Prep first
Before you start
- Gather your supplies first, so you are not leaving wet fabric while you search for a cloth.
- Remove any cushion you can lift out, but leave zippered covers on the chair.
- Work in a room with good airflow, and keep pets and children off the chair until it is dry.
Upholstered chairs collect dust and spills deep in the weave, and the padding underneath is easy to overwet. Dining chairs, armchairs and recliners all face the same problem. The biggest risk is water reaching the filling, which can cause shrinkage or color bleeding, so the cleaning code on the tag matters most.
Start by checking the cleaning code, then vacuum before you touch anything wet. Keep the cleaner light and test it first, whether the chair is a dining chair, an armchair or a recliner. Office chairs and outdoor cushions have their own quirks worth knowing.
Before you start
What upholstered chairs can take
Use with care5
- Water
- Oxygen bleach
- Enzyme cleaners
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
Avoid5
- Hot water
- Soaking
- Chlorine bleach
- Scrubbing and abrasives
- Heat (dryer, iron, hot air)
7 items
What you'll need
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- Vacuum with an upholstery attachmentLifts dust and grime before anything wet touches the fabric.
- Mild liquid dish soapMild dish soap whipped into a lukewarm foam is the cleaner for W and WS fabric. (opens Amazon)
- Lukewarm waterKeeps the foam at a temperature that does not set stains.
- Soft brushWorks the foam into the weave without tearing the fabric. (opens Amazon)
- White cloths or a spongeBlot and rinse, and show you when dye starts to transfer. (opens Amazon)
- Bowl and whiskWhips the soap and water into a light foam.
- Fan or hair dryerSpeeds drying when set on cool, so the fabric does not stay damp. (opens Amazon)
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6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 6
Vacuum and check the code
Go over the whole chair with an upholstery attachment, lifting dust from the seat, back, arms and seams. Then find the cleaning code on the tag, which is often under a cushion or at the base. Only W and WS fabric gets the liquid steps that follow, so if the code is S or X, vacuum and call a professional instead.
Careful. Water on S-coded fabric can damage it or leave rings, and solvents do not belong on W-coded fabric.
Step 2 of 6
Pretest on a hidden spot
Whip 1 teaspoon of mild liquid dish soap into 1 cup of lukewarm water until it forms a foam, then dab only the foam, never the liquid, onto a hidden area. Let it dry, then check the cloth for color and the fabric for any shrinkage.
Tip. If the chair has no code at all, this test decides whether it is safe to go on.
Step 3 of 6
Work the foam in by section
Brush the foam into one small section at a time with a soft brush, starting at the outside of any stain and moving toward the middle. Keep the layer light, and move to the next section only once the first one is done.
Tip. Blot any fresh spill before you start, so there is less to clean.
Careful. Never use hot water on a stain, because it can set it.
Step 4 of 6
Rinse with plain water
Wipe over each cleaned section with a cloth dampened in plain lukewarm water to lift the soap. Soap left behind attracts dirt, so keep rinsing until no foam comes up on the cloth.
Step 5 of 6
Blot and speed dry
Press a clean, dry cloth into each section to pull out the moisture. Then dry the chair with a fan or a hair dryer set on cool, and let the air keep moving across the whole seat.
Step 6 of 6
Vacuum and fluff when dry
Once the chair is fully dry, vacuum it again with the upholstery attachment. Brush the fabric lightly with a soft brush to lift the pile, and hand-fluff the cushions.
What makes the job easier
Best products for cleaning upholstered chairs
Choose a mild liquid dish soap and a soft upholstery brush, and skip any product that contains bleach. Check the cleaning code before you reach for a solvent or a fabric guard.
Rug Doctor Spot & Upholstery Cleaner
BLACK+DECKER spillbuster Cordless Spill + Spot Cleaner
How we picked these: each product is made for cleaning upholstered chairs, its maker doesn't warn against using it on upholstered chairs, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely before you use it again.
How to tell it's really done →Spots that survive a deep clean are usually stains, and each stain has its own method.
Find the guide for your stain →Heavy grime or a lingering smell usually needs a second round once it's fully dry.
See what to do for what you're seeing →When to call a professional →How to tell it's done
The chair is clean when the cleaned area blends with the fabric around it and no dark patch or ring is left. It is fully dry when the fabric feels cool and dry all the way through, including the cushions. If there is a ring or a damp spot, let it dry completely and use the water ring fix rather than adding more foam.
Treat stains with their own method
Got a stain on it?
A deep clean lifts everyday dirt, but most stains need their own method. Pick yours:
What changes for yours
Adjust for your chair
Outdoor cushions
Outdoor fabric is tougher, but it still needs restraint. For a cushion with a fixed cover, work 1/4 cup of mild soap per gallon of lukewarm water into the fabric with a soft brush, then rinse thoroughly.
Zippered covers stay on the cushion, since they should not be removed to launder or dry clean them. Work from seam to seam so no ring is left, let the fabric air dry only, and retreat it with a fabric guard once it is dry.
Office chair
Office chairs take daily wear, so clean them at least every two weeks. Brush off any dried stains first, then vacuum with a soft brush so the knit is not torn.
For knit polyester, clean with a neutral cleaner such as soapy water, rinse with clean water, and press a dry cloth to the fabric to remove moisture. On coated office fabric, absorb the stain first, then clean with a pad of equal parts water and alcohol.
Suede-look microfiber
Suede-look microfiber needs a lighter touch than standard upholstery. Blot the soiled area gently with neutral soap and water, working from the sides toward the center.
Rinse with plain water to remove the soap, then dry it quickly with a fan or hair dryer set on cool if you want. Once it is dry, buff or vacuum it to keep the suede look and feel.
Performance fabric
Performance fabric follows the W code, so the same light foam method applies. Expect the rinse to be the step that makes the difference.
Turn and rotate loose cushions so wear spreads evenly. Light-colored fabric shows dirt sooner, so it needs cleaning more often.
Between deep cleans
How often to clean it
Vacuum the chair once a week with an upholstery attachment and hand-fluff the cushions. Vacuum often enough that dirt does not build up in the weave, and rotate and flip loose cushions for even wear.
Clean office chairs at least every two weeks, and give visitor chairs less attention than daily task chairs.
Keep spills blotted right away, so they do not set into the weave. Between cleanings, brushing and vacuuming do most of the work.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work for cleaning upholstered chairs?
Many home remedies are tempting, but most carry real risk on upholstery. Here is how each one fits a chair.
Works1Helps2Avoid4
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't soak the chair
Too much liquid reaches the filling, which can cause shrinkage or color bleeding. Keep the foam light, and stop before the fabric feels wet rather than damp.
Don't scrub with a stiff brush
A stiff brush can damage upholstery, and it is never the right tool for dusting. Stick to a soft brush and work the foam in gently instead.
Don't use dishwasher or laundry detergent
Automatic dishwasher detergent, heavy-duty household detergent and laundry detergent can contain alkalis that set some stains. Many dishwasher detergents also contain bleaching agents that can destroy dyes, so stick to the mild dish soap.
Don't dry with heat
Keep any fan or hair dryer on cool, because heat is the wrong tool for this job. Let the fabric air dry the rest of the way if it is still damp.
Don't rub a stain
Rubbing pushes the stain deeper into the weave and can damage the fabric. Blot instead, and keep moving to a fresh section of cloth so the stain does not transfer back onto the chair.
Troubleshooting
If it still isn't clean
Pick what you're seeing:
Water rings after drying
Lightly moisten the whole area with white vinegar, wait, then sponge with water and dry thoroughly. Working the whole surface seam to seam helps prevent rings in the first place.
Dye shows up on the cloth
Stop cleaning that area, since the dye is moving. If the dye bleeds or the fabric shrinks, call a professional upholstery cleaner rather than going on.
Pile looks flat or matted
Make sure the chair is fully dry first. Then hand-fluff the cushions and brush lightly with a soft brush to lift the pile again.
A stain is still visible
Some stains, such as permanent marker, lipstick and nail polish, may not fully come out. Treat a specific stain with its own method first, and call a professional for anything that is left.
When to call a professional
Call a professional when the whole chair is soiled, or when a stain is large or unusual. Also call one if a pretest shows the dye bleeds or the fabric shrinks, or if the fabric is S- or X-coded. A professional upholstery cleaner with experience in your fabric can judge what your chair can take.
Questions
Can I use a steam cleaner or upholstery machine on my chair?
Not on W or SW fabric. Steam cleaning and hot water extraction aren't recommended, so a vacuum with an upholstery attachment is the safer everyday tool. If the whole chair is soiled, a professional can clean it with the right equipment.
What do the cleaning codes on my chair mean?
W means water-based shampoo or foam only, and S means water-free dry-cleaning solvent only. WS or SW means either can be used without saturating the fabric, and X means vacuum or light brushing only.
Can I use a dry-cleaning solvent on my chair at home?
Only on WS fabric, and only with good ventilation, away from open flames, pilot lights and sparks. S-coded fabric is best left to a professional, so let them handle any solvent work.
How do I deodorize or disinfect an upholstered chair?
Skip bleach and steam for disinfecting, since neither is safe on this upholstery. For odor, a thorough vacuum and full drying is the safest route, and a professional can handle anything stronger.
Can I clean an upholstered headboard the same way?
Yes, the same code check and light foam method applies. Pretest a hidden spot first, and keep the foam light so no water reaches the padding.
Can I wash the removable covers on my outdoor cushions?
No. Zippered cushion covers should not be removed to launder or dry clean them, so clean them on the cushion instead. Use the soft brush and mild soap method described for outdoor cushions.
Methods, care labels and related guides
Good to know
Odor guides
Still smells?
More cleaning guides
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.