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 brushes 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. The beautiful Oliver sofa in blue velvet 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, Pembroke 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, but 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.