How to clean Restoration Hardware Furniture or Linen Slipcovers.
It has been four and a half years since we took the leap and purchased several pieces of Restoration Hardware furniture. I know some thought I was crazy for purchasing “white” pieces, but after giving it significant consideration, I felt confident in our decision.
We wanted timeless pieces that could transition with our style and family, so we were willing to make an investment. One of the most commonly asked questions I receive is how we keep our furniture so white, so I thought I’d share the details of how we clean Restoration Hardware furniture.
We purchased Belgian linen slipcovered sofas and dining chairs so that we could easily clean them or if worse came to worst, we could replace them.
Thankfully, to date we haven’t had to do either! I’ve been incredibly pleased with how easily they spot clean with water. We’ve spilled wine, soda, mac and cheese, had chocolate faces rub against them, etc.
At nearly five years, I feel like its time to clean our love seat, which gets the most use. There are no stains, but the arms are starting to look a little dingy overall. I’m a little scared to wash it in fear of the massive steam that will likely follow, so I’m going to start with a mild upholstery cleaner.
We’ve had great success using it on our deconstructed chairs, which have required routine cleanings, the fabric has been less forgiving than Belgian linen.
How to Clean Restoration Hardware Linen Furniture
- Vacuum. It keeps dust particles out of the fabric, making it appear brighter.
- Soak up the stain with a white cloth by blotting (don’t rub).
- Spot clean with distilled water and a white cloth.
- Use a mild soap, distilled water and a white cloth. (I was told this over the phone from one of their representatives)
- Last Resort – Dry clean.
- or Machine wash on cold and hang to dry. Note that you should do all pieces in the set so that the color is consistent.
One thing to keep in mind about cleaning your Restoration Hardware furniture beyond vacuuming and spot cleaning is that doing so will remove the protective finish that we’ve come to love and appreciate.
Fabric contracts when washed and dry cleaned. Use a steamer to loosen the fabric and tug.
I can only hope that they’ll bottle it and share it with us someday, but until then, we live in our home and enjoy our furniture.
We don’t live in a museum, nor do we treat our home like one. I am not my mother’s daughter when it comes to furniture, protecting it with a blanket until company arrives.
We have been successful machine washing our linen, steaming and tugging to loosen the fibers. Proceed at your own risk.
I also embrace the look of linen rather than stress about steaming it. If wrinkles bother you, I’d avoid the linen fabrics because they almost always look less than perfect. Our dining chairs are always a hot mess because the girls love hiding under them and where the fabric is tailored at the leg of the sofas, we brush past frequently and they tend to curl.
If you have Restoration Hardware linen furniture, I’d love for you to share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below. You can learn more about Pottery Barn Sofas and Ikea Ektorp sofas right here on JulieBlanner.com as well!
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Currently I am deliberating on a RH sofa purchase, English Rolled Arm or Track Arm. Our living room is rather small so I’m leaning toward the slipcovered classic size track arm, a 7′ sofa and two matching chairs. I have not yet decided on the fabric, however, I’m definitely going with a linen. From my understanding linen is a fabric that literally will last for generations. Several of the comments I have read mention that the Perennial fabric pills. I am not surprised since it is an acrylic I believe… I never purchase synthetic fabrics specifically for this reason…
It has been informative reading your blog and all the comments.
Thank you, Kathy
No problem, Kathy! I absolutely love how our linen sofas are wearing. I’m glad this post helped.
Hello, I am planning on ordering the slope arm in Belgian linen and side chair too. I saw so many negative reviews for RH online that I started to get nervous….it sounds like you are very happy with their quality?
I absolutely love the quality – honestly, I think there are very few sofas and chairs that can compete with the quality.
I have a grease stain from food on my gray belgian linen counter stool. Do you have any tips on how to get rid of it? Mild soap and water are not working.
I’m assuming it’s not a slipcover? I’d call RH. Soap and water is always my go to for grease.
I accidentally used Shout to clean a spot off my linen sofa and the spot is now much larger and a different shade. The sofa used to be cream and the spot is now more of a tan color. I unzipped the cushion and applied water upon water and feel like the Shout and the stain had only spread. Any suggestions?
Yikes! I’d call Restoration Hardware, but most of their slipcovers can be washed or dry-cleaned and hopefully that will remedy it or at least minimize it.
I have had my sofa for 6 years now and feel the bottom seating cushion needs to be washed. (mine is a slipcover) you did mention washing it in cold water but have you actually washed it yet?
No, but it’s on my agenda for this month!
So glad to find this post because my slip covered Belgian linen sand sofas are looking pretty rough (especially the arms!) – wondering if you cleaned yours last month as planned;)
I keep putting it off. Maybe tomorrow?
I don’t think my comment went through. I have been slipcovering my couch for years in white linen. Anyone have feedback on the washed Belgian Linen by the yard from RH? We wash ours regularly…like 3-4 times per year.
We are about to purchase cloud white Belgian linen furniture from RH and thinking about the belgian washed linen as it’s less expensive. Anyone know the difference, and is the Belgian Linen worth the significant difference in price over the Washed Belgian Linen?
Hi, would you recommend using Resolve upholstery cleaner?
I’d be too nervous, personally. It works great on their cotton fabrics, though.
Super helpful, thanks!
Great post, thanks! I also have Belgium Linen in Sand for seat cushions on my dining chairs. I was considering scotchgarding them for added protection, but maybe that is unnecessary? Has anyone had any experience with scotchgarding?
I wouldn’t, personally.
I did scotch guard mine cloud linen today and it’s fine! Bought scotch guard from Home Depot.
Hi Julie, I love the brass lantern in your dining room! I have been looking for such a lantern with no luck. Would you know who the manufacturer is of this gorgeous lantern ? Thanks so much, Barbara
Thanks, Barbara, you can find it here.
Hi Julie,
Have you ever Scotch Guarded the fabric when you first bought it? I just bought Belgian Linen Sand Louis chairs, and I am thinking of Scotch Guarding them. Any thoughts?
No, because they come protected
Any tips on de-linting the Belgian perennial fabric??
I wish! I’m not familiar with that fabric, sorry!
We purchased two sofas in Belgium linen ‘sand’. One is slipcovered and one is not. We thought it would be a good idea to protect the fabric with some kind of commercial fabric protector. Customer service did not offer any guidance in this matter nor did they mention that the Belgium linen had a protectant. I was surprised to read this in your blog. I’m still nervous about staining but this gave me some piece of mind
I have been incredibly impressed with how easily stains wipe off {when fresh}. I hope you enjoy yours as well.
This works great!! Just bought the cloud in white from the outlet and it had a few marks on it. I tried your tips on the back first and I cannot believe how well they work! I vacuumed first then used distilled water mixed with a tiny bit of tide free and applied with a white microfiber towel. I cannot believe how well it worked, even the dark spots on the back corner came out! Now I am much happier knowing it’s easy to clean, especially with two couch loving dogs. Thank you!!
Yay, Christine! I’m so happy to hear it. Enjoy your beautiful new piece!
Hi Julie –
HELP!! I had a guest over and they accidently dropped a few small pieces of chocolate on mu white linen dining room table chairs. Unfortunately, I didn’t read up on how to clean it so after about an hour once they left I picked the access chocolate off the seat, put cold water on it (which seemed to start lifting) and rubbed (mistake!), it started spreading the spot from two tiny chocolate spots to big puddle like circles. I put baking soda and water mixture on them left them to dry overnight and then rubbed it off with a soft towel. Unfortunately the chocolate little stains are still there and now I am left with a puddle like circles too. Any advice how to move from here?
Are they slipcovered by chance?
They’re not. Just regular linen dining room chairs.
Hmmmm…I think your best bet would likely be to use something on the entire chair so that it doesn’t leave a mark.
Almost like hosing it off?
Can I or should I use any type of soap, detergent? Or just distilled water and a clothe?
I just found this blog and we are in the same situation as you with the ‘puddle’ like spot on the arm of our linen couch after trying to clean up a little spot. I asked our carpet cleaning guy if they could help and they said, no..you simply should not get your linen couches wet and there is nothing we can do about the ‘puddle’ spot. It looks horrible. I’m going to keep searching and try and find an answer to help our could look new again.
Is it slipcovered?
any news on how to get the puddle out??
Great tips on how to clean linen upholstery, thanks for sharing!
Do you know any good steamer for wrinkles?i tried many in bath bed and beyond and none of them worked
I just have a handheld steamer. It’s not perfect, but it does the job. The key is to let it heat up well first and keep it filled with plenty of water, but not too high or it doesn’t work. http://m.target.com/p/shark-press-refresh-fabric-steamer/-/A-13037114
Hi.. I have two of your fabric chairs that I bought to go in the same room as my Maxwell leather sofa. They are at a point where the children have won the battle with their sticky little hands. Of course I had to have the Belgian Linen in the color “sand.” What would you recommend for best cleaning results between cold wash in machine or dry cleaning. They are both beyond spot cleaning.
Thanks so much 🙂
I have yet to do either, but they recommend doing either. The representatives have always been kind when I’ve called with questions. If you’re hesitant about doing one or another, give them a call and see if they sway you one direction or another. Personally, I plan to dry clean ours because I dread ironing.
Hi Julie 🙂
Can you tell me how you hung the silver trays on your wall? I think that is simply beautiful! Thanks..another Julie 😉
Of course! You can find all of the details here.
Hey Julie, hope you are enjoying the new year. I am always a fan of white and bright colors generally but I must admit that I was afraid of choosing white, so we went with a light grey for our furniture. It’s really nice to see how you are dealing with the cleaning. Like Nicky above, I also use some oil in cleaning. Thanks a lot for the share, I enjoyed the post.
Amy
Sometimes we can put a bit essential oil into the cleaning solution so our linen will have a pleasant smell. Thanks for sharing!