Upholstery cleaning codes

W, S, W/S, X — the tag decides what's allowed.

Weakly sourced

The only fetchable source for this topic so far is not institutional. Treat the manufacturer's own labels and tags as the authority; see the note at the bottom.

W means water-based cleaners are allowed (mild dish soap and water, blotting rather than rubbing); S means water-free dry-cleaning solvent only — never water or steam; W/S allows either, starting with the gentlest option; X means no liquids at all — vacuum or brush only, professionals for stains. [1]
Find the cleaning code on your fabric swatch, sales order, or manufacturer tag. Test any cleaner on a hidden area first, and avoid over-saturating: moisture trapped in foam causes mildew and water rings. [1]

What we could not source

Weakly sourced: the only fetchable source for the code system this session was a furniture retailer's blog (community tier). Institutional pages (Nebraska EC86-418, Illinois Stain Solutions) were unreachable or discontinued. Treat the manufacturer's own tag wording as authoritative.

Sources

Community Keck Furniture (furniture retailer blog) — Upholstery Cleaning Codes Explained: W, S, W/S, X (accessed 2026-08-18)

Updated 2026-08-18. Compiled from the cited sources; not independently verified by this site. Care labels and manufacturer instructions always take precedence. Spotted an error? See the corrections policy.