How to Clean Upholstered Dining Chairs

How to Clean Upholstered Dining Chairs: Leather, Velvet and Bouclé

By Alexandra PetterssonReviewed by Alexander TjernströmUpdated 27 September 2026

Short answer

Blot: never rub a fresh spill
Soap: lukewarm water and mild soap
Air-dry: away from heat and sun

Blot a spill straight away with a dry cloth, then clean with lukewarm water, a little mild soap and a soft cloth, dabbing from the edge of the mark inwards, and let it air-dry. Never scrub velvet or bouclé, and never use bleach, solvents or abrasive sponges. Vegan leather wipes clean, and the frames need only a damp cloth.

Dining chairs get dirty in a way no sofa does: food, drink and hands, several times a day. The good news is that most marks come off with nothing stronger than lukewarm water and mild soap, as long as you get to them quickly and treat the fabric the right way. This guide gives the basic routine for any upholstered dining chair, the specific care for vegan leather, velvet and bouclé, how to look after oak and steel frames, and what to do when a seat is past saving. It is written for the fabrics and finishes we use on our own chairs.

How do you clean an upholstered dining chair?

Vacuum it regularly with a soft brush attachment, blot spills the moment they happen, and clean marks with lukewarm water, a little mild soap and a soft cloth.

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 seat air-dry, away from radiators and direct sun.

Test anything stronger than soap and water on a hidden spot first, and never use bleach, solvents or abrasive sponges on upholstery.

How do you clean vegan leather dining chairs?

Wipe them with a soft cloth, lukewarm water and a little mild soap, then dry with a clean cloth.

Vegan leather is a coated fabric, so spills sit on the surface instead of soaking in, and most marks come off with water alone. Unlike animal leather, it needs no conditioner or wax.

Our Valencia vegan leather carries the PERMABLOK3 easy-clean finish and is rated at 300,000 Martindale, so regular wiping does it no harm. Avoid alcohol-based cleaners and solvents, which can dull the surface. It comes on Isabell, Bella and Sella.

How do you clean velvet dining chairs?

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.

Close-up of Jade Black velvet, showing the dense short pile — Matteo velvet in Jade Black, water-repellent and rated at 130,000 Martindale.

Rubbing crushes the pile and leaves a shiny patch, so everything on velvet is done by dabbing and blotting.

Our Matteo velvet is a 100% polyester weave with a water-repellent finish, so a spill beads on the surface for a moment and gives you time to blot it. Vacuum it regularly with a soft brush attachment, working with the direction of the pile. It comes on Bella, Isabell and Sella.

How do you clean bouclé dining chairs?

Blot spills quickly and clean by dabbing with lukewarm water and a little mild soap, never by scrubbing, which pulls and flattens the loops.

Close-up of the greige bouclé upholstery used on the Anton bench — Dolly bouclé in Greige: blot spills and never scrub the loops.

Bouclé hides everyday wear well, but its loops hold on to crumbs, so vacuum it often with a soft brush attachment on a low setting.

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 is claw-safe tested to BS 8479, so it copes with daily family life. It comes in Black, Ivory and Greige on Isabell, Bella, Karin and Erik.

How do you clean the frame of a dining chair?

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

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

The chart below sums up the everyday care for each material on our dining chairs.

Karin Dining ChairLacquered oak · no oiling · from €489View Karin

Everyday care per material, by Crea dining chairs
Material	Everyday care	Spills	Avoid
Vegan leather	Wipe with a damp cloth	Wipe off with mild soap	Solvents, alcohol cleaners
Velvet	Vacuum with the pile	Blot, then dab	Rubbing, heat
Bouclé	Vacuum on low	Blot, then dab	Scrubbing, pulling loops
Lacquered oak	Damp cloth, mild soap	Wipe up at once	Standing water, direct heat
Powder-coated steel	Damp cloth	Wipe off	Abrasive sponges

What if a dining chair seat is stained for good?

Replace the seat instead of the chair: seats and seat cushions for our dining chairs are sold separately and can be changed at home.

We do not offer a re-covering service. Instead, the part that wears is the part you can replace, so a stain that will not shift never means a new chair.

A new seat is also a chance to change fabric, from velvet to vegan leather for a young family, for example. Our guide to reupholstering or replacing a dining chair seat explains the options for each model, and our care advice covers the rest of our furniture.

Cleaning in three rules

Blot: first, then dab from the edge of the mark inwards.
Never scrub: velvet or bouclé; no bleach, solvents or abrasives.
Damp cloth: for steel and lacquered oak frames.

Blot first, then dab with lukewarm water and mild soap, and let it air-dry. Never scrub velvet or bouclé, and never use bleach, solvents or abrasive sponges. Wipe steel and lacquered oak frames with a damp cloth. If a seat is past saving, replace the seat, not the chair. Every by Crea dining chair is 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 fabric dining chairs?

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

Can you use a carpet cleaner on dining chairs?

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 get red wine out of a dining chair?

Blot as much as you can with a dry cloth straight away, then dab with lukewarm water and mild soap from the edge inwards, and blot dry.

How do you clean a bouclé chair?

Blot spills quickly, dab with lukewarm water and mild soap, and vacuum on a low setting. Never scrub, and never pull a loop that has caught.

Does vegan leather need conditioning?

No. It is a coated fabric, not animal leather. Wipe it with lukewarm water and mild soap, and avoid solvents and alcohol-based cleaners.

How do you clean an oak dining chair?

With a damp cloth and a little mild soap. Our oak is sealed with a matte lacquer, so it never needs oiling; just wipe up standing water.