Before you treat any stain on upholstery, a rug, or a labeled garment, find the cleaning code. It is a single letter — W, S, WS, or X — usually printed on the furniture tag under the cushion or on the fabric care label. It tells you the one thing that matters most: whether water is safe to use. Using the wrong type of cleaner is how a small stain becomes permanent.
Reading the care-label code
The letter on a fabric tag tells you which cleaner is safe. Check it before you wet anything.
- W Water-based cleaning is safe (mild detergent + water).
- S Solvent only — use a dry-cleaning solvent, keep water away.
- WS Either water-based or solvent cleaners are fine.
- X Do not treat at home — take it to a professional.
What each code means in practice
W — water-based cleaning is safe
You can use water and a water-based cleaner: a few drops of mild dish soap in warm water, or a dedicated water-based upholstery cleaner. Blot, don’t soak. This is the most forgiving code and covers most synthetic fabrics.
S — solvent only, keep water away
Water can cause shrinking, watermarks, or rings on these fabrics. Use a water-free dry-cleaning solvent (or a solvent-based upholstery cleaner), applied to a cloth rather than poured on, and work in a ventilated room. Many delicate, textured, or natural fabrics carry the S code.
WS — either water or solvent is fine
You have both options. Start with the gentler water-based method for water-soluble stains (coffee, juice, most food), and switch to a solvent for greasy or oily stains.
X — vacuum only, no home cleaning
Neither water nor solvent is safe. Only brushing or vacuuming is recommended. For a stain on an X-coded item, go straight to a professional cleaner — home treatment risks permanent damage.
A universal rule that beats any code
Whatever the code, always test your cleaner on a hidden area first — the back of a cushion, an inside seam, a closet-side corner of carpet. Apply a small amount, wait a few minutes, and check for color change or damage before treating the visible stain. When the code is missing and you can’t test safely, treat the item as if it were coded S or X and be conservative.
Care-code letters describe the manufacturer’s recommended cleaning method for upholstery and many textiles. They are guidance, not a guarantee for every stain — when an item is valuable or you’re unsure, a professional cleaner is the safe call.