You may have noticed small tags on your furniture with symbols and letters indicating how the item should be cleaned. Some symbols are straightforward, like "vacuum only", while others can be more confusing. This blog post breaks down some common furniture cleaning codes to help you keep your furniture looking its best.

Surface Cleaning Codes

HW : Hand Wash Only

This symbol indicates the furniture upholstery should only be cleaned by hand, not with a machine. Gently hand wash small removable covers in cool water with a mild detergent. Rinse thoroughly and lay flat to dry.

DC : Dry Clean Only

Covers marked "Dry Clean Only" must be taken to a professional dry cleaner. The chemicals used in dry cleaning could damage the fabric if you tried to clean it at home. Dry clean only tags are common on delicate upholstery fabrics.

Special Cleaning Codes

SW : Solvent/Water Cleaner Only

This symbol means the furniture surface should only be spot cleaned as needed. Since the furniture covers cannot be removed, you must clean the surface seam-to-seam. Use a mild upholstery shampoo, gentle detergent foam, or dry cleaning solvent applied to a clean cloth to spot treat stains and dirt. Do not saturate the fabric.

X : Do Not Clean, Vacuum Only

This rare symbol indicates that the furniture surface should not be cleaned with liquids or solvents which may damage the fabric. For care, use a vacuum brush attachment to regularly remove dust and dirt.

NA : Not Applicable

Some furniture tags are for manufacturer ID only. An "NA" tag means there are no special cleaning instructions beyond typical care for that fabric type. Routine vacuuming and spot cleaning as needed are recommended.

Understanding furniture cleaning symbols can take the mystery out of keeping your upholstered pieces looking their best. Now that you know what the codes mean, you can confidently care for your furniture. Just remember to always spot test cleaners on a discreet area first!