Microfibre and genuine suede are not the same material and are not cleaned the same way. Microfibre (microsuede) is a synthetic fabric, and the first thing to do is check its cleaning code, because some microfibres are water-safe and others water-mark instantly. Genuine suede is a leather with a delicate napped surface that should never get wet and is best left to a professional. Get the material and the code right, clean with the least moisture possible, and brush the nap back up as it dries, and both look like new; get it wrong and you are left with rings and flattened patches.
First, work out what you actually have
- Microfibre / microsuede is a tightly woven synthetic that mimics suede. It is hard-wearing and common on family couches. Check the care tag for its code: W (water-safe), S (solvent only, water leaves rings), W/S (either), or X (vacuum only).
- Genuine suede is real leather with a raised nap. Water stains it, and the wrong product strips or darkens it permanently. It is not a DIY fabric, and it is not something we clean: we clean fabric and microfibre upholstery, not genuine suede or leather. Genuine suede should go to a suede or leather specialist with the right tools and products.
If you cannot find a code, treat the couch as the most delicate option and keep water off it until you know. The codes are explained in full in how to clean a fabric sofa.
Cleaning a water-safe (W or W/S) microfibre couch
- Vacuum first with an upholstery tool, including the seams and under the cushions.
- Spot-test in a hidden area before you treat anything visible.
- Use minimal moisture. Apply a little upholstery-safe solution to a cloth, not poured onto the couch, and work it gently. Microfibre needs very little water.
- Dry quickly with airflow, and once dry, brush the nap with a soft brush or sponge in one direction to lift the fibres back up. This is the step that stops a cleaned microfibre couch from looking stiff or patchy.
Cleaning a solvent-only (S) microfibre couch
On an "S" microfibre, water itself leaves rings as it dries, so it needs a water-free approach. A common safe method for small marks is a light mist of a clear, fast-evaporating solvent (such as surgical spirits) onto a white sponge, worked over the spot, then the nap brushed up with a soft brush once it has dried, which it does in minutes. Always spot-test first. For anything more than a small mark, an "S"-coded couch is genuinely professional work, the products need ventilation and experience.
Cleaning genuine suede
Keep water away from it entirely. Between professional cleans, brush it with a suede brush to lift the nap and remove surface dust, and use a suede eraser on dry marks. Blot any spill immediately with a dry cloth and do not rub. For a full clean, or any stain, a set-in mark or an odour, use a suede or leather specialist, we clean fabric and microfibre upholstery, not genuine suede or leather, and suede is unforgiving and the cost of getting it wrong is high.
The two mistakes that ruin a microfibre or suede couch
The first is over-wetting. A couch is fabric over foam and a frame, and soaking it leaves the cushion core damp for days, which smells musty and can grow mould. The second is water-marking, on "S" and delicate fabrics, water itself carries dissolved soil to the edge of the wet patch and dries as a permanent ring. Both are exactly what a careful professional is equipped to avoid with controlled, low-moisture extraction, which is the case we make in is it worth getting your sofa professionally cleaned.
Common questions
Can you use water on a microfibre couch?
Only if the care tag shows a W or W/S code, and even then use the least moisture possible to avoid rings and damp foam. On an S-coded microfibre, water leaves marks as it dries, so use a fast-evaporating solvent instead, or call a professional.
How do I get my microfibre couch soft again after cleaning?
Once it is fully dry, brush the surface with a soft brush or sponge in one direction. Cleaning can flatten and stiffen the nap, and brushing lifts the fibres back up so the couch looks and feels like new.
Can you clean a genuine suede couch at home?
Only light maintenance, brushing with a suede brush and using a suede eraser on dry marks. Genuine suede is leather and water stains it, so any spill, stain or full clean should go to a professional rather than be treated with water or household products.
For a safe, low-moisture clean of a microfibre or fabric couch, tick the items on our quote form or message us through the contact page. We clean fabric and microfibre upholstery, not genuine suede or leather. See upholstery cleaning costs and our upholstery cleaning page.