Weekly: brush and vacuum

Use a soft upholstery brush head with low suction. For bouclé, brush in one direction to keep the loops aligned. For velvet, vacuum in the direction of the pile — going against it raises fibres and changes the colour cast.

Spills

Blot, do not rub. A clean white cloth pressed straight down lifts most of a fresh spill. Working from the outside of the mark inward prevents spreading. Do not soak — bouclé especially holds water in its loops.

Stains

For dried marks:

• Water-based (tea, coffee, wine) — Dab with a damp cloth, then dry-blot.
• Oil-based (food grease, makeup) — Sprinkle bicarbonate of soda, leave 15 minutes, brush out, then dab with a tiny amount of mild soap solution.
• Unknown or set-in — Stop and call a professional fabric cleaner before trying more solutions.

Velvet pile reset

If velvet looks crushed where someone has been sitting, steam from a kettle held a few inches away (not touching the fabric) and brush gently with a soft brush. The pile recovers.

Sun and rotation

Both fabrics fade unevenly if one part is in direct sunlight. Rotate cushions monthly and consider sheers on south-facing windows.

When to call a pro

For anything bigger than a side-plate, or any stain you have already tried to remove without success, professional upholstery cleaning is the safe call. It costs less than re-covering.