Upholstery fabric guide
Canvas Fabric and Upholstery Guide
Canvas is a heavy, tightly woven fabric, traditionally made from cotton or linen and today also from synthetic fibres. This guide covers how it is made, how to care for it and when to call a professional.
- Can fade
- Very strong
- Mildew risk
- Plain weave
- Steam or dry
- Cleaned across Brisbane
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WoolSafe® Approved ProductsFor wool and other natural fibres, we use low-alkalinity, independently tested solutions that preserve the fibres, protect colourfastness and leave no sticky, soil-attracting residue.
CleanSeal® Approved ProductsFor synthetic upholstery fabrics, we use high-performance solutions approved to clean deeply while maintaining your manufacturer’s fabric protections.
Very strongHeavy and tough
Can fadeIn strong sunlight
Mildew riskIf stored damp
Steam or dryChosen after inspection
The fabric
What Is Canvas Fabric?
Canvas is a heavy, tightly woven fabric, traditionally made from cotton or linen and today also from synthetic fibres. It is prized for its strength and durability.
Canvas is a plain weave fabric. Knowing which fibre your upholstery is made from is the first step to cleaning it safely, because every fibre reacts differently to water, heat and cleaning products.
Canvas at a glance
- Very strong and hard wearing
- Dense weave resists tearing
- Softens with age and use
- Natural canvas can shrink or mildew
- Can fade in strong sunlight
- Treated canvas sheds light spills
- Untreated canvas absorbs oils and marks
How it is made
How Is Canvas Fabric Made?
Canvas is woven in a plain weave from thick yarns pulled tight, which makes a dense, stiff fabric. It is often treated or coated to shed water and resist mildew.
The way a fabric is made decides how it feels, how long it lasts and how it should be cleaned, so it is worth knowing before you buy or book a clean.
Where canvas upholstery is used
- Outdoor furniture and cushions
- Deck chairs and director’s chairs
- Casual lounges and slipcovers
- Caravan and marine seating
- Awnings and covers
Care
How to Clean Canvas Upholstery
Always check the manufacturer’s care tag first. W means water-based cleaners are fine, S means use a solvent or dry-cleaning product, WS means either, and X means vacuum only.
Do
- Brush or vacuum off dry dirt
- Blot spills straight away
- Let it dry fully in the air
- Store it dry to avoid mildew
- Spot test cleaners first
Avoid
- Store canvas damp
- Use bleach on coloured canvas
- Dry cotton canvas with high heat, which can shrink it
- Scrub hard
Steam or dry
Canvas Upholstery Cleaning: Steam or Dry?
Heavy canvas tolerates steam well when it is colourfast, while a dry clean suits treated or delicate canvas. We choose after inspecting it.
See how steam cleaning and dry cleaning work.
What our technician does
- Inspects the fabric and its care tag
- Vacuums to remove dry soil
- Pre-treats stains and marks
- Chooses the safest cleaning method
- Deodorises and dries it quickly
Professional help
When to Call a Professional for Canvas Upholstery Cleaning
Canvas used outdoors in Brisbane’s humidity can develop mildew. We assess it first and tell you what is realistic.
We come to you anywhere in Brisbane. Read about our outdoor furniture cleaning service.
Call a professional when
- A stain will not lift by blotting
- The care code says S or X
- The piece is delicate, antique or valuable
- There is an odour or sign of mould
- It has been over a year since the last clean
Related guides
Canvas Upholstery and Related Fabric Guides
Explore all of our upholstery fabric guides.
Hemp is a natural fibre from the stem of the hemp plant, used for thousands of years in textiles, rope and sailcloth.
Learn moreQuestions
Canvas Upholstery FAQs
Can canvas upholstery shrink?
Natural cotton canvas can shrink if it is washed hot or dried with high heat. Gentle, controlled cleaning avoids it.
Does canvas go mouldy?
Untreated canvas can mildew if it stays damp, especially in humid weather, so it should dry fully and be stored dry.
Is canvas good for outdoor furniture?
Treated or synthetic canvas suits outdoor use well, though it can fade in strong sun.
Book canvas upholstery cleaning
Call us or send a quote request and we will take it from there.