A non-removable fabric armchair is a real pain to clean! If you’ve got one at home, I don’t need to spell it out for you… In fact, it’s perhaps the only thing you can say against fabric armchairs: how do you clean them properly? Even if you’re careful, you’re never safe from a fruit juice spill or a tomato sauce stain… Fortunately, you don’t have to spend a fortune on a professional home cleaning service. Here, I show you that deep-cleaning chair fabric is a lot easier than you think. Here’s how to do it yourself without leaving any stains. What you need:

  • vacuum cleaner
  • basin
  • 3 microfiber cloths
  •  demineralized water
  • dishwashing liquid
  • white vinegar
  • fan (optional)

 How to clean a fabric armchair

  1. Attach the small brush attachment to your vacuum cleaner.
  2. Carefully vacuum the entire surface of the fabric.
  3. In the basin, mix: 1-pint distilled water, 1 tablespoon white vinegar, 1 tablespoon washing-up liquid
  4. Soak the first microfiber cloth in this magic mixture.
  5. Gently wipe the upholstery, paying particular attention to stained areas.
  6. Use the second microfiber cloth soaked in distilled water to wipe the fabric and blot up the cleaner.
  7. Use the last cloth to wipe dry.
  8. Put the chair in front of a fan to dry faster.

Result: the stains on the chair are gone! Now you know how to clean a non-removable fabric chair. Easy, quick and effective, isn’t it?

Well, now that you know the basics of my technique, let’s take it a step further… Here are 3 extra tips that will make you a real pro at cleaning fabric upholstery:

  1. Always test on an inconspicuous surface This is very, very important: Before applying the magic potion of water, vinegar and washing-up liquid, always do a test. After all, you never know how a fabric will react… because there are so many different fabrics! Once, my friend Sophie used the wrong amount of vinegar and her beautiful velvet fabric faded. Ouch! So, to avoid disaster, test your magic potion on a small, inconspicuous area. Most often, it’s on the underside of the seat. And I insist: be 100% sure that the product works as it should! And only then can you start vacuuming your chair.
  2. Don’t skip the vacuuming step Some may say that vacuuming before cleaning isn’t really necessary. Indeed, the question arises… Why bother taking out your appliance if you’re going to apply a cleaner right afterwards? In fact, it’s not for nothing: it’s to remove micro-crumbs and residues trapped between the fabric fibers. Because if you don’t vacuum them up, you’ll just end up smearing them onto and into the fabric fibers! As a result, all of a sudden, easy cleaning becomes a complicated affair! So, take it from me: don’t skip this step.
  3. Don’t scrub too hard Reminder: For this cleaning, I recommended that you wipe the fabric gently with a cloth soaked in homemade cleaner. Mind you, I said gently. Above all, don’t make the mistake of rubbing like hell! If you rub too hard, you risk damaging the fabric fibers.

And how do I remove one or two stains? Does your armchair have just one or two stains on its fabric cover? Don’t waste your money on a commercial stain remover full of all kinds of weird chemicals. Instead, make your own homemade stain remover. Plus, it’s as easy as pie. How to:

  1. In a spray bottle, put 1 teaspoon of liquid detergent.
  2. Fill the rest of the bottle with water.
  3. Spray this express stain remover directly onto the stains.
  4. Rub gently with a microfiber cloth.
  5. Wipe the fabric with a damp cloth.
  6. If possible, dry the chair in sunlight.

No more stains! Every time I use this stain remover, I’m speechless. The result is impeccable. Who’d have thought it? With just a little detergent and water! Of course, as always, test the stain on an inconspicuous area first. Sometimes, for stubborn stains, I also use an old soft-bristled toothbrush. And a word of advice: go easy on the amount of detergent. As a rule, they are very concentrated. Likewise, if you use this method, I recommend you put on household gloves. Or at least remember to rinse your hands thoroughly when you’ve finished. After all, washing powder can be very harsh on the sensitive skin of your hands.