Sofa Cleaning and Care Guide for Hotels and Rentals

Upholstery Cleaning Codes Explained

The codes come from the Drycleaning & Laundry Institute (DLI). They point you to a cleaning route but aren’t complete instructions. If the code on the label and the care sheet disagree, ask the supplier which applies before cleaning, rather than choosing whichever suits the product you have.

What a Sofa Care Sheet Should Include

• Identity: model or order reference, fabric code and colour, and any different fabric on separate panels or cushions.
• Routine cleaning: the permitted vacuum head or brush, suction setting and pile direction.
• Spills and stains: the approved method and products, restrictions, and when to call a professional.
• Removable parts: which covers may come off and how they are cleaned, dried and refitted.
• Cushions: whether they can be plumped, turned or rotated.
• Other surfaces: separate instructions for wood, metal or other finishes.

If the fabric changes before production, ask for updated instructions; a sheet for the sample fabric may not fit the delivered one. On projects with many rooms, note which pieces each sheet covers, and hand the sheet and any treatment history to each new cleaning team.

Vacuuming: Which Attachment Is Safe?

“Vacuum regularly” doesn’t approve a powered rotary brush. Kvadrat’s maintenance guide, for example, calls for a suitable upholstery nozzle and vacuuming velour and chenille in the direction of the pile. Check the care sheet for the head and setting; if it only says “vacuum”, use a brush-free upholstery head until you’ve confirmed otherwise.

Try a small hidden area first, and stop if the head catches yarns, piping or a seam, lifts the cover, or leaves fuzzing or pulled threads. Don’t use brushing to deal with a pulled thread.

Can You Use Bleach on Sofa Upholstery?

Only if the instructions for that exact fabric say so. A white fabric, a polyester label or a W code is not permission. As an example of how specific this is, Kvadrat lists “Do not bleach” for its Proof upholstery; that applies to Proof only, not to other fabrics. If a hotel’s housekeeping uses a particular disinfectant, name it when choosing the fabric and ask for written compatibility.

Removing a Water Ring

A water ring may need professional treatment, and removal isn’t guaranteed. DLI warns that water can leave permanent marks on S-coded fabric. Before adding more water:

• Photograph the mark and note whether it is still damp, what was spilled and what has already been tried.
• Don’t scrub, use a hair dryer or try vinegar or extra detergent to see if the outline moves.
• Give a professional cleaner the fabric reference, care sheet and treatment history.

Kvadrat’s guide also warns against oversaturating upholstery and doesn’t promise complete stain removal.

Does a W Code Allow an Extraction Machine?

No. W permits spot cleaning with water-based foam, not running an extraction machine across a seat. A rental machine labelled “for upholstery” describes the machine, not your fabric. Kvadrat’s guide treats extraction and steam separately, advises against steam cleaners and warns against oversaturation, with drying required before use.

Before any deep clean, confirm with the sofa supplier: is the process approved for the fabric and its backing; which agent and dilution; fixed upholstery, loose cushions or both; and the drying and return-to-use checks. For hotels, ask housekeeping which machines they already use before choosing the fabric.

Removable and Washable Covers

A zip doesn’t mean the cover is meant to come off. Kvadrat warns that some zipped covers are not designed to be removed, and DLI advises against removing ordinary cushion covers to wash them separately because of shrinkage and damage. A cover designed and labelled for washing is different; confirm which you have.

If removal is approved, ask which covers come off, in what order, the cleaning and drying method, and how to refit. Photograph seams and attachment points first. If a cleaned cover no longer fits, don’t force the zip. If washable covers are a condition of purchase, put that in the order specification.

Plumping Feather-Filled Cushions

Plump feather cushions as the model’s instructions describe. First find out what’s inside: a loose-fill back cushion, a feather wrap around foam, or a fixed upholstered part all need different handling. Plumping reshapes the filling; it doesn’t fix lost seat support.

Return each cushion to its position and orientation, since shaped or layered cushions may not be reversible. Don’t open inner bags or add filling. If plumping no longer restores the shape, or you notice dampness, odour or damaged seams, ask for an assessment.

Care Information for YEINIHOME Sofas

YEINIHOME commonly uses 45D, 50D and 55D foam in layers chosen for the seat, back and model; some models add a goose feather-and-down bag. Ask which applies to each cushion of your model and what maintenance it needs. In your enquiry, send the model or order reference, the fabric code and your specific question, such as the vacuum head or cleaning product you plan to use, rather than asking whether the sofa is “easy to clean”. For fabric choices around a cleaning routine, see the sofa fabric guide.