Smooth Out Wrinkles In Velvet Furniture With A Fool-Proof Method

There are so many stylish ways to incorporate velvet into your home decor. As a material for your furniture, velvet adds a unique and elegant touch to any household. This soft fabric offers comfort and a visual appeal that makes it a delight to feel, sit on, and even look at. However, velvet can also be a headache to maintain because it creases and wrinkles easily. Thankfully, a simple clothes steamer can be the fool-proof way to get rid of those unwanted lines.  

You see, velvet is made up of two sheets of fabric woven together to create a soft but dense pile (raised strands of fabric on its surface). It's this soft pile that increases the likelihood of velvet furniture having wrinkles, as it can easily distort due to use. The fibers can compress from pressure or improper handling, leading to unsightly creases. For example, sitting on a velvet sofa for extended periods or folding velvet cushions for storage can cause wrinkles to set in. 

This is where your steamer comes in. Steamers work by emitting hot, moist air that penetrates the fabric's fibers, relaxing them and allowing the wrinkles to release. The heat softens the fibers, while the moisture helps reshape them, restoring the material's smooth appearance. Unlike an iron, which can flatten and damage the velvet, a steamer is gentle and still effective. But before using this device, always check the care label on your furniture to make sure steaming is safe.

Before steaming, you'll have to clean your velvet furniture because dust and dirt could set into the fabric during the process. Start by vacuuming gently with the upholstery attachment of your vacuum cleaner to get rid of any debris. Next, turn the steamer on and put it on the lowest heat setting to prevent damage to the velvet fabric. Hold the steamer one or two inches away from the furniture and move it gently in the opposite direction of the pile. You can check this by running your hand across the material. If you move your hand in the direction of the pile, it'll look shinier and smooth, while the opposite direction looks darker. Remember to always keep the steamer moving, and be careful not to steam one spot on the furniture for too long to avoid excess moisture and heat damage. 

Another useful tip is to combine steaming and brushing to deal with stubborn creases. Once you've steamed the wrinkled area, follow it up by using a soft-bristled brush to groom the fabric. Be sure to brush in the opposite direction of the pile, using only light sweeping motions. Avoid using too much pressure while brushing so you don't damage the delicate fibers. Finally, always test the steamer on a hidden area to make sure it doesn't mess with the fabric's color or texture before working on the entire furniture. Better safe than sorry!