How to Clean Mohair Velvet: Care Guide for Upholstery

Mohair velvet is one of the most durable upholstery fabrics a designer can specify, but its pile needs the right care to keep its depth and lustre. This guide sets out routine care, how to deal with spills, when to call a professional, and how to treat crushing and pile marks. It is general guidance: always confirm the cleaning code and care instructions for the specific range before cleaning, and test any method on a hidden area first. For how mohair compares with other velvets, see our mohair velvet vs cotton velvet guide.

Routine Care

Brush the pile regularly with a firm clothes brush, working in the direction of the pile, and vacuum with a soft upholstery attachment. This lifts dust and grit out of the pile before it is ground in, which is the main cause of wear on any velvet. Turn and rotate loose seat and back cushions so wear and pressure are spread evenly.

Dealing with Spills and Minor Stains

Act quickly, and blot rather than rub. Use a clean, white, lint-free cloth, never a coloured one, because dye can transfer to the pile.

1. Blot up as much of the spill as possible with a dry white cloth.
2. If a mark remains, blot gently with a white cloth dampened with clean water.
3. If water does not shift it, test a diluted upholstery shampoo on a hidden area, then apply it sparingly, working gently in the direction of the pile.
4. Remove all residue with a cloth dampened with clean water, since shampoo left in the pile attracts dirt.
5. Let the fabric dry fully before the piece is used again.

Never soak mohair velvet. Too much water can mark the fabric and penetrate the filling.

When to Use a Professional

Serious stains, large spills, and any piece that has become wet through should go to a professional upholstery cleaner with experience of pile fabrics. For general deep cleaning, KOTHEA suggests a professional clean around every five years in domestic use. Give the cleaner the cleaning code and care instructions for the range, and confirm their method suits a natural-fibre velvet before work starts.

On contract projects, agree the cleaning regime when the fabric is specified, so the method the hotel or operator uses matches the fabric’s cleaning code. KOTHEA’s mohair velvet carries an inherent BS 5852 Crib 5 pass as a property of the fibre, so its fire rating is not affected by cleaning. For cleaning codes and other specification terms, see our fabric specification glossary.

Crushing, Pile Marks and Shading

Frequent use pushes the pile in different directions. Where the pile lies differently, it reflects light differently, so the fabric can look lighter or darker in patches. This shading is a characteristic of all velvets, not a fault. Heat and humidity make it more noticeable. Mohair’s long, resilient fibre recovers from crushing better than most, which is one reason it is chosen for hard-working seating.

To lift a flattened pile on clean fabric, KOTHEA’s recommended method is to lay a lightly dampened cloth over the area for about ten hours, then remove it and let the fabric dry naturally for a further ten hours. Use only pure or distilled water, and do not soak the fabric. Brush the pile in its natural direction once it is dry.

What to Avoid

Do not machine wash, tumble dry or iron mohair velvet, and do not press directly on the pile. Avoid coloured cloths, hard scrubbing, and any spot cleaner or solvent that has not been tested on a hidden area. Do not use a cleaning method that conflicts with the range’s cleaning code.

For KOTHEA’s ranges, see our mohair velvet upholstery page. For where velvet is not the right choice, see our when not to use velvet guide. For the full library, see our fabric buying guide by purpose.

Quick answers

How do you clean mohair velvet?
Brush it regularly with a firm clothes brush in the direction of the pile and vacuum with a soft upholstery attachment. Blot spills straight away with a clean white cloth, then a cloth dampened with clean water, and test a diluted upholstery shampoo on a hidden area if needed. Remove all residue and let the fabric dry fully. Send serious stains and full cleaning to a professional upholstery cleaner, and always follow the cleaning code for the specific range.

Can mohair velvet get wet?
It can tolerate careful blotting with a damp cloth, but it should never be soaked. Too much water can mark the fabric and penetrate the filling. A cushion or seat that has become wet through should go to a professional cleaner.

How do you remove crush marks from mohair velvet?
On clean fabric, lay a lightly dampened cloth over the area for about ten hours, using only pure or distilled water, then let it dry naturally for a further ten hours and brush the pile in its natural direction. Some shading is a characteristic of all velvets, because pile lying in different directions reflects light differently.

Does cleaning affect the fire rating of mohair velvet?
Not for KOTHEA mohair velvet. Its BS 5852 Crib 5 pass is inherent to the mohair fibre rather than a topical treatment, so cleaning does not remove it. Topically treated fabrics are different: their treatment can degrade with some cleaning methods.

To request cuttings of KOTHEA mohair velvet, visit KOTHEA.com/cuttings.