How do I take care of my velvet products?

Removing marks on velvet.

The most common cause of marks on a velvet fabric sofa or chair is the crushing of the velvet pile fibres. This can cause darker or lighter-looking lines in the fabric and a change in the texture

Light marks can be removed with a soft clothes brush, brushing gently in the direction of the nap.

Heavier or stubborn marks can be removed with a suede brush which you can get from any good cobblers or homeware/DIY store. A suede brush is a small brush that typically has metal bristles on one side and rubber bristles on the other. Try the rubber side of the suede brush first and brush the mark in the direction of the nap. If that doesn’t work gently brush in the direction of the nap with the bristle side, using only the tips of the bristles and being very careful not to poke them through the fabric.

How to keep velvet from getting marks.

Here are a few key ways to help you keep your velvet sofas and chairs from getting marked in the first place:

• Don’t leave things resting on the sofa. Anything with hard edges, including TV remotes, books or magazines can leave lines in the velvet if left sitting on it for long enough.
• Brush your sofa regularly (we recommend once a week) with a soft clothes brush, being careful to brush in the direction of the nap of the fabric. If wrinkles or creases do mark your velvet, use a steamer to ease them out; never use an iron on velvet, as it will thoroughly crush the nap.

Tips for keeping it clean.

• Always work in the direction of the nap of the fabric when brushing.
• Remove any loose dirt with a soft clothes brush or vacuum cleaner first.
• Any damp spills should be gently dabbed (not rubbed!) with a dry, colourfast, absorbent cloth, working from the outside of the spill into the middle to avoid spreading it.
• To clean you can use a specialist upholstery or carpet cleaning solution. Most water-based solutions will be suitable. Always test any cleaners on a small hidden area of the fabric first, to check it does not damage the fabric. Read all instructions thoroughly. Avoid dampening or soaking the fabric as this may cause shrinking or water staining. Instead, lightly spray the area with the diluted cleaning solution and gently wipe off in the direction of the nap, with a dry absorbent colourfast cloth.