Couch Fabric That Doesn’t Stain
Upholstered fabric furniture, like couches, is significantly more comfortable than furniture made from only metal, plastic, acrylic, or wood. However, choosing the right upholstery fabric can be tough. You have to take into account factors such as durability and stain resistance.
Luckily, there are plenty of low-maintenance couch fabrics that do not stain. Take a look below for a roundup of some of the best couch fabrics out there for when you are looking for a textile that will not stain!
We will go over some of the additional properties of these fabrics as well so that you have a great jumping-off point for your research.
Wool
Wool is one of the natural fibres that you can use for your couch or other furniture if you are in the market for a textile that is not going to stain easily at all! Most natural fibres soak up liquid quickly, which leads to stains, but wool contains a secret ingredient to make it so that it does not stain.
Wool naturally contains lanolin. Lanolin is an oil that repels liquids and can therefore protect the surface of your couch, even if you have a messy household and are prone to spills! Wool can be great if you want furniture that is soft and uses natural fibres but is stain-proof, too.
Leather
Leather is another natural fabric option that does not stain. Of course, there is also synthetic leather that is commonly used for furniture, and this is another great stain-proof option for your couch.
Leather is easy to clean, as it is a slick surface that can wipe right off. It also does not soak up the liquid in the same way that many soft textiles do, like cotton or velvet.
For this reason, leather protects against stains better. Stains often occur when a spill soaks into the upholstered furniture and is then difficult to remove or treat properly. Real leather can be very expensive, so synthetic leather can be a more cost-effective option.
Polyester
Synthetic fabrics are more stain resistant than most natural fibres, and this is in part due to technology and fabric treatments.
An example of one of these synthetic, man-made fabrics is polyester. Synthetic fibres like the ones in polyester are able to repel liquids and thus avoid stains better than natural fabrics, most of which soak up liquids.
In addition to being stain-proof in the case of spills or messes, polyester is also resistant to fading or discoloration from sun exposure— perfect for a couch located in the sun or near the window!
Nylon
Another synthetic fibre that is stain-proof is nylon. Like polyester, which we went over above, the fibres in nylon repel liquids, so the liquid does not set in and stain the furniture.
It can also be a good choice for upholstery projects or if you are purchasing new furniture because it is an inexpensive textile.
It is strong and elastic, too, meaning it will not warp or lose shape easily, so you will not have a saggy-looking couch.
Frequently Asked Questions
What couch material does not stain?
If you are shopping for a couch, or perhaps reupholstering an existing couch in your home, you will want it to be able to stand up to your needs and your lifestyle.
For example, if you have a messy household and have pets or children— or both!— then you will want a couch that will not stain.
Some of the top couch materials that do not stain are synthetic fibres.
This includes nylon, polyester, rayon, and olefin. Wool is another couch material that does not stain if you have your heart set on a natural option.
What kind of fabric doesn’t stain?
Stain-resistant fabric can be a big draw when it comes to picking out furniture. After all, we spend so much time on our furniture, so some spills and messes are bound to happen, even if we have a typically clean household.
If your furniture is upholstered with stain-resistant fabric, then you don’t have to worry about big stains on your furniture that could reduce its lifespan.
Synthetic, manmade fibres are usually the kinds of fabric that will not stain. However, there are a few natural fabrics that do not stain, like wool!
Wool contains lanolin, which is an oil that repels liquid, making it more stain resistant than other natural fabric choices.
What is the most durable stain-resistant upholstery fabric?
If your house is particularly messy, or you have a few kids or pets who often get into things, then you are likely on the lookout for the most durable and stain-resistant upholstery fabric out there on the market!
One of the most stain-resistant fabrics that you have to choose from when furniture shopping or trying your hand at a reupholstery project is vinyl. Vinyl is also easy to clean and fairly durable when it comes to standing up to everyday wear and tear.
This penchant for being incredibly stain resistant and durable is why we often see vinyl used in public settings for furniture.
For example, many bars use vinyl bar stools, which protects them a bit more from spilled beer or cocktail drinks!
What is the easiest couch fabric to keep clean?
Sometimes— or, if we are being honest, all the time! — we do not want to have to go to the effort of cleaning our couches. There are already so many things to do around the house, and maintaining a couch that stains or dirties easily is just another thing to add to this list.
Low maintenance is key!
There are certainly some couch fabrics out there that are much easier to keep clean than others. By and large, the kind of fabric that is the easiest to keep clean is polyester.
Other synthetic fabrics are also very easy to clean! Faux leather– or real, natural leather— acrylic, and nylon all come in at a close second to polyester fabric.
