The Cutting Table · a common question
Are the cushion fabrics stain-resistant, and can I use a protector spray?
Also asked as:Is it stain resistant and washable?Okay to spray it with a protective spray?
A spill on cream velvet feels like the end of the world for about ten seconds. Then you remember the zipper.
The quick answer
The fabrics are not sold as stain-treated; the real protection is a removable cover that machine washes at 86°F (30°C) on a gentle cycle. The teddy sofa fabric has a water-repellent finish, velvet has no stain-repellent coating, and the foam sits inside extra inner covers. You can apply a fabric protector spray yourself once the covers arrive.
SaveKey facts
- Covers are removable and machine washable at 86°F (30°C) on a gentle cycle.
- The teddy sofa fabric has a water-repellent finish.
- Foam inserts sit inside additional inner protective covers.
- Velvet has no stain-repellent coating.
- No fabric is sold as stain-treated.
- You can apply a fabric protection spray yourself after delivery.
- Outdoor fabrics carry water-repellent and fade-resistant finishes, in about 150-200 colors, and work indoors too.
- Chart fabrics are heavy-duty upholstery grade, at least about 7.4 oz per square yard (250 g/m2).
Have it made
Have Élodie’s workshop cut this for you
Describe the room at four in the afternoon: the floor, the wall, the one color you love. That is where a good fabric choice begins. — Élodie
Leave your details and the workshop will call you to confirm measurements, fabric, foam and piping. No prices, dates or payment on this page: it is a request, not an order.
Why the zipper matters more than any coating
Here is the truth, my friends, said plainly: none of these fabrics is sold as stain-treated. Across the sofas, poufs and floor cushions, the answer to a spill is a cover that unzips and goes into the machine at 86°F (30°C) on a gentle cycle.
Some fabrics bring a little more. The teddy on the sofas carries a water-repellent finish, and under every cover the foam wears its own inner cover, which matters with a toddler at home.
Velvet is the tender one. Its pile has no stain-repellent coating, so on a cream velvet sofa with rust ends, like the one in the photograph, you blot quickly with a dry cloth and let the wash do the rest. What sits closest to your cushion most days: a coffee cup, a toddler, or a dog?
What each fabric brings to a spill
| Fabric | Finish | Your first line of defense |
|---|---|---|
| Teddy (sofa fabric) | Water-repellent finish | Unzip the cover and machine wash at 86°F (30°C) |
| Velvet | No stain-repellent coating | Blot fast with a dry cloth, then wash the cover |
| Button-tufted covers | Stitched through, not removable | Spot clean only |
| Foam inside | Extra inner protective covers | Stays wrapped while the outer cover is washed |
Can you use a fabric protector spray on the covers?
- Spray after delivery: the workshop doesn't apply it; you do.
- Keep washing the usual way: 86°F (30°C), delicate or gentle cycle.
- Skip the tumble dryer and let covers air dry.
- Leave the iron in the closet; the covers don't need it.
- Button-tufted covers are the exception: they don't come off, so spot clean them.
The best stain protection on a cushion is a zipper: a removable cover that machine washes at 86°F (30°C) on a gentle cycle.
Élodie
Buyer questions
- A common question
How do I wash the covers, and can I iron them or use a protective spray?
The workshop's answerCovers are removable and machine washable at 86°F (30°C) on a delicate or gentle cycle; don't tumble dry. They don't need ironing, and you can apply a fabric protection spray yourself once they arrive. Button-tufted covers are the exception: they aren't removable or washable.
- A common question
How easy is the fabric to clean?
The workshop's answerThe covers come off and go in the washing machine. That is the workshop's answer to stain and cleaning worries across its sofas, poufs and floor cushions.
- A common question
What is the teddy sofa fabric, and how do I keep it clean with a toddler around?
The workshop's answerAll sofa covers are removable and machine washable, and the teddy fabric has a water-repellent finish. The foam inside also has extra inner covers for protection.
- A common question
Can I wash the whole cushion, or only the cover?
The workshop's answerWash just the cover. Fillings sit in their own inner liner, so the outer cover unzips and machine washes at 86°F (30°C) any time. Spot-clean the cushion itself; fiber-filled floor cushions can be washed whole if really needed.
Questions buyers ask next
Can velvet covers go in the washing machine?
Yes. Velvet covers unzip and machine wash at 86°F (30°C) at most on a gentle cycle. Because the velvet has no stain-repellent coating, blot spills quickly with a dry cloth and let the washable cover be the main protection.
Will the workshop treat my covers with protector spray before shipping?
No. No fabric is sold as stain-treated, and protector spray is applied by the buyer, not the workshop. If you want it, spray the covers yourself once they arrive, and keep washing them at 86°F (30°C).
Can a tufted cushion be washed like the others?
No. Button-tufted cushions are stitched through, so the cover doesn't come off and can't be machine washed; spot clean instead. For a washable cover, choose the untufted version with a zippered cover and piping.
