Posso usar vinagre e bicarbonato em qualquer cadeira estofada?

Não em todas. Funcionam bem em muitos tecidos que aceitam água, mas um tecido com código S ou X não deve levar soluções aquosas. Confirme sempre a etiqueta e faça o teste numa zona escondida antes de aplicar em toda a peça.

Quanto tempo demora uma cadeira de tecido a secar?

Depende da quantidade de água usada, do tecido e da humidade do ar. Com um pano bem torcido e boa ventilação, a superfície seca em poucas horas, mas a espuma pode demorar mais. Só volte a usar a cadeira quando estiver seca ao toque também por baixo.

Com que frequência devo limpar poltronas e cadeiras estofadas?

Aspire-as uma vez por semana e trate os derrames no momento. Uma limpeza mais profunda faz sentido quando o tecido escurece nas zonas de contacto, quando há cheiros ou quando as manchas deixam de sair com o método caseiro.

Fazem limpeza de estofos em toda a área de Lisboa?

A Cleaning Point trabalha em Lisboa e a limpeza de estofos é um extra que se junta aos nossos serviços de limpeza doméstica. Ao marcar, indique quantas cadeiras e poltronas quer tratar para planearmos a visita.

Back to the journal

5 November 2026

Upholstered Chair Cleaning: Guide for Fabric and Armchairs

A clean upholstered chair is done in four steps: read the label, vacuum thoroughly, treat stains with minimal moisture, and let it dry completely. What damages upholstery is almost always excess: too much water, too much force, too much product. In this guide, we explain how to clean fabric chairs, dining chairs, and armchairs at home without fading, shrinking, or marking the fabric, how to treat each type of stain, and when it’s worth handing the job over to a professional team in Lisbon.

In summary

Start with the label. The type of fabric and the cleaning code indicate whether you can use water, solvent, or just vacuuming.
Always vacuum before wetting. Dry dust turns to mud when water is added and spreads dirt.
Test everything in a hidden area and use white cloths to avoid transferring color to the fabric.
Never scrub hard or soak. Gentle touches, from outside to inside, and complete drying in a ventilated area.
Old stains, delicate fabrics, or dirt that returns require professional upholstery cleaning.

Index

Before you start: label, fabric, and test
The materials you need
How to clean fabric chairs, step by step
Armchairs: what changes
How to treat each type of stain
Drying and mistakes that ruin upholstery
How to keep chairs and armchairs clean for longer
When to call a professional cleaning service
Our perspective
Clean upholstery without losing the weekend
Frequently asked questions
Sources

Before you start: label, fabric, and test

The step most people skip is also the one that prevents the most damage. Before choosing a product, identify the fabric and check the label or cleaning codes, and confirm if the cover is removable. The label is usually located under the seat, on the back of the backrest, or under the loose cushion of an armchair.

Many pieces of furniture have a code of one or two letters. The usual reading is as follows:

Code	Meaning	How to clean
W	Accepts water-based products	Warm water with mild detergent, small amount
S	Solvent only, no water	Dry cleaning product suitable for upholstery
WS or SW	Accepts water or solvent	Start with the gentler option, using water
X	No liquids	Only vacuuming and soft brush

The technical principle is always the same, and it is what the Wirecutter guide on sofa cleaning describes based on IICRC guidelines: first identify the fabric and code, test the product, and remove dry dirt before using chemicals, heat, or moisture.

If the cover is removable, follow the label regarding temperature, program, and detergent. Pay attention to fixed covers: for example, on the KJUGE pouf, IKEA indicates that the cover should not be washed, bleached, machine dried, ironed, or dry cleaned; the upholstered structure should only be cleaned with a vacuum or damp cloth. Each manufacturer has its own rules, so the label on your furniture is more important than any general trick.

Finally, the test. Even upholstery product manufacturers ask that you perform a preliminary test on a less visible part of the fabric. Apply a little of the solution under the seat or on the back, wait for it to dry, and check for fading, rings, or texture changes.

The materials you need

You don’t need an arsenal. The essentials for safely cleaning upholstery at home, according to the Sklum guide on fabric sofas, are:

Vacuum cleaner with brush nozzle and ideally a narrow nozzle for crevices and seams.
Clean white microfiber cloths. A colored cloth may release pigment onto light fabric.
Soft-bristled brush to lift fabric fibers and loosen dry dirt.
A bucket and a spray bottle to control the amount of liquid.
Mild detergent diluted in warm water, baking soda, and white vinegar, always after confirming compatibility with the label.
Paper towels, to absorb spills before anything else.

If you have pets, add a rubber glove: slightly dampened, it attracts surface hair from the upholstery more effectively than many adhesive rollers.

How to clean fabric chairs, step by step

This method is suitable for dining chairs, office chairs, and upholstered benches with fabric code W or WS.

Prepare the chair. Remove loose cushions and, if the cover is removable and the label allows, wash it separately. On an office chair, avoid wetting tilt mechanisms, levers, wheels, the metal base, and adjustable armrests.
Vacuum thoroughly. Use the brush nozzle over the entire seat and backrest in overlapping strips, and use the narrow nozzle in seams and the junction between seat and backrest, where crumbs accumulate.
Brush. A soft brush, always in the direction of the fibers, loosens embedded dust. Vacuum again.
Test the solution in a hidden area and wait for it to dry.
Treat localized stains first, using the method from the next section.
Clean the overall surface. Mix warm water with a little mild detergent, dampen a white cloth, and wring it out well. Wipe it gently, in sections, without soaking the foam underneath the fabric.
Remove residue. With another cloth just dampened in clean water, remove the detergent. Soap left in the fabric attracts new dirt.
Dry. Press with a dry cloth to absorb moisture and let the chair dry completely in a ventilated area before using it again.

In a set of six or eight dining chairs, work on one at a time and always use the same dilution. This way, the fabric tone remains uniform across the table.

Armchairs: what changes

Cleaning an armchair follows the same logic, but there is more fabric, more seams, and more hiding places for dust.

Start with the cushions. Remove them, vacuum both sides, and also vacuum the base underneath, which is usually the dirtiest part.
Work from top to bottom: backrest, arms, seat, and finally the skirt or base. The dirt that falls won’t re-soil what you’ve already cleaned.
Pay attention to the arms and the top of the backrest. These are the areas where hand and hair oils darken the fabric. Here, more than anywhere else, use little water and several light passes instead of one wet pass.
Flip the cushions after cleaning, so that wear and light are distributed evenly.
Velvet, chenille, or textured fabrics mark easily. Always brush in the direction of the fibers, and when in doubt, stick to vacuuming.

An old armchair, inherited or with horsehair and springs upholstery, deserves extra care. Don’t proceed alone if you don’t know what fabric it is: this is exactly the case where Wirecutter recommends a professional assessment.

How to treat each type of stain

The golden rule: act quickly, absorb before cleaning, and work from outside to inside, to prevent the stain from spreading. Care instructions from Trevira, for example, ask that you never scrub hard to remove a stain and that you use gentle touches with a damp sponge or cloth.

Stain	First action	How to treat
Wine, coffee, juice	Absorb with paper towels, do not scrub	Water with a few drops of dish detergent, applied gently, from outside to inside
Grease, oil, hands	Remove excess with paper	Sprinkle baking soda on the dry fabric, let it sit for 20 to 30 minutes, and vacuum
Bad odors	Air out the piece	Baking soda on the dry fabric, same sitting time, and complete vacuuming
Mud, dirt	Let it dry	Brush and vacuum the dust; only then treat what remains with mild detergent
Pet hair	Do not wet	Slightly damp rubber glove, followed by vacuuming
Ink, pen, old stains	Do not risk aggressive products	Request professional cleaning, especially on light fabrics

The methods for wine, coffee, grease, and odors come from the Vortex Magazine guide on upholstery and carpets. In all cases, finish with a damp cloth in clean water to remove residue and dry thoroughly.

Drying and mistakes that ruin upholstery

Most damage occurs after cleaning, not during. The most common mistakes are scrubbing the stain hard, using abrasive products like bleach without prior testing, and using the upholstery before it is completely dry. Add these:

Soaking the fabric. Water that reaches the foam takes time to escape, leaves rings, and can develop a damp smell.
Speeding up drying with heat. Keep chairs away from direct sunlight, radiators, and fireplaces, which can fade colors and dry materials. Prefer open windows and airflow.
Mixing products. Use one solution at a time and rinse between attempts.
Using colored cloths or hard brushes on light or delicate fabrics.
Ignoring the label because a trick worked on another piece. What works on polyester fabric may mark linen or velvet.

In Lisbon, during the humid winter months, a chair may take much longer to dry than in summer. Plan cleaning for a dry day and only sit back down when the fabric is dry to the touch underneath as well.

How to keep chairs and armchairs clean for longer

Maintenance is what makes a cleaning last months instead of weeks. The recommended routine involves vacuuming weekly to remove dust, pet hair, and dust mites, protecting pieces from direct sunlight, avoiding dragging chairs, and treating any spills immediately.

Some simple habits help:

Keep paper towels and a white cloth handy in the dining room to act in the first few minutes.
Rotate the chairs around the table occasionally: the end ones tend to wear out and get dirtier faster.
Place washable throws on armchairs where pets usually lie down.
If someone at home has a dust allergy, DECO PROteste suggests opening windows, wearing a mask, and leaving the room for 20 to 30 minutes after vacuuming, and that the vacuum cleaner’s bin be emptied by someone else. In case of diagnosed asthma or allergy, follow your doctor’s or allergist’s instructions.

If you want to fit upholstery into a complete home routine, our cleaning calendar by room helps distribute tasks throughout the week and month.

When to call a professional cleaning service

There are situations where the best results come from those who clean upholstery every day. Turn to a professional for old stains, delicate or heavily worn fabrics, or when dirt returns quickly. The same applies when you cannot identify the fabric, when the piece is old, has a complex weave, or is very dirty.

Other times when it makes sense:

Before moving in or out of a rented house, when chairs and armchairs are part of the inventory.
In holiday homes or second residences, where upholstery sits unused for months and accumulates dust and stale odors.
After renovations, when fine dust penetrates deep into the fabric.
When you want to treat all pieces at once, with the same standard of results throughout the house.

To better understand what the service involves, we have gathered everything in our professional upholstery cleaning guide.

Our perspective

We enter homes in Lisbon every week where chairs and armchairs are the most used and least remembered pieces. The floor and kitchen are cleaned regularly, but upholstery is left for later, until the stain on the arm of the armchair no longer comes out with a cloth.

That’s why we treat upholstery as part of home care and not as an isolated task. Upholstery cleaning is one of the extras you can add to a regular visit or a deep clean, and follows the same principle as everything we do: detailed checklists, the same standard regardless of the professional, and, whenever possible, the same team in your home.

Our professionals are selected and trained by us, without random third parties, which matters a lot when it comes to entering your home and handling pieces you care about. If something doesn’t turn out as expected, we resolve it quickly. And you can talk to us in several languages, which helps those who have recently moved to Lisbon or manage a home from afar.

Taras

Clean upholstery without losing the weekend

If you prefer others to take care of the dining room chairs, your favorite armchair, and the rest of the house, Cleaning Point offers upholstery cleaning in Lisbon as an extra to any service. You can add it to a Signature deep clean, a regular clean, or a move-in or move-out clean.

Cleaningpoint

See all the available services and extras, including upholstery, windows, ovens, and balconies, or book your cleaning directly.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use vinegar and baking soda on any upholstered chair?

Not on all. They work well on many fabrics that accept water, but a fabric with code S or X should not be treated with aqueous solutions. Always check the label and test in a hidden area before applying to the entire piece.

How long does it take for a fabric chair to dry?

It depends on the amount of water used, the fabric, and the humidity in the air. With a well-wrung cloth and good ventilation, the surface dries in a few hours, but the foam may take longer. Only use the chair again when it is dry to the touch underneath as well.

How often should I clean armchairs and upholstered chairs?

Vacuum them once a week and treat spills immediately. A deeper clean makes sense when the fabric darkens in contact areas, when there are odors, or when stains stop coming out with the home method.

Do you clean upholstery throughout the Lisbon area?

Cleaning Point operates in Lisbon, and upholstery cleaning is an extra that can be added to our domestic cleaning services. When booking, indicate how many chairs and armchairs you want to treat so we can plan the visit.