What Does ‘Spot Clean Only’ Mean?

A lot of people don’t pay any attention to their cleaning labels. However, these labels serve a vital purpose in telling you about the materials used and explaining how to look after your furniture or upholstery.

Paying attention to cleaning code tags can help you decide if you even want to purchase such an item – some codes require very unique cleaning and are very delicate. You have to be extra careful not to get a spot clean only items heavily soiled.

If you’ve found your couch, sofa or any other material is marked as ‘spot clean only’ then this guide will help you figure out how you need to clean it!

What Is Spot Cleaning?

Spot cleaning is, essentially, cleaning just one spot or small area. It’s as simple as getting a stain on your shirt or couch and just cleaning and treating that stain. To do this though, you need to be able to pick the right cleaning solution for the fabric so that you don’t ruin it.

You’ll generally only need to undertake spot cleaning on high ticket and more intricate pieces, such as anything with beadwork or that is hand-made. These aren’t the only pieces you’ll need to consider for spot cleaning – many delicate pillows, mattresses, sheets and covers will also require spot cleaning.

You can also spot clean furniture that isn’t explicitly special or high-priced but has heavily stained patches on them. Spot cleaning will help keep those stains confined to one place and will pre-treat them so that you can remove the stains before throwing them in the wash.

Of course, you cannot spot-clean all types of fabric or upholstery either— this is where taking the time to identify your cleaning codes is essential.

-	Products Mentioned In This Article	A Quick Look	Price
	Dyson V11 Torque Drive Cordless Handheld Portable Vacuum	2x the suction power of any cordless vacuum High torque cleaner head intuitively adapts to any floor type in auto mode The integrated lcd screen displays an active countdown timer and the machines performance in real ti The digital motor inside the v11 delivers 40% more suction power than the previous dyson v8 cord fre	Check Latest Price
	McCulloch MC1275 Heavy-Duty Steam Cleaner	Satisfaction guaranteed - backed by a 2-year hassle-free warranty and supported by a customer servic Chemical-free cleaning - naturally deep clean without the use of harsh chemicals using hot, pressure Large capacity tank - the 48-ounce water tank heats up in under 8 minutes and provides up to 45 minu 18 versatile accessories - equipped for steam cleaning jobs in and around your home including a floo Superior reach - an extra-long 15. 7-foot power cord and over 9-foot steam hose provide added maneuv Built to meet u.s. voltage requirements. certified, safety-tested, and warrantied for use only in th	Check Latest Price
	Nutricost Baking Soda	2 pounds of baking soda per bottle This high quality powder can be use for baking. cooking, and even toothpaste! Great for deodorizing - try in the fridge, garbage cans, carpets and more! Use for cleaning - pools, kitchen sinks, pots & pans, bathroom tubs, and much more! Gmo free, gluten free, third party tested	Check Latest Price
	Distilled White Vinegar	Distilled white vinegar for cooking and household cleaning Hotel and restaurant quality Reduced with water to 5% acidity	Check Latest Price
	HAVENLAB Deionized Water		Check Latest Price
	Dr. Bronners - Pure-Castile Liquid Soap	Made with organic oils & certified fair trade ingredients: dr. bronner's pure-castile liquid soaps a Good for your body & the planet: dr. bronner's liquid soaps are fully biodegradable & use all-natura No synthetic preservatives, detergents, or foaming agents: our liquid soaps are made with plant-base 3x more concentrated than most liquid soaps: dilute! dilute! multiple uses for just one product: lau Packaged in 100% post-consumer recycled plastic bottles: dr. bronner's is diverting discarded plasti	Check Latest Price
	Tolco High-Quality Spray Bottle - 8 oz.	Tolco empty spray bottle 8 oz. frosted assorted colors Country of origin: china Item package dimension: 7.11cm l x 16.51cm w x 18.03cm h Item package weight: 5.6 oz	Check Latest Price
	Mothers Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Brush	Tough bristles remove dirt and grime Contoured, comfortable design Extremely durable	Check Latest Price
	MR.SIGA Microfiber Cleaning Cloths	Ultra soft material & scratch free - ultra soft and highly absorbent microfiber cleaning cloths, gre Absorbent & lint free - made of 85% polyester, 15% nylon. these non-abrasive cleaning rags can soak Tackle versatile cleaning jobs - these premium microfiber towels are also perfect dish rags which do Reusable & long lasting - these microfiber towels feature high quality stitching with reinforced edg Mr.siga's mission: make your housework easier, and make the world cleaner. should you have any quest	Check Latest Price
	Rubbermaid Commercial 2.5 Gallon Bucket	Heavy-duty thick wall construction. Strong handle makes for easy transportation. Great for janitor's closets, factory environmental services and more. Molded-in spout makes pouring easy and accurate. 10.5 inches long by 10.5 inches wide by 10.25 inches high. 1.19 pounds. made in the usa.	Check Latest Price
	AlbaChem® PSR II Powdered Dry Cleaning Fluid	Albachem - psr powdered dry cleaning fluid brush off spot remover 12.5 oz - made in usa	Check Latest Price

Spot Clean Only – Meaning & Definition

‘Spot Clean Only’ simply means that you can only clean any visible spots by hand without putting that fabric in the wash, giving it to dry cleaning, or doing any other cleaning methods.

Basically, you can only clean this by hand with a spotting agent because the fabric is delicate and will otherwise get destroyed.

If you have something this delicate, you may want to ask a professional to help, but you can still learn how to spot clean well on your own. Do not wash the material, whether it’s wet cleaning or dry cleaning.

What Are The Best Spot Cleaning Tips?

The following tips only apply if you’ve identified your cleaning codes (e.g. S, W, WS etc.) and can verify that they are suitable. Some furniture can only be cleaned with a vacuum and nothing else (cleaning code x) – so be careful!

If ever in doubt we recommend handing it over to an insured professional, however, if you’re feeling confident and able – these tips will help.

Pre-Cleaning

You should pre-clean your fabric before you try and spot-clean it. This means scraping off any excess food and blotting out any oily stains or liquid stains with a white towel or paper napkin first. This will help you remove as much moisture as possible.

Avoid rubbing the stained area as it could go further into the fabric fibers. Just use some plain water to dilute stains before you try and absorb the stains with a cloth.

Once you’re done, leave the garment out for air drying. Make sure that you avoid direct heat, though, which can make the stain even harder to remove.

Choose a Solvent

You need to choose the appropriate solvent for your fabric. Your cleaning code label should tell you, but if it doesn’t specify or you can’t find it, you’ll need to call the manufacturer to find out.

As an example, you’ll typically soak materials like cotton in warm water and avoid something like bleach, which is harsh on the fabric. Instead, you can use a little chlorine if you dilute it, or some light acids like vinegar.

Or there’s wool, which is heat sensitive. You’ll need to use warm water to soak it, and will need to keep the fabric laid out flat. No bleach or acids.

These are only a few examples, but the point is that you need to be aware of what you’re washing your upholstery with if you want to avoid damaging it further.

If you choose to use a ‘spot cleaning machine’ to complete your spot clean, this great video below from Bissell will quickly walk you through what you need to know:

FAQ:

Conclusion:

We can’t stress this enough, but all of the advice in this article only applies if you’ve correctly identified what type of spot cleaning can be done on your furniture.

Spot cleaning is a great way to deal with small stains, marks and odours. If you’re ever unsure of what cleaner to use, call the manufacturer to find out – and failing that, call a professional dry cleaner if you’re worried about damaging your designer couch!

-	Products Mentioned In This Article	A Quick Look	Price
	Dyson V11 Torque Drive Cordless Handheld Portable Vacuum	2x the suction power of any cordless vacuum High torque cleaner head intuitively adapts to any floor type in auto mode The integrated lcd screen displays an active countdown timer and the machines performance in real ti The digital motor inside the v11 delivers 40% more suction power than the previous dyson v8 cord fre	Check Latest Price
	McCulloch MC1275 Heavy-Duty Steam Cleaner	Satisfaction guaranteed - backed by a 2-year hassle-free warranty and supported by a customer servic Chemical-free cleaning - naturally deep clean without the use of harsh chemicals using hot, pressure Large capacity tank - the 48-ounce water tank heats up in under 8 minutes and provides up to 45 minu 18 versatile accessories - equipped for steam cleaning jobs in and around your home including a floo Superior reach - an extra-long 15. 7-foot power cord and over 9-foot steam hose provide added maneuv Built to meet u.s. voltage requirements. certified, safety-tested, and warrantied for use only in th	Check Latest Price
	Nutricost Baking Soda	2 pounds of baking soda per bottle This high quality powder can be use for baking. cooking, and even toothpaste! Great for deodorizing - try in the fridge, garbage cans, carpets and more! Use for cleaning - pools, kitchen sinks, pots & pans, bathroom tubs, and much more! Gmo free, gluten free, third party tested	Check Latest Price
	Distilled White Vinegar	Distilled white vinegar for cooking and household cleaning Hotel and restaurant quality Reduced with water to 5% acidity	Check Latest Price
	HAVENLAB Deionized Water		Check Latest Price
	Dr. Bronners - Pure-Castile Liquid Soap	Made with organic oils & certified fair trade ingredients: dr. bronner's pure-castile liquid soaps a Good for your body & the planet: dr. bronner's liquid soaps are fully biodegradable & use all-natura No synthetic preservatives, detergents, or foaming agents: our liquid soaps are made with plant-base 3x more concentrated than most liquid soaps: dilute! dilute! multiple uses for just one product: lau Packaged in 100% post-consumer recycled plastic bottles: dr. bronner's is diverting discarded plasti	Check Latest Price
	Tolco High-Quality Spray Bottle - 8 oz.	Tolco empty spray bottle 8 oz. frosted assorted colors Country of origin: china Item package dimension: 7.11cm l x 16.51cm w x 18.03cm h Item package weight: 5.6 oz	Check Latest Price
	Mothers Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Brush	Tough bristles remove dirt and grime Contoured, comfortable design Extremely durable	Check Latest Price
	MR.SIGA Microfiber Cleaning Cloths	Ultra soft material & scratch free - ultra soft and highly absorbent microfiber cleaning cloths, gre Absorbent & lint free - made of 85% polyester, 15% nylon. these non-abrasive cleaning rags can soak Tackle versatile cleaning jobs - these premium microfiber towels are also perfect dish rags which do Reusable & long lasting - these microfiber towels feature high quality stitching with reinforced edg Mr.siga's mission: make your housework easier, and make the world cleaner. should you have any quest	Check Latest Price
	Rubbermaid Commercial 2.5 Gallon Bucket	Heavy-duty thick wall construction. Strong handle makes for easy transportation. Great for janitor's closets, factory environmental services and more. Molded-in spout makes pouring easy and accurate. 10.5 inches long by 10.5 inches wide by 10.25 inches high. 1.19 pounds. made in the usa.	Check Latest Price
	AlbaChem® PSR II Powdered Dry Cleaning Fluid	Albachem - psr powdered dry cleaning fluid brush off spot remover 12.5 oz - made in usa	Check Latest Price