How to Clean
Armchairs and
Sofas Without
Damaging Them
Discover how to Clean Your Armchairs and Sofas with an Old-fashioned Brush Safely.
Our favourite chairs and sofas are like part of the family. Stylish, comfortable, and welcoming, we always want them to look their best. With a focus on sustainability and organics, gentler cleaning methods are making a comeback. The revival of the classic fabric brush is a simple solution for everyday furniture care.
Brilliant Brushes are the Best Option.
Before there was Mrs Hinch and Marie Kondo, the real cleaning expert was the humble upholstery brush. We all agree our furniture is precious, and having the right specialised brushes on-hand can make a world of difference. Before you start spraying and wiping frantically, pause for a second and consider using a specialised fabric brush. They are a much milder way to remove any crumbs or dirt from the fabric surface and also in between the sofa cushions.
Whilst serious stains do require expert care, gentle cleaning with brushes will help maintain your sofas and chairs for the long term. Thankfully, there is a growing number of suppliers offering more natural cleaning products, such as the Oxford Brush Company which produces an excellent array of cleaning brushes (as featured above).
Velvet Brush
Velvet is always in fashion, and we all dream of a gorgeous sofa covered in this luxurious fabric. For such a sensitive fabric look to a specialised upholstery brush that is designed to assist in the re-laying of its nap. Why not keep on-hand a Velvet boffin brush and give your velvet sofa a weekly mini sweep?
If your velvet sofa has a mark, gently brush the fabric around the area of the stain to try and remove it. Avoid rubbing the surface because you may damage its short pile. Rather, if a gentle brush doesn’t remove the stain, then seek professional care such as Staingard. A show-stopping velvet sofa deserves to be cared for properly, so brush it once a week with a velvet upholstery brush.
Wool Brush
For a wool-covered sofa such as our Agatha upholstered in Diamond Weave, consider brushing and de-linting with the Redecker Cashmere Brush. Although it's designed for knitwear, it also works brilliantly to remove dust and soil off wool upholstery due to its fine, bronze wire bristles surrounded by an outer row of black boar bristle.
Linen Brush
We love the chic appeal of linen! To maintain its beauty, explore a brush that is suitable for cleaning natural fibres. The Laundress stain brush is one option that can be effective for sturdy linens. Rather than rubbing linen upholstery, instead use a brush to treat the target area. Further, to avoid harming linen never use washcloths or sponges as they can easily leave behind bigger marks.