Learn how to clean a linen couch, chairs and more! Whether you have Restoration Hardware furniture or linen slipcovered furniture of any brand, these tips and tricks will make your upholstery care so easy!
While linen can feel intimidating to clean and care for, it doesn’t have to be that way! Learn how to care for Restoration Hardware Belgian Linen and so much more.
It has been quite a few years now since we took the leap and purchased several pieces of Restoration Hardware furniture.
I know some folks 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 our Restoration Hardware linen furniture.
I love RH style and have chatted about other subjects regarding their furnishings before. Be sure to read all about my love/hate relationship with this store, as well as how to seal a Restoration Hardware dining table.
Restoration Hardware Belgian Linen
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.
We also eventually purchased an upholstered headboard for our master bedroom in Belgian Linen Sand. I just can’t get enough of this warm style and color!
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.
While these tips work for cleaning Restoration Hardware Belgian linen, they will also help you clean any linen couches, chairs, ottomans and more!
I love linen so much, in every area of our home! Read all about our Linen Bedding, too.
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 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 the RH representatives.)
- Last Resort – Dry cleaning any linen slipcovers that can be removed.
- 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.
Maintaining Restoration Hardware Linen
Linen will wrinkle. That’s the beauty of the natural fibers, and the joy of this casual look! Just like your linen clothes, linen sheets and more, it’s important to be aware of this trait before purchasing.
I 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Try a baking soda paste! As with many natural cleaning options, a little baking soda and vinegar can go a long way.
First, blot the stain to remove remaining moisture. Then add a little sprinkle of baking soda, moistening with a damp sponge. A little vinegar can help activate the stain removal, as well.
Surprisingly, yes! While this fabric has a delicate look, it holds up beautifully to daily wear and tear.
As with clothing stains, always blot, then gently rub a pasta of cleaning solution into the stain to attempt removal. For linen, try a paste of baking soda and vinegar or a basic dish soap. A mild detergent can also work wonders!
Love cleaning tips? Check out my Folex post to learn why it’s my favorite cleaning product!
If you have Restoration Hardware linen furniture, I’d love for you to share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.
You can find even more decor, high end dupes and furnishings inspiration in our Facebook group, Simple Steals!
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I am considering a RH, track arm, slipcovered sofa. We were in the store last week and I loved the ones I saw and they were very comfy.
My concern is the light color of the Belgian Linen sand. That is the look I like but want it to be low maintenance. That was the color displayed throughout the store.
I am concerned about stains and the level of wrinkling it will have over time.
It is going in a living area that we don’t use much.
I labor over decisions so keep going back and forth!!
We steam it once every couple years (the “flaps” that cover the legs”and have only washed the slipcovers once in 6 years and we use ours daily. I hope that helps!
You said you purchased “white” pieces but then said you got the “sand” color. Does the sand just look that white? I got swatches and the sand color seemed darker?
It’s very light in the Belgian Linen and I love it, but it’s not a true white. I like how it hides dirt.
HI Julie – great post! We have a Belgian linen Maxwell. We can definitely wash the slipcover, however how should we wash the actual frame? I made an appointment with a carpet & upholstery cleaning service to steam clean the entire couch. Do you think that would be ok?
I’m not sure! The slipcover should protect the frame, so I wouldn’t think it would need to be cleaned other than to vacuum the crevices.
Hi Julie – I’ve come across your site because our dry cleaner just told me that our RH linen couch covers specifically read “Do not dry clean”. And, he said that wet-cleaning will likely shrink them. So I’m curious whether you’ve done either, please? Thanks very much
I’ve washed ours – they do tighten, but with the use of a steamer they fit.
Thanks for your site. I have a 12 year old RH upholstered English Rolled Arm sofa in the Belgian Linen sand. I had the matching chair and tried to clean it with distilled water but it left water rings and I ruined it. This week we had someone spill tea on the cushions of the sofa. I just took the covers off all of the bottom cushions and pillows and washed them in cold water with All detergent. I air dried them overnight. It took my husband and I to wrestle them back on. We had to pull so tight that the wrinkles were mostly out. But I wanted to report that they look so clean! Now I am trying to figure out how to clean the 5 inch bottom vertical section where my dogs rub against. That’s why I’m on this blog. The water didn’t work. I’m afraid to use my steamer since that’s water. Suggestion: If your readers are looking to buy a new RH sofa, I recommend getting the slip cover so you can wash the whole thing in cold. We love the comfort of the down/feathers but they do poke out and you need to fluff them back up EVERY. SINGLE.TIME someone sits there. If that bothers you, don’t get the down. The English roll arms are great for laying down. If anyone finds out how I can clean the bottom part or the arms without water, I will check back for answers. Thanks everyone.
I always recommend slipcovers. You will tend to get water rings if the piece is slightly dirty to begin with, which is bound to happen eventually. For example we haven’t had water ring issues on our sofa or dining chairs, but on the ottoman which has been suseptable to a little more dirt/dust through the years.