Since the nap, or pile, on a velvet couch is high, it's important to keep soil from penetrating the fibers and ruining its plush look. Vacuuming or brushing your velvet sofa once a week can help accomplish this to keep the pile fluffed up. To keep pet hair from ruining the look of a velvet couch, placing a large throw on one side of the furniture piece for pets may help. For regular cleaning, look for an upholstery cleaner that is safe for velvets.
Velvet furniture pieces may be silk, cotton or synthetic. Check for a label under your velvet sofa that mentions what the fabric is so you can be sure to find an upholstery cleaning product that won't destroy the material. If you're not sure whether your couch is made of natural or synthetic fabric, look for an upholstery cleaner safe for all velvets. Always test any product you use on a velvet sofa underneath in an area where it won't show. Since velvet is usually quite dense in its construction, it may take some time to dry, so cleaning it early in the day in warm weather may be best.
Hiring professionals to steam clean your couch, perhaps at the same time you also get your carpets steam cleaned can be another option that you may want to consider semi-annually or annually. Cleaning companies may charge more for a button-tufted velvet couch cleaning over a plain one, so be sure to mention the details to get an accurate estimate. If recommended by trustworthy experts, you may want to consider adding a stain guard invisible coating to your velvet sofa. Make sure you do your research beforehand though to make sure it's safe for kids and pets. A cut or crushed velvet sofa tends to stand up better to pets and kids than solid velvets.
Whether the velvet on your sofa is crushed, cut or solid, never rub in stains with water or stain remover, but rather blot them. It's a good idea to have stain removers recommended for velvet on hand in case of a food or beverage spill. Never use harsh solvents of any kind on a velvet couch, as these are likely to damage the luxurious fabric. Mild detergents or upholstery shampoos that are always worked in the same direction as the velvet's nap are usually best. A soft, rather than a stiff-bristled, brush should always be used on velvet.