Upholstery Care in Furniture: Complete and Professional Guide from Experience

The art of caring for upholstery

If we know anything from all these years working with textiles and furniture in Beltá Frajumar, is that a well cared for upholstered furniture not only lasts longer, but becomes a reflection of who lives in it. Furniture, especially those with fine fabrics, are not mere decorative objects: they are living surfaces that breathe, absorb and reflect daily use.

Upholstery care is not an occasional chore, but a simple but powerful routine that ensures your sofa, armchair or headboard maintains its appearance, texture and functionality as it did on day one. And if you know exactly what to do with each type of fabric, success is assured.

Let’s take it step by step.

Why upholstery care is important

Most of the time, when a customer asks us why their sofa has lost colour, texture or has become deformed, the answer is simple: it hasn’t been properly maintained. And I’m not talking about monthly deep cleanings, but small gestures that make a difference.

For example, many fabrics with anti-stain treatment such as Aqualean® act as a barrier against liquids, but if you don’t intervene at the exact moment, the stain penetrates just the same. That’s why reaction time is just as important as technique.

In addition, a well-maintained upholstery:

• Extends the life of the furniture.

• Maintains the visual and tactile quality of the fabric.

• Improves the hygiene of the home (less dust, allergens and dust mites).

• Revalues the furniture in case of resale or transfer.

Types of upholstery and their specific needs

One of the most frequent mistakes is to treat all fabrics as if they were the same. A treated Belgian linen is not the same as an Italian bouclé or a merino wool velvet.

From our direct experience in Beltá Frajumar, these are the essential cares by type of fabric:

Belgian Linen

• Classic: Clean with distilled water and mild soap. Do not rub, but press with gentle movements.

• Treated with Easy Clean: Stains tend to form pearls. They should be absorbed without pressing, with a dry cloth.

• Washing: Machine washable at 40°C. Ideal for households with pets or children.

Bouclé (wool, blended or textured)

• Air dry only.

• In case of dry stains, apply mild soap and clean without rubbing. If it does not give way, professional dry cleaning is necessary.

Merino wool velvet

• Professional intervention required. Dry stains are treated with alcohol, oily stains with AVIO, and water-based stains with warm water and soap before the dry cleaning process.

Performance fabrics (linen-polyester)

• These are the easiest to maintain. The key is regular vacuuming with an upholstery nozzle and localised cleaning with a soap solution.

This knowledge is key to choosing not only how to care for, but what type of upholstery to purchase based on use and lifestyle.

Daily cleaning and preventive maintenance

There are no magic secrets here, but there are habits that make all the difference. I share with you what we always recommend to our customers and what we use in our own facilities:

Weekly routine

• Vacuum with upholstery nozzle at least once a week.

• Check seams and rubbing areas (arms, cushions, corners).

• Ventilate room to reduce humidity.

Prevent wear and tear

• Avoid direct exposure to the sun: UV rays are natural enemies of fabrics, especially linen and cotton.

• Do not place heavy objects on the upholstery for long periods.

• Rotate the cushions (especially in modular sofas) every 15 days.

At Beltá Frajumar, when preparing pieces for showrooms or exhibitions, we apply these principles to keep each product in optimum condition for months of exhibition.

How to deal with stains: techniques and products

Here comes the most critical part. Recent stain? Dry? Greasy? Ink? Each type needs its own protocol.

The basics:

• Two white cloths (never coloured) and warm water.

• Mild soap (can be Woolite, Dawn or even enzymatic baby detergent).

• Spray applicator.

General method (for Performance Linen, for example):

1. Absorb excess without rubbing.

2. Apply diluted soap with spray.

3. Using circular movements, wipe from the outside inwards.

4. Rinse with another damp cloth.

5. Rinse with another damp cloth.

For wine, oil or ink stains, we always recommend at Beltá Frajumar to do a test on a hidden area before applying any solution.

Special care for delicate fabrics

For delicate fabrics, less is more. This is where wool, velvet and untreated natural fibres come into play.

On fabrics such as French wool bouclé, any contact with water can leave irreversible marks. Therefore:

• Dry clean only.

• All steam or ironing should be avoided.

• The only intervention allowed at home is gentle vacuuming.

These types of textiles are jewels of interior design, but require a commitment to professional care.

The case of leather: how to clean it without damaging it

Leather is a world apart. And although many think it is easier to maintain, it can also deteriorate if not cared for correctly.

Golden rules from our experience:

• No waxes, oils or non-specific commercial products.

• Clean with a dry or slightly damp cloth.

• For stubborn stains, use lukewarm water with a drop of neutral soap. Always test before use.

• Direct sunlight is forbidden: it dries, cracks and discolours the leather.

At Beltá Frajumar we work with Italian leathers such as Roma, Cortino and Veneto. Each one has a different behaviour when it comes to heat, humidity and rubbing, and that totally changes the care!

Common mistakes to avoid

🛑 Here are the most common mistakes we have seen over the years:

• Rubbing the stain ‘hard’: it breaks fibres, fixes the colour and aggravates the damage.

• Use generic supermarket products.

• Apply steam or iron to treated fabrics.

• Use coloured cloths that may fade.

• Clean without first testing on hidden area.

• Ignore manufacturer’s data sheet.

These mistakes are literally the difference between a solved stain and a ruined upholstery.

When to go for professional cleaning

Our advice: if the fabric is delicate, expensive or the stain is complicated (red wine, grease, biros, ink…), don’t improvise.

A good specialist company:

• Use hot water extraction equipment.

• Know the drying times for each type of fabric.

• Use certified neutral products.

In Beltá Frajumar we work with companies such as Crevin, Aquiaclean (InterFabrics), Gancedo and other Spanish companies to guarantee impeccable results in white fabrics, bouclés and pure linens.

Practical advice depending on the type of fabric

Here is a mini summary that you can always have at hand:

Well cared for upholstery is eternal upholstery

In the end, caring for upholstery is a gesture of respect for the furniture, for the design, and also for those who use it. In Beltá Frajumar we always say that the best furniture is that which, after years, still has history, texture and elegance.

A well-cared upholstery does not need to be replaced: it needs to be appreciated. And with these techniques, you are sure to get it.