Lifestyle Fabrics Guide
“Lifestyle” or easy-clean fabrics are upholstery fabrics treated so that spills sit on the surface instead of soaking in, and most everyday marks come off with water and a cloth. If you have children, pets, or a pale sofa on your wish list, they take most of the worry out of the decision. Here's what they are, what they will and won't do, and how to choose one. Shop fabric sofas →
In this guide
What they are
The name covers a family of fabrics rather than one material. Most are tightly woven polyester microfibres, chenilles or soft-touch weaves with a stain-resistant finish applied during manufacture. Different mills brand the technology differently; what they share is a fibre that doesn't absorb liquid readily, so wine, tea and felt-tip stay on the surface long enough to blot away. Many of the made-to-order ranges we sell from Buoyant, Lebus and VIDA Living can be ordered in a treated easy-clean fabric — ask us which fabrics on your chosen range carry the finish.
How they work
Two things happen. The finish makes the fibres repel water-based liquids, so a spill beads and can be blotted rather than spreading through the weave. And the weave itself is dense, so anything that does get past the surface stays in the top layer where a damp cloth can reach it. Most treated fabrics are cleaned with water alone — the manufacturers usually recommend against detergents, which can strip the finish.
What they won't do
Being honest about this is what stops people being disappointed. An easy-clean fabric is not indestructible. It won't stop claws snagging a loose weave, it won't hide dye transfer from new jeans on a cream sofa, and a spill left overnight will still mark. What it does is give you time — minutes rather than seconds — and make the clean-up a cloth rather than a professional. On a family sofa that's the difference between a stain and a shrug.
Who they suit
- Young children — the main reason people ask for them. Juice, chocolate and crayons wipe off.
- Dogs and cats — choose a tight, flat weave in the family (not a loop or bouclé) and a mid-tone colour; muddy paws clean off, and short hairs brush away.
- Anyone who wants a pale sofa — oatmeal, stone and light grey become realistic choices.
- Busy rooms — the sofa the family eats on in front of the TV.
Choosing one
Treat it like any other fabric first: feel it, check the Martindale rub count (20,000+ for everyday use, 30,000+ heavy-duty), and take a swatch home to see the colour in your light. Then ask two questions about the finish: is it cleaned with water only? and is the finish in the fibre or sprayed on? Finishes built into the fibre last the life of the sofa; sprayed-on treatments wear off in a few years. The fabric label or swatch book will say. The fabric sofa guide covers the rest — frames, fillings and back styles.
Cleaning an easy-clean fabric
- Blot first. Press a clean, dry cloth or kitchen paper onto the spill. Don't rub — rubbing pushes it in.
- Then water. Dampen a clean white cloth with lukewarm water and dab from the outside of the mark inwards.
- Let it dry naturally. No hairdryer; heat can set a mark.
- Stubborn marks: a little mild soap is usually fine, but check the fabric's care label first — some finishes specify water only.
- Vacuum weekly with the upholstery tool. Grit in the weave is what wears a fabric, treated or not.
Frequently asked questions
Are lifestyle fabrics the same as Aquaclean?
Aquaclean is one mill’s brand name for a water-clean finish; other mills have their own. They work on the same principle. We’ll tell you which technology a particular fabric uses.
Do they feel different from normal fabric?
Not noticeably. Most are soft microfibres or chenilles; some are a touch smoother than an untreated weave. Feel them in the showroom.
Will the finish wash out?
Finishes built into the fibre last the life of the sofa. Sprayed-on treatments can wear off after a few years and may need reapplying. Ask which type the fabric is.
Are they good with cats?
Good for the cleaning side; choose a tight flat weave rather than a looped or pile fabric so claws have nothing to catch.
Can I get an easy-clean fabric on any sofa?
On most made-to-order ranges from Buoyant, Lebus and VIDA Living, yes — it is a fabric choice rather than a different sofa. Ex-display and in-stock sofas are sold in the fabric they are in.
