Find the cleaning code before you touch anything
The single most useful thing on a sofa is a small label you have probably never read. Upholstery carries a standard cleaning code, usually on a tag under a seat cushion, on the deck beneath the cushions, or underneath the frame.
Four letters, and they decide everything:
- W — water-based cleaners only. Mild detergent solution or a foam upholstery cleaner. Common on synthetics such as polyester, nylon and acrylic. Note that this does not mean machine washable, and it does not mean saturating it.
- S — solvent only. Water will leave rings, shrink the fabric or bleed the dye. Use a water-free dry-cleaning solvent in a ventilated room. Frequently the code on natural fibres such as linen, wool and silk.
- W/S or WS — either method is permitted. Start with the gentler one.
- X — vacuum and light brushing only. No liquid of any kind, water or solvent. Anything wet risks shrinkage and permanent texture damage.
If the tag has gone, check the manufacturer's warranty paperwork or ask the retailer. If you cannot establish the code, treat the piece as X and call a professional. Using water on an S-coded fabric is the most common way people ruin a sofa at home, and it is not reversible.
Vacuum more, clean less
The routine matters more than the deep clean. Grit and dust work into the weave and cut the fibres every time somebody sits down, which is what makes upholstery look tired long before it is worn out.
- Vacuum weekly with the upholstery attachment, including under and behind the cushions.
- Use the crevice tool along seams and piping where dust collects.
- Turn and rotate cushions so wear and compression spread evenly.
- Keep it out of direct sunlight, which fades fabric and dries out leather.
- Wipe with a barely damp cloth on W or W/S fabrics between vacuums.
Dealing with spills
Speed, then restraint. Most permanent damage comes from what people do in the first five minutes.
- Blot immediately with a clean white cloth. Coloured cloths transfer their own dye.
- Never rub. Rubbing pushes the spill into the foam and frays the fibres.
- Work from the outside inwards, so the edge does not spread.
- Check the code, then test whatever you plan to use on a hidden patch, under the base or behind a cushion, and let it dry fully before treating the visible area.
- Use warm water, never hot. Heat sets stains and can shrink fabric.
- Do not oversaturate. Moisture trapped in foam causes mildew, smell and water rings that are worse than the original stain.
- Dry it properly with towels and a fan, and do not put cushions back until they are completely dry through.
Leather is a different job
Leather is not fabric and it does not want the same treatment.
Dust it and wipe with a barely damp cloth. Nothing more aggressive. Avoid household sprays, baby wipes, solvents and anything containing alcohol, all of which strip the finish.
Condition it once or twice a year with a product intended for the finish your leather has, since aniline, semi-aniline and pigmented leathers behave differently. Keep it away from radiators and direct sun, both of which dry and crack it. For anything beyond routine wiping, particularly ink, dye transfer from clothing, or scuffs, go to a specialist. Leather is expensive to replace and easy to make worse.
Prevention, honestly assessed
The classic advice is not to eat on the sofa, which almost nobody follows. More realistic:
- Throws and washable covers on the seats that get the most use, which are far easier to launder than the sofa is to clean.
- Deal with spills immediately rather than when the programme ends.
- Keep pets off, or accept the covers.
- Consider a fabric protector on new upholstery, applied professionally, which buys you time on spills rather than preventing them.
Upholstery, moving day and storage
A sofa is usually the largest and most awkward thing in a house, and it takes the most damage in a move.
Before it goes on the van, it should be wrapped. Proper sofa and mattress covers keep dirt, moisture and door frames off the fabric, and they are cheap compared with a re-upholstery bill. Ours are in the packing shop. Measure doorways and stairwell turns first: a sofa that will not fit is a problem discovered at the worst possible moment.
Going into storage, three rules matter:
- Clean and completely dry first. Anything stored with moisture in the foam develops mould, and food residue attracts moths and insects.
- Cover it breathably. Sheeting or purpose-made covers rather than sealed plastic, which traps condensation against the fabric.
- Do not stack anything heavy on it, and stand it on something rather than directly on a floor.
Wool and other natural-fibre upholstery is vulnerable to moths in the same way a wool rug is, so a thorough clean before storage is not optional. Our container storage is dry, clean and ventilated, but preparation is what determines the condition it comes back in.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the cleaning code on a sofa? Usually on a tag under a seat cushion, on the deck beneath the cushions, along the base, or underneath the frame. If it is missing, check the warranty paperwork or ask the retailer.
What does code S mean on upholstery? Solvent only. Water-based cleaning will risk rings, shrinkage or colour bleeding, so use a water-free dry-cleaning solvent with good ventilation, or have it cleaned professionally.
Can I use a steam cleaner on my sofa? Only on W or W/S fabrics, and cautiously. Steam is a water-based method, so it must never be used on S or X codes, and over-wetting the foam causes mildew and water marks.
How often should upholstery be cleaned? Vacuum weekly, and have a professional clean every one to two years depending on use. Deal with spills as they happen rather than waiting for a deep clean.
How do I clean a leather sofa? Dust and wipe with a barely damp cloth, condition once or twice a year with a product suited to the leather type, and keep it away from radiators and direct sunlight. Avoid solvents, alcohol and household sprays entirely.
How should I store a sofa? Clean and dry it thoroughly, cover it with breathable material rather than plastic, keep it off the floor, and put nothing heavy on top. Natural-fibre upholstery needs particular care against moths.
How we can help
RMV Storage & Removals has moved furniture across London for over fifteen years, with house and office removals, professional cleaning, protective covers and materials, and container storage delivered to your door, across every area we cover.
For the equivalent on floors, see our guide to carpet and rug care, or the moving house checklist if a move is coming. Otherwise get in touch.
Written by Riki Migliori, Director at RMV Storage & Removals. Originally published May 2015. Fully reviewed and updated summer 2026.