# Sofa Fabric Types: What Velvet, Bouclé, Linen and Leather Tolerate > Check the care label on your sofa before anything else. The code W means water-based cleaners are safe, S means solvent only, WS means either, and X means vacuum only. Velvet, bouclé, linen and leather each tolerate heat, water and scrubbing differently, so tell the cleaner your fabric before they choose a method. Source: https://dubaiservicehub.com/guides/sofa-fabric-types-velvet-boucle-linen-leather-cleaning/ · Published: 2026-10-21 · Publisher: Dubai Service Hub Two sofas can look equally dusty and still need completely different cleaning. The fabric decides which methods are safe. This guide covers the common types and the care-code system, and what to tell a provider before booking. ## Start with the care label Most upholstered furniture carries a label, usually under a seat cushion or beneath the frame. Many furniture makers use a four-letter code, summarised by retailer and cleaning-company guides as follows: - **W**: water-based cleaners are safe. This does not mean the cover is machine washable. - **S**: solvent-based, water-free products only. - **WS**: either water-based or solvent-based cleaners can be used. - **X**: vacuum or brush lightly only; no water or cleaner. These codes describe the finished piece and are separate from the wash-symbol pictograms used on garments. Sources read 2026-10-21: [Kothea](https://www.kothea.com/2013/12/29/fabric-care-symbols-textile-abbreviations/), [Rainbow Restores](https://rainbowrestores.com/blog/how-to-identify-cleaning-codes-on-furniture-and-upholstery). These are retailer and cleaner guides, not a standards body, so treat the label on your own sofa as the authority. ## Common fabrics **Cotton blends and most synthetics (polyester, microfiber).** Usually the most tolerant, and the usual candidates for hot-water extraction when the code allows water. Some microfibers are solvent-only (code S), so check before assuming. **Velvet.** Marks, flattens or changes texture under heat, moisture and rubbing. Expect a lower-moisture method and a careful finish. Tell the cleaner it is velvet. **Bouclé.** The looped surface holds dust and snags easily. Avoid scrubbing, and expect careful, low-agitation cleaning. **Linen and linen blends.** Natural fibres can shrink or watermark when wet. A test patch is sensible, and drying needs good airflow. **Leather and faux leather.** Cleaned with a leather-specific process and usually conditioned afterwards; not soaked. Real and faux behave differently, so say which. ## What to tell the cleaner 1. The fabric, if you know it, and the care code. 2. A photo of the label and a close-up of the fabric. 3. Any past treatment, such as stain guard. 4. Which stains are old and which are fresh. A competent provider will ask for a hidden-area test on delicate fabrics. Costs follow the method; see [what drives a sofa cleaning quote](https://dubaiservicehub.com/guides/sofa-cleaning-price-dubai-what-drives-the-quote/). ## Between cleans Vacuum weekly with an upholstery attachment, rotate cushions, and blot spills rather than rubbing. For intervals, see [how often to clean a sofa and carpet in Dubai](https://dubaiservicehub.com/guides/how-often-to-clean-sofa-and-carpet-in-dubai/). When it is due, [sofa cleaning in Dubai](https://dubaiservicehub.com/cleaning/sofa-cleaning/) is arranged through Dubai Service Hub with an independent provider. ## Frequently asked questions ### What do the sofa care codes W, S, WS and X mean? W means water-based cleaners are safe to use. S means only solvent-based, water-free products should be used. WS means either type works. X means vacuum or brush lightly only, with no water or cleaner. Confirm against the label on your own sofa. ### Can velvet sofas be steam cleaned? Often not with standard hot-water extraction. Velvet can mark, crush or change texture with heat and moisture. Tell the cleaner it is velvet, share the care label and expect a slower, lower-moisture method. ### Can I clean a leather sofa the same way as a fabric one? No. Leather needs a different process, usually a gentle leather cleaner followed by conditioning, and should not be soaked. Say it is leather, and whether it is real or faux, when you ask for a quote. ### What if my sofa has no care label? Look under the seat cushions, beneath the frame or on the back. If you cannot find one, photograph the fabric up close and tell the provider the brand and where you bought it, then expect a test on a hidden spot before a full clean. ## Related services - [Sofa & Upholstery Cleaning in Dubai](https://dubaiservicehub.com/cleaning/sofa-cleaning/): Sofa and upholstery is cleaned by a partner technician using hot water steam extraction to lift embedded dust, dulled fabric and everyday stains from Dubai homes, restoring sofas without soaking the padding or leaving detergent residue behind. - [Carpet Cleaning in Dubai](https://dubaiservicehub.com/cleaning/carpet-cleaning/): Carpet cleaning in Dubai usually means hot-water extraction for fitted wall-to-wall carpet and a gentler, rug-specific method for wool, silk and hand-knotted pieces. Fine dust, pets and constant AC drive the need. Drying typically takes several hours to overnight, and the price depends on area, fibre and staining, confirmed on WhatsApp from photos. - [Mattress Cleaning Service in Dubai](https://dubaiservicehub.com/cleaning/mattress-cleaning/): Mattress cleaning in Dubai by our partner technicians uses hot steam extraction to lift dust, stains, and everyday buildup from your mattress, without soaking the fabric or leaving it damp for days. --- Dubai Service Hub is a WhatsApp-first service desk that arranges home maintenance and cleaning in Dubai through independent service partners. For a quote, message +971 50 740 4391 on WhatsApp (https://wa.me/971507404391).