You want fabrics with some cotton content as they will be more comfortable to sit upon, IMO. We have a variety of fabrics ranging from a rayon cut velvet sofa to mostly cotton to a poly cotton taffeta (mostly poly) to wool, and every other year i have them steam cleaned by a professional service. They look and smell fresh, and if this contributes to the wear and tear, well, I'd rather have clean.

Thanks for the quick response, kswl. So if you have them steam cleaned, does that mean they have the "W" cleaning code? Do you know what cleaning code they have?

DIL has a microfiber sectional and between a daughter who barfed a lot until she was 2 yrs old, and a shedding dog, the sofa has been tested over time! They used a portable carpet cleaner for awhile but out of desperation one night they unzipped the covers and threw them in the washer......and dryer! The covers came out of the W/D beautifully and they've washed them several times since. We have no idea of what type cleaning code it has!

I'm assuming you have young children? If so, I'd suggest you keep checking out the microfibers since some of the 'patterns' are so subdued they look solid. Once you decide on a color, ask for a sample and do a test cleaning on it.

I've read that a lot of fabrics (think polyester clothes) are labeled Dry Clean Only when they are really washable - gently and not dried too hot in the drier. I wash all my silk, rayon, linen clothes with no problems at all. The manufacturers just don't want to deal with any problems caused by laundering, so they label DCO to cover their fannies. Maybe upholstery fabric is the same. I have a sectional that is some kind of rayon blend that I had treated when new. It is 16 years old; I just use a wet, wrung out cloth to take out spots and it looks almost as good as new. I suspect lots of upholstery fabrics are equally as durable, but labeled as if they are delicate.

No idea what any of our fabrics' care labels would say, as all were purchased thru a decorator and sent straight to an upholsterer. All are fabrics you wouldn't normally think of as "washable" to see them.

But strongly agree with microfiber, sorry I completely forgot about that near miracle fabric . . . If you can find a sofa you like already upholstered in microfiber, you're lucky----- it wears like iron and is cleanable. It "breathes" more than other synthetics, also, but I haven't seen it in a wide array of patterns. Perhaps its composition doesn't lend it to pattern.

I know not all microfibers are created equal but you def. want to make sure you know what you're getting. I know a bunch of people that hate their microfiber. It has worn in areas that get a lot of use (arms) and I don't know if you have animals or not but the hair was always a big issue.

I am looking for fabric to reupholster a couch. Almost all of them have the S code. I can use a solvent to spot clean but what about an overall cleaning. Can these fabrics be steam cleaned?

chenilles don't wear well.

What goes on around you that would cause your fabrics to become dirty and stained? Dogs? kids? Eating?

over time things get dirty. I get my carpets steam cleaned once every couple of years.