How to Clean an Armchair: Fabric, Velvet, Bouclé

How to Clean an Armchair: Bouclé, Velvet and Vegan Leather

By Alexandra PetterssonReviewed by Alexander TjernströmUpdated 27 September 2026

Short answer

Weekly: vacuum with a soft brush
Blot: never rub a fresh spill
Soap: lukewarm water and mild soap

Vacuum an armchair once a week with a soft brush attachment, blot a spill straight away with a dry cloth, then dab the mark with lukewarm water and a little mild soap, working from the edge inwards, and let it air-dry. Never scrub bouclé or velvet, and never use bleach, solvents or abrasive sponges. Vegan leather wipes clean, and oak and steel frames need only a damp cloth.

An armchair collects a particular kind of dirt: hair and crumbs in the seat, hand marks on the arms, and the occasional cup of coffee or glass of wine. Most of it comes off easily if you get to it quickly and treat the fabric the right way; most lasting damage comes from scrubbing, heat and strong cleaners. This guide gives the weekly routine for any upholstered armchair, what to do the moment something spills, the specific care for bouclé, velvet and vegan leather, and how to look after oak and steel frames. It is written for the fabrics and finishes on our own armchairs.

How do you clean an armchair?

Vacuum it weekly with a soft brush attachment, blot spills at once, and clean marks by dabbing with lukewarm water and a little mild soap.

For a mark or a spill, work in this order:

Blot, do not rub, with a dry white cloth to lift as much as you can.
Mix a few drops of mild soap into lukewarm water.
Dampen a soft cloth, without soaking it, and dab from the edge of the mark inwards.
Dab with clean water to take away the soap, then with a dry cloth.
Let the cushion air-dry, away from radiators and direct sun.

Test anything stronger than soap and water on a hidden spot first, such as the underside of a cushion.

How do you clean a bouclé armchair?

Vacuum it often on a low setting, blot spills quickly and dab with lukewarm water and mild soap; never scrub, which pulls and flattens the loops.

Bouclé's loops hold crumbs and hair, so a weekly vacuum with a soft brush keeps it fresh. If a loop catches, do not pull or cut it; ease it back into the weave.

Our Dolly bouclé is rated at 50,000 Martindale and claw-safe tested to BS 8479. It comes in Ivory, Greige and Black on Kent and Einar.

Close-up of the Armchair Kent featuring a soft ivory bouclé cushion and sleek black frame. — Ivory bouclé on Kent: vacuum on low, never scrub.View Kent

Kent ArmchairGreige bouclé · hides crumbs · from €739View Kent

How do you clean a velvet armchair?

Blot spills straight away, dab with lukewarm water and mild soap, and brush the pile back into place with a soft brush once it is dry.

Rubbing crushes the pile and leaves a shiny patch, so velvet is always blotted and dabbed. Pressure marks from sitting brush out the same way.

Our Matteo velvet is 100% polyester with a water-repellent finish, so a spill beads on the surface for a moment and gives you time to blot it. Vacuum it with the direction of the pile. It comes on Kent.

How do you clean a vegan leather armchair?

Wipe it with a soft cloth, lukewarm water and a little mild soap, then dry with a clean cloth; it needs no conditioner.

Vegan leather is a coated fabric, so spills stay on the surface. Most marks come off with water alone; the arms, where hands rest, benefit from a wipe every week or two.

Our Valencia vegan leather carries the PERMABLOK3 easy-clean finish and is rated at 300,000 Martindale. Avoid alcohol-based cleaners and solvents, which can dull the surface. It comes on Kent and Einar.

Armchair Einar in jade black leather cushion with black oak frame, featuring a sleek Scandinavian design. — Jade Black vegan leather on Einar, which wipes clean.

How do you remove stains from an armchair?

Act fast: blot, then dab with lukewarm water and mild soap from the outside of the stain inwards, and blot dry; repeat rather than scrub.

The chart below gives the first steps for the stains armchairs meet most often. For anything that will not shift after a few careful attempts, stop and ask a professional upholstery cleaner rather than risk damaging the fabric.

First steps for common armchair stains
Stain	First step	Then
Coffee, tea, wine	Blot with a dry cloth at once	Dab with lukewarm water and mild soap, blot dry
Grease, food	Lift any residue with a spoon	Dab with a mild soap solution, rinse by dabbing
Pet hair	Vacuum with a soft brush	A damp rubber glove lifts the rest
Ink, make-up	Do not add water yet	Test a mild soap solution on a hidden spot first

How do you clean the frame of an armchair?

Wipe a powder-coated steel frame with a damp cloth, and a lacquered oak frame with a damp cloth and a little mild soap; neither needs polish or oil.

Our oak armchairs are sealed with a natural matte lacquer, so they never need oiling. Wipe up standing water, and keep them away from radiators and strong direct sun.

If a cushion is stained for good, replace the cushion, not the chair: every cushion is sold separately. Our guide to re-covering an armchair or replacing its cushions explains how, and our care advice covers the rest of our furniture.

Cleaning in three rules

Weekly: vacuum with a soft brush attachment.
Never scrub: bouclé or velvet; no bleach or solvents.
Damp cloth: for oak and steel frames.

Vacuum weekly, blot spills at once and dab with lukewarm water and mild soap, then let it air-dry. Never scrub bouclé or velvet, and never use bleach, solvents or abrasive sponges. Wipe oak and steel frames with a damp cloth. Kent and Einar are made in our own factory in Malmö, Sweden, delivered fully assembled and covered by a 10-year warranty.

Frequently asked questions

How do you clean a fabric armchair?

Vacuum it weekly with a soft brush, blot spills at once, and dab marks with lukewarm water and mild soap. Never scrub, and let it air-dry.

How do you get a stain out of a bouclé armchair?

Blot it dry at once, dab with lukewarm water and mild soap from the edge inwards, and blot again. Never scrub or pull the loops.

Can you use a carpet cleaner on an armchair?

Check the fabric's care instructions and test it on a hidden spot first. For most marks, lukewarm water and mild soap on a soft cloth is safer and enough.

How do you clean a velvet armchair at home?

Blot spills, dab with lukewarm water and mild soap, and brush the pile back into place when dry. Vacuum with the direction of the pile.

How do you get pet hair off an armchair?

Vacuum with a soft brush attachment, then run a slightly damp rubber glove over the fabric to lift what is left.

How often should you clean an armchair?

Vacuum weekly, deal with spills at once, and give the arms of a vegan leather chair a wipe every week or two.