Velvet is a soft, luxurious and glamorous fabric. Like silk, velvet is generally a high-quality material that is produced for clothing, furniture, and other objects, such as bed sheets. Since pure velvet is usually expensive and requires extra care, washing or removing stains from the fabric can be quite a hassle. With a combination of professional and at-home techniques for cleaning clothes and furniture at home, you can be sure to wash your own velvet items.
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Method 1 of 2: Machine Washing Velvet Fabric
Step 1. Read the label
Before washing clothes made of velvet, be sure to read the label. If it says "dry clean only", take it to a dry cleaning service to make sure the material is not damaged. If the label only says “dry clean”, it means that the dry cleaning method is just a washing suggestion, not mandatory.
- Take your velvet clothes to a dry cleaning service if you are in doubt. This method can prevent the material from being damaged beyond repair.
- Wash the velvet material labeled “dry clean”. The garment may not be made of pure velvet so it can be hand washed or even machine washed on a gentle setting. For example, crushed and polyester types of velvet can usually be washed by hand or in a washing machine.
Step 2. Clean the velvet material with the dry clean method
The safest and most effective way to wash velvet is the dry clean method. You can choose to dry your velvet at home or take it to a professional dry cleaning service.
- Consider purchasing self-driving equipment if you want to save money. Make sure you read the product instructions before drying your velvet at home. Most products provide customer service via telephone that you can contact if you have questions.
- Take your velvet clothes to a professional dry cleaning service. Remember, almost all dry cleaning service providers are experienced in handling expensive fabrics such as velvet. Ask anything you want to ask the service provider and make sure you show the dirty parts.
Step 3. Wash clothes by hand or machine
Clothes made of crushed velvet or polyester can be put in the washing machine or washed by hand in a sink or bucket. Doing your own laundry can save you money over using a dry cleaning service with the same effective results as the work of a professional.
- Make sure you read clothing labels before starting. If you are unsure about washing the clothes yourself, find the safest way and do dry cleaning at home or through a professional service provider.
- Do not wash clothes in hot water because it can shrink in size and lose the elasticity of the material. Use a special detergent for fabrics that are easily damaged or a special detergent for velvet. Use the “gentle” or “hand wash” setting on your washing machine to make sure it doesn't damage your clothes.
- Wash clothes made of velvet directly in a bucket of warm water or a mixture of cold water and a little detergent. Rub the clothes with the foam from the detergent gently. Do this until the clothes are completely clean. Do not rub or twist clothing as this could damage or stretch the material. When you're done washing clothes, empty the bucket and refill it with hard water. Dip the garment several times until there is no soap or residue left.
Step 4. Remove the stain by cleaning the dirty part
You can also wash velvet clothes by targeting dirty or stained spots. This method makes you do not need to wash velvet material through professional services so that it is more efficient.
- Mix one teaspoon of special fabric care detergent with 2 cups of tap water in a bucket or sink. Dip a clean, soft white cloth into the mixture and wring it out until it is damp. Pat – don't rub – the cloth against the stained area of your garment until it is clean. Be sure to re-moisten the cloth as necessary. Once the stain is gone, rinse the white cloth with tap water and wring it out. After that, pat the cloth again to remove any soap and residue from the clothes.
- Mix a paste of lemon juice and baking soda, then dissolve it in water. Pat this solution on the dirty spot until it is clean. Be careful because this combination has the potential to damage clothes if not diluted or used sparingly.
- Consider using a special dry cleaning product to remove stains. However, understand that these products usually contain harmful chemicals that can damage velvet fabric quickly if not used properly.
Step 5. Freshen clothes with steam
If you want to refresh your velvet clothes, use a portable vaporizer. This tool can remove creases, and make the fabric look clean and smooth again. Finish the evaporation process by spraying the fabric freshener to make it smell better.
- Position the vaporizer about 20 cm from the cloth so it doesn't get too wet. Run the steam engine from the outside of the hem to the center of the shirt.
- Consider turning the garment over during the evaporation process and spraying it with a freshener. This method has the same effect as the process of evaporation and spraying directly on the outside of the shirt.
- Hang clothes in a steamy bathroom if you don't have a portable steamer. Placing velvet clothes in a steamy bathroom without letting the clothes hit the water directly has the same effective effect as a steamer.
Step 6. Dry your clothes
Whatever happens, don't put velvet clothes in the dryer. This method can shrink clothes and spoil the texture of the plush velvet fabric.
- Hang machine-washed clothes and let them dry completely. If necessary, use a steamer to remove creases.
- Gently remove excess water from manually washed clothes. Make sure you don't twist or wring the garment. However, place the clothes on a flat surface. Place a clean white towel under the shirt to prevent fading and allow it to dry thoroughly. When the white towel starts to change color, replace it with a clean white towel.
- Consider placing the clothes in the dryer. Gentle heat will speed up the drying process while protecting velvet clothes from damage.
Method 2 of 2: Cleaning Velvet Household Items
Step 1. Check the cleaning code
Most furniture has a cleaning code installed on the underside or in the finish. Searching for these codes can provide information about the safest and most recommended ways to clean the furniture. In general, velvet has an “S” code which means that the material must be cleaned with a special cleaning fluid or dry cleaning method, and does not react well with water.
Contact the manufacturer if you can't find the code. Most companies have databases of the furniture they sell in order to provide customers with important information, including cleaning codes and how to care for the furniture. Ask as you please when contacting them
Step 2. Use the services of a professional
If you are not sure about the cleaning code installed on the furniture or think the furniture has a special meaning, take the safest steps and use a professional cleaning service. This method costs a little more, but professional cleaners usually have years of training and years on how to safely and effectively clean velvet furniture.
Consider using a professional dry cleaning kit to clean small items, such as pillowcases or duvet covers. Make sure you read the cleaning codes and the information on the kit before starting to clean
Step 3. Clean the furniture with a vacuum cleaner
If you want to target the dirty parts of the furniture, use a vacuum cleaner before washing it. Attach the brush attachment to the end of the vacuum cleaner, then aim it at the nap, which is the raised and fluffy part of a fabric such as velvet. This will pull the surface of the fabric and make it ready to clean.
Step 4. Make a solution of a mixture of lemon juice and baking soda
One of the most effective ways to remove stains from velvet furniture is to apply a mixture of lemon water and baking soda. Both materials can lift and remove stains from your furniture.
Mix two tablespoons of baking soda in a bowl of lemon juice. Stir the mixture until it produces a foam that will later be used to clean the furniture. If you are cleaning a larger object, use a large bowl or bucket
Step 5. Test the mixture
Before starting to clean stains or dirt, as well as washing all parts of the furniture, you should first test the cleaner used. This will let you know if the mixture is too harsh for the item to be cleaned. If so, use the services of a professional to do it.
Apply a small amount of cleaning fluid to an invisible area of the furniture. The area may be under the object or in a hidden seam. Be sure to test the cleaning fluid by gently patting it against the cloth, just as you would when cleaning a stain on a cloth
Step 6. Gently wipe the stain
Just like clothes made of velvet, you have to be careful when cleaning stains on furniture. Gently pat the cleaning liquid on or wipe off the stain to make sure your furniture is clean, and looks luxurious and beautiful.
- Remove the foam at the top of the cleaning solution with a clean, soft cloth. Use straight, longitudinal motions to gently wipe or pat the stain on the velvet surface. Make sure you don't rub the liquid into the fabric as this could cause the stain to sink deeper or even damage the material. Check the stained area occasionally during the cleaning process to see if the stain is gone. Keep repeating this process until the object is completely clean.
- Remove any excess liquid or residue by rinsing the cloth and patting the stained area until the velvet surface looks smooth again. Be sure to wring out the cloth before patting it on the velvet surface so that the object being cleaned doesn't get wet and the texture doesn't get damaged.
Step 7. Dry the cleaned object completely
Generally, household furniture does not take long to dry after cleaning. However, you may need to wait a few hours or a full day for the furniture to dry completely before reusing it. This will ensure that the velvet still looks luxurious and is not exposed to other sources of stains.
