How to Clean Upholstery Fabric

Phifertex is a leading high-performance fabric. Made from vinyl-coated polyester, all Phifertex fabrics are infused with Microban®, a proprietary antimicrobial protection, that assists in keeping fabric clean and long-lasting by inhibiting the growth of bacteria, mildew, and mold.

Here are cleaning instructions for Phifertex fabrics:

1. Using a vacuum upholstery attachment or a brush, remove all dust and dirt from the fabric surface, taking care to get into any crevices or nooks.


2. Prepare a cleaning solution by putting 1 tablespoon dishwashing liquid and 2 tablespoons of household bleach into 1 gallon of clean water.


3. Using a clean sponge or cloth dipped in the cleaning solution, clean the fabric, taking extra care to spot clean any area that is noticeably dirty.


4. Once you've cleaned the fabric with the cleaning solution, rinse it thoroughly with clean water.


5. Let the fabric air dry.
6. Avoid having any oils, solvents, or petroleum-based products come into contact with the upholstery fabric, if possible. Should any direct contact occur, be sure to clean the area promptly.

Sunbrella upholstery fabrics are high-performance fabrics that are unique among upholstery performance fabrics in that they are made from 100% solution-dyed acrylic that is then spun into yarn, which means the color is not a coating. It goes all the way through the fabric. Sunbrella fabrics are UV resistant, fade resistant, water repellant, and remarkably easy to clean.

To clean Sunbrella upholstery fabrics, reference Sunbrella's Stain Chart PDF and follow the steps below:

For spot cleaning, mix a mild soap with some water and apply it to the spot with a spray bottle. Dab or scrub the sprayed area lightly with a clean, soft sponge or cloth. Rinse with clean water to remove soap residue and allow to air dry. Repeat until the spill or mess has been removed.

For stubborn spots or stains, add some household bleach to the spot cleaning solution of water and mild soap. Apply a light mist of the soap and bleach solution to the stain and scrub the area with a clean sponge or cloth. Use cold water to rinse thoroughly so that all of the bleach and soap cleaning solution is off the fabric. Repeat until the stain is gone. Once the stain is gone, let the fabric air dry.

A few important notes: While Sunbrella offers some of the best protection against stains among commercial upholstery fabrics, complete removal of stains and spills isn't guaranteed if spills and other messes are allowed to build up and are therefore not addressed immediately. Also, it's important to avoid scrubbing too hard at stains or spills on Sunbrella fabrics. Never use hard bristle brushes or other abrasive cleaning tools against the fabric. Be cautious when using the bleach and soap solution, as it can have negative effects on the environment and can also discolor fabrics and surfaces around the Sunbrella fabric.

Here are specific care and cleaning instructions for Sunbrella Sling and Sunbrella Sheers/Drapery.

To remove a red wine stain from upholstery, it's helpful to act quickly. Do not scrub the spot at all. Instead, add a dry and powdery substance to the spill. Options you're likely to have on hand include: baking soda, table salt, talcum powder, and cat litter. Allow the dry substance to completely soak up the wine. Then blot it up into a clean towel or microfiber cloth.

If you acted quickly enough, this method may be all you need. However, if the red wine soaked into the fabric at all, you have a number of other options to try out:

• Blot the stain with boiling water. While you should never apply dry heat to a red wine stain or spill, boiling water assists in causing the red wine molecules to lose cohesion with the upholstery, which may be enough to blot it clean.


• Pour milk on it. Really. Let the milk sit for 3 to 4 minutes, then blot the milk up with a clean, dry cloth or sponge.


• Use white vinegar and club soda. Club soda is a cherished tool in fine dining settings when a guest spills red wine on a white lapel, but a little white vinegar thrown in the mix can often do wonders on upholstery. Again, apply the solution, then blot clean with a clean cloth or sponge.


• Use a combination of hydrogen peroxide and dishwashing liquid. This combo is remarkable at breaking up stains. Apply the solution, wait 20 minutes to an hour and then blot the red wine stain away.

As with all spills and messes, cleaning a pet's mess is easier if you act immediately. Regardless of when you get to it, however, these are your best bets to get your upholstery clean again.

• White vinegar and baking soda. After blotting up any liquid and/or removing any mess, apply a liberal amount of white vinegar to the affected area, followed by a generous sprinkling of baking soda. Leave for a day or two, then vacuum the powder up.


• Water and dishwashing liquid. Mix 2 cups of water to 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of dishwashing liquid and apply to the affected area with a spray bottle. Allow it to sit for a few hours before blotting it with a clean, wet towel or cloth. Repeat until the stain and odor are gone.

Once again, immediate attention is your best bet to ensure a tomato sauce spill doesn’t result in an unsightly stain. First, blot the spill up with clean paper towels, taking care not to rub the sauce into the upholstery. Using cold water, douse the affected area with a spray bottle and let it soak in for one minute. Blot the affected area again with fresh paper towels. Make a solution of 2 cups of clean water and 1 tablespoon of bleach-free dishwashing soap. Dampen a clean cloth with the dishwashing soap solution and blot at the stain until it disappears. Once the affected area is tomato sauce-free, wet another cloth with cold, clean water and blot the affected area to remove the dishwashing soap and water solution. Using a dry, clean towel, blot the wet area and allow it to air dry.

If the above method isn’t effective, try the combination of hydrogen peroxide and dishwashing liquid that is listed in the red wine section above.

Without a doubt, the easiest way to keep upholstery fabric clean is to craft furniture with fabric that resists stains, mildew, mold, bacteria, and fading. Find out more about Trivantage’s array of high-performance upholstery fabric today.