How to clean linen fabric upholstery

We've all been there – a red wine spill on your new white linen fabric sofa, or a muddy dog print on a draping curtain. Don't panic, thanks to linen's amazing inherent resilience it's usually pretty easy to clean. Follow these tips to get it back to its normal gorgeous self in no time.

If you've made your own linen sofa covers, soft furnishings or cushions and are wondering how to clean them in a way that won't damage the fabric, we've got all you need to know about cleaning linen upholstery and maintaining your living room or bedroom furniture beautifully.

Types of upholstery fabric

Before we get on to ways to clean linen upholstery, it's important to recognize the specific type of fabric you want to clean. Linen has been used as an upholstery fabric for hundreds of years, thanks to its durability and comfortable feel. It's tough enough to withstand lots of wear (it's said to be 30% stronger than cotton), yet also looks elegant and stylish.

But what are the other types of fabrics you might find on furniture?

• Cotton - brushed or plain, cotton is a commonly used upholstery fabric. It's hard wearing and machine washable, and comes in a range of colors.
• Leather - with a slick, old school look, leather is a popular easy-clean choice for sofas and chairs, but it can feel sticky and sweaty on the skin.
• Velvet - with a plush, luxe look velvet is widely used to cover furniture, but it's less durable than other fabrics.
• Corduroy - thicker than regular cotton and with a distinctive weave, corduroy makes a definite style statement but may look dated quickly.
• Synthetics and blends - these might combine a manmade fabric like polyester with a natural fabric, meaning they have some of the benefits of the natural materials but will still feel less comfortable against the skin and may be less hard wearing than linen fabric.

How to clean removable linen fabric loose covers

With any type of linen upholstery it's important to regularly vacuum clean the surface. This prevents dirt and grime getting pressed into the fabric fibers, and so become much harder to clean. You can also brush to remove surface dirt and dust. If this hasn't achieved a sufficient result or removed the stain, you will need to wash your loose covers.

Remove the slipcovers and if you're treating spills, place an old towel or kitchen paper underneath. To treat a stubborn stain, apply a pre-wash stain remover to the area. A sprinkle of baking soda or white vinegar solution will be effective at lifting stains from fabric, and there are commercial stain removal products available in stores.

When applying stain remover, dab gently - don't rub - and work inwards towards the centre of the mark. This stops the stain becoming more ingrained or spreading. Test for colour-fastness and make sure there's no damage to the fabric before treating a visible area of fabric.

Use a mild detergent on a cool (not cold or hot water) machine wash, according to the fabric's care instructions. Once washed, hang to air dry, using sunshine as an additional bleaching agent if your linen fabric is white or cream. Iron while still damp if you want to remove any natural wrinkles.

Some linen fabrics may shrink after washing so it's worth checking that your upholstery fabric has been pre-washed to prevent this.

Tips for spot cleaning fixed linen upholstery

If you can't remove your linen upholstery then spot cleaning is the best way of cleaning stains and marks on your covers. Dry cleaning is obviously not an option for upholstery cleaning of fixed covers. If in doubt, call in a professional upholstery cleaner – you've invested money in the covers and don't want to ruin your linen couch. This could save money in the long run.

Due to the difficulty cleaning upholstered fabric it's wise to choose darker colors that will not show up dirt as much as white or pale tones when buying upholstery fabric. But be aware that some cleaning products may remove some dye and lighten your linen fabric, so test the product on a hidden area first so you don't damage the fabric.

If you're keen to clean your linen upholstery yourself, apply a small amount of mild detergent or a commercial sofa cleaning solution, on a light-coloured damp cloth or sponge to the stain or mark on the covers. Work inwards and making sure not to rub it further into the linen upholstery fabric.

Linen upholstery benefits

Now you know how best to clean linen furniture covers, it's worth remembering all the benefits of this amazing fabric:

• Linen is durable and hard-wearing, giving you more wear for your money and reducing our carbon footprint with less waste
• With natural antimicrobial and antiallergenic properties, linen fabrics are kind to the skin. This makes them a great choice for those with sensitive skins and young children
• Furniture upholstered in linen loose covers is easy to care for, and even gets softer with each wash
• Vacuuming and brushing linen helps prevent dirt becoming ingrained, and linen upholstery has naturally stain-resistant properties
• Natural fabrics don't give off chemical residue or contain plastic particles, making them a more sustainable, environmentally friendly choice for upholstery

Keep these qualities in mind when choosing your upholstery fabric, and remember to follow our tips as well as your fabric's care instructions when cleaning upholstered furniture covered with linen. Some fabrics can't be washed, need dry cleaning or require professional cleaning to remove stains or dirt.

Whenever cleaning large items of furniture or expensive home textiles it's a good idea to wash or clean with care to prolong the fabric's life and ensure it looks good for longer.