapiro. Laundry Specialist. Expert Interview. 24 August 2021.
      3. ↑ Kamel Almani. Laundry & Cleaning Specialist. Expert Interview. 13 April 2021.
      4. ↑ https://www.racked.com/2016/11/18/13589878/velvet-care-shoes
      5. ↑ https://www.racked.com/2016/11/18/13589878/velvet-care-shoes
      6. ↑ https://www.racked.com/2016/11/18/13589878/velvet-care-shoes
      7. ↑ https://www.racked.com/2016/11/18/13589878/velvet-care-shoes
      8. ↑ Robert Shapiro. Laundry Specialist. Expert Interview. 24 August 2021.
      9. ↑ https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/home/how-to-clean-velveteen-or-velvet-furniture/2012/05/01/gIQAxxzPwT_story.html

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      If you’re trying to clean velvet, start by checking any labels on the item. You'll need to take it to a dry cleaner if the label has an “S” or if it’s made of pure velvet. But you can use your washing machine if it’s crushed velvet or a polyester blend. Put your velvet in a mesh bag if you have one or wash it alone so it comes out less creased. Be sure to run your washer with cold water using a delicate care detergent! Lay your velvet flat to dry once it’s been washed. Be prepared to wait up to 12 hours for it to dry. To learn more, like how to remove stains from your velvet, keep reading the article!

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