How to Clean a Fabric Ottoman

Remove everything stored in the ottoman. Clean the interior by giving it a thorough vacuum. Use a brush attachment, but change to the crevice nozzle to clean all debris and dust out of the corners. Dip a microfiber cloth into a solution of mild detergent and warm water. Wring it out, and wipe all the internal surfaces. Dry with a paper towel.

Vacuum the exterior of the ottoman using the upholstery attachment. If the surface includes buttoned indents, attach the crevice nozzle, and use it to remove dust and debris from these areas.

Proceed no further until you are sure which cleaning code applies to the fabric on your ottoman. The codes are "W," "S," "W-S" and "X." The only cleaning method you can use, in the case of code "X", is vacuuming, or light brushing. Anything else may damage the fabric.

Create foam by mixing a mild detergent or nonsolvent upholstery shampoo with water to spot clean a fabric ottoman with a cleaning code "W." Use a soft brush to apply the foam to the stain. Work in circular motions. Allow the area to dry, and then vacuum thoroughly. A professional upholstery cleaner should carry out all-over deep cleaning of an ottoman with code "W."

Clean spots and stains on a fabric ottoman with a cleaning code "S" by using a water-free solvent or dry cleaning product. Apply a little of the fluid to the stain in the manner recommended by the manufacturer. The product should contain the toxic chemical "carbon tetrachloride." Once again, a professional should carry out all-over cleaning.

Remove stains and marks from a fabric ottoman with cleaning code "W-S" using either a mild solvent or the foam from an upholstery shampoo or mild detergent. All-over cleaning of these ottomans should also be carried out by a professional upholstery cleaner.