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How to Properly Vacuum Upholstery

Upholstered furniture collects dust, skin cells, allergens and other particles that can settle deep within the fibres. Understanding how to clean upholstery fabric helps preserve furniture hygiene and longevity – and makes your living space much more comfortable.
Read on to learn what upholstery is, explore the different types, and discover how to clean upholstery with the right vacuum cleaners and techniques.

What is upholstery?

Upholstery is any padded or textile coverings found on furniture – such as couches, chairs, headboards and ottomans. This adds comfort, structure and design to furniture – but it also adds more areas to remove household dust from.

Different types of upholstery fabric

The type of fabric changes both the feeling of your furniture’s upholstery and how best to clean it. Natural and synthetic fabrics have unique properties, requiring precise care to maintain their appearance and durability.
Before you learn how to vacuum upholstery, explore the various natural and synthetic fabrics you’ll commonly find on household furniture.

  • Natural fibres

    There are three common natural fibres found in household furniture.

    • Linen: Made from flax, this fabric is known for being durable and breathable. However, it’s highly absorbent and can be prone to stains or embedded dirt.
    • Cotton: Made from natural plant fibres, cotton is soft and great for airflow. However, cotton absorbs particles easily – and requires a consistent vacuuming schedule to maintain its look and feel.
    • Wool: made from animal fibres (sheep), wool is warm, durable and resilient. Although wool resists wrinkling and piling – which makes it fantastic for everyday furniture – and requires less maintenance, particles can still get lodged within the fibres of wool-based upholstery.

    Because many natural fibres are breathable, they easily catch dirt and dust. One tip is to place an air purifier in any room with high-use furniture (usually the lounge) to capture particles before they’re able to settle on your favourite couch.

  • Synthetics

    Synthetic fabrics are created to resist wear – but they still require quality care. A clear understanding of each fabric type will elevate your results when exploring how to clean upholstery.

    • Polyester: Common in most upholstery because it’s wrinkle-resistant and slow to fade. Regular vacuuming stops dust buildup on the surface.
    • Velvet: Mostly used on luxury furnishings, this fabric is sensitive – so we recommend vacuuming on a low suction setting.
    • Microfibre: Especially soft and stain-resistant, microfibre is used to mimic suede. Because the fabric is dense, allergens and debris can get trapped deep into the material – so use a crevice tool to focus on stubborn areas when vacuuming upholstery of this nature.
    • Rayon: Partially synthetic, rayon appears like natural fibres, except is softer and silkier. Gently vacuum this fabric on low suction, carefully using a crevice tool when cleaning around the seams.
    • Sunbrella: Made to support outdoor furniture, this fabric is fade-proof, durable and easy to maintain. Because it’s outdoors, it requires regular cleaning to remove dirt, supported by an upholstery handheld cleaner.

How to vacuum upholstery

Vacuuming upholstery is about more than just purifying the surface – it’s about reaching every corner, fold and cushion where buildup can occur. For this, we recommend using a handheld vacuum cleaner for targeted areas, in combination with a stick vacuum for larger or wider surfaces.
Keep reading to learn how to clean your couch and any other upholstered furniture in your living space.

  • 1. Attach the crevice tool head

    Start by attaching the crevice tool head to your vacuum. This attachment is engineered to reach into the seams and corners of upholstery, where dirt and dust tend to build up.

  • 2. Remove cushions

    To help navigate your furniture, remove all cushions. This step helps you see hidden dirt, enabling you to vacuum effectively.

  • 3. Eliminate dirt and pet hair from every cushion surface

    Now that your cushions have been removed, give them a shake to loosen any trapped particles in or on them. Then, take a quality cleaner – such as the Dyson Cyclone V10™ vacuum or Dyson Car+Boat handheld vacuum – and lift any embedded dirt and dush from each cushion.

  • 4. Clean your upholstery inner, sides, and backboard

    With the cushions removed, vacuum your furniture, being gentle when going over any seams. A key part of mastering how to clean upholstery fabric is cleaning from the top down. By starting at the top – this could be a headrest or headboard – you prevent falling dust from resettling on clean areas.

  • 5. Reassemble your furniture

    Now that your upholstery has been thoroughly cleaned, place the cushions back onto your furniture and put your vacuum away:
    if you used a corded vacuum, place it back in storage.
    If you used a stick vacuum, place it back on its charger for future use.

Our 3 top tips for cleaning upholstery

Every fabric is unique, which means it can require a little practice to vacuum upholstery correctly. Whether you’re cleaning more delicate materials like velvet or robust fabrics like wool, here are our top three tips to see the best results.

  • 1. Check for loose threads

    Before vacuuming, inspect your upholstery for any loose threads or frayed edges, as vacuuming or brushing these can cause further damage. To minimise obstruction, consider trimming or securing them before you begin.

  • 2. Use a pet hair vacuum

    Pet hair can be stubborn when vacuuming upholstery – and it can come with more than its fair share of unpleasant odours. This is where pet hair vacuums – which are engineered with powerful suction to eliminate pet hair and other particles – can make all the difference.
    For upholstery, machines like the Dyson Gen5detect™ Absolute deliver efficient cleaning – and can be used both as a handheld or stick vacuum.

  • 3. Vacuum regularly

    Frequent vacuuming is key to maintaining your upholstery and keeping your living space comfortable. Dust, dirt and allergens can buildup quickly, and consistent cleaning can stop particles from settling deep into the fabric. That’s why we recommend vacuuming your home’s upholstery once a week.
    For any sudden spills, use an upholstery handheld cleaner immediately to remove stains quickly and keep your furniture in excellent condition.

Discovering how to clean upholstery is just one part of maintaining your home. For more on home cleaning, explore how to clean your carpet with Dyson next.