Velvet is a fabric that has its spark, charm, and brightness until and unless it gets ugly by dirt or any kind of stains. People love wearing and using velvet clothes due to the shine and freshness of the color but they fear cleaning it because a little carelessness in cleaning velvet clothes can damage the fabric. To clean velvet clothes, it’s necessary to understand the nature or type of velvet being used in the material. 

Nature or type of the Velvet:

We can classify it into two main types; namely pure velvet and polyester or crushed velvet.

1. Pure velvet:

The only best way to clean the pure velvet is dry cleaning.

2. Polyester or crushed velvet:

It can be cleaned by machine washing, hand washing, etc. but in cold water, because hot water can damage the fabric.

Types of cleaning velvet clothes

To maintain the velvet clothes stay longer, it’s best to clean them as soon as possible after being stained. There are various ways to clean velvet clothing.

Vacuum

To dry clean the velvet fabric, especially used on couches and other furniture items, a vacuum can be used which has a soft-bristle attachment. It can easily remove dirt and debris from inner or unreachable corners and cracks.

Hairdryer

It can also be used to remove dirt and debris from upholstery and other velvet-covered items.

Use of brush

A fabric brush is very important to clean velvet clothes. It removes lint and debris from the surface of velvet fabric. To improve the age of velvet clothes, it is recommended that they should be brushed after every wear.

Spot treating or spot cleaning:

For spot treating, use the stained bar or soap to remove the stain. Wet the soap and work on the stained area. After the removal of the stain, remove all the soap and dirt and let it dry.

Pretreatment of stains:

Stain solutions can be used to pretreat the stains, especially protein stains or tannin stains. For example; the stains of ink, grass, blood, urine, coffee, wine, etc.

Stain bars can be used to remove oily stains, grease, makeup, dirt, etc.

Presoaking the velvet items:

Scented vinegar mixed with cold water can be used as an odor eliminator on velvet clothes by presoaking the fabric for 30 minutes.

Diluted natural solutions:

Heavily diluted solutions can be used to clean the stains from velvet clothes easily. But before applying any mixture or solution, do a patch test on a small piece of fabric to avoid any damage.

Hand washing the velvet clothes:

For hand washing, use soap with water and whisk it properly until it makes good leather. Then soaked the velvet clothes in it and wash them with delicate hands. After agitating, rub the stain properly until it disappears. Then rinse well with water to remove all the soap and dirt.

Machine washing the velvet:

For machine washing the velvet, select the gentle cycle on the washing machine at a low spin pace. Put a suitable amount of water and soap in it. Then put the velvet cloth in it. On completion of the cycle, take the velvet cloth out of the machine and check whether the stain disappears or not. If not repeat the cycle until it disappears. Then rinse off the water and detergent from the velvet cloth and let it dry.

Dish soap:

Grease-fighting dish soap is highly recommended for the removal of stains. In this method, two drops of soap are mixed in one or two cups of water. A lint-free cloth is dipped in the solution and used to clean the velvet clothes.

Drying:

Dry the velvet clothes in shadow and airy places by laying them flat or hanging. The dryer can be used to dry the velvet clothes by placing them at a low pace. It is important to dry the velvet fabric fully since it takes more time than other fabrics in drying.

Steaming:

Steam the velvet clothes after washing to remove wrinkles.

Hanging:

Choose a suitable hanger for velvet clothes such as padded hangers. When choosing the hanger for velvet clothes, it should be kept in mind that clips of the hanger can leave stains or marks on the fabric.

Storing:

Storing velvet clothes is very important as little carelessness can harm the texture of the fabric. To prevent a velvet fabric from bugs and other damaging creatures, store the item in a breathable storage bag made up of cotton.

The freshness of velvet clothes:

To maintain the freshness of velvet clothes, use a fabric freshener spray from time to time between wears.

THINGS TO AVOID:

Usage of harsh chemicals:

Avoid the usage of harsh chemicals like bleach etc while washing velvet clothes because it can damage the texture and fade the color of the fabric.

Avoid contacting with lint producing materials:

Because of the temperamental nature of the fabric, it easily attracts the lint of other clothes which are difficult to detach. So as prevention, use lint-free materials while washing or cleaning the velvet.

Avoid contact with direct sunlight

Avoid hanging in direct sunlight because the ultraviolet rays of the sun can fade the color of the velvet clothes.

Avoid biological and non-biological detergents

Avoid biological and non-biological detergents because they make the solution alkaline. Alkaline solutions aren’t effective because they fade the color of velvet clothes.

Avoid hot water

Always wash velvet clothes with cold water because hot water can damage the fiber.

Avoid ironing

Never iron velvet clothes to remove wrinkles because ironing can damage the fabric of velvet. It can flatten or crush the natural pile of the fabric.

Avoid wringing

Gently press the water out of the velvet clothes instead of wringing.

Avoid folding

Avoid folding velvet clothes, instead, use padded hangers to hang velvet clothes.

Avoid plastic storage

Plastic storage can cause yellowing and can leave stains on the velvet fabric. It also provides a suitable environment for bugs by trapping moisture causing mildew.

To clean velvet clothes isn’t difficult or different from cleaning other fabrics. By taking above mentioned simple steps, Velvet clothes can enjoy a happy, long, and healthy life.