Textile Cleaning Codes: Upholstery Letters and Laundry Symbols Explained
A letter on an upholstery tag and a letter inside a laundry-care symbol do not necessarily mean the same thing. Read the whole label, identify the system and use the manufacturer’s instructions for that item. A code narrows the method; it does not name every chemical that is safe.
- Read W, S, W-S/WS and X as upholstery instructions only where the maker uses that system.
- A professional-care circle is a different system from an upholstery letter.
- A removable or zipped cover is not automatically washable.
In this guide
- Common upholstery cleaning letters
- Letters in a professional-care circle
- Covers, extra letters and missing labels
- Before any permitted spot treatment
Common upholstery cleaning letters
| Code | Usual meaning in this upholstery system | What it does not establish |
|---|---|---|
| W | A permitted water-based upholstery cleaner, subject to the manufacturer’s method. | Permission to soak, machine wash or steam/extract the furniture. |
| S | A permitted water-free upholstery solvent method. | Permission to use any solvent, alcohol or baby wipe. |
| W-S / WS | A permitted water-based or solvent upholstery method. | Compatibility with every product or stain-removal recipe. |
| X | Vacuuming or the specified dry maintenance only. | Permission for a water or solvent spot treatment. |
La-Z-Boy: upholstery cleaning letters and restrictions gives an example of this system and its further restrictions. Product instructions remain important even when the letter looks familiar. Check the actual fabric range rather than treating the table as a manufacturer’s guarantee.
Letters in a professional-care circle
GINETEX: textile care symbols and professional cleaning treats the professional-care circle separately from washing, bleaching, drying and ironing. P and F identify professional dry-cleaning processes; W in a circle identifies professional wet cleaning. Bars beneath symbols indicate process restrictions. These are instructions for an appropriate professional, not home-mixing directions.
In particular, P does not mean that you should apply a household water solution, and a professional wet-cleaning W is not blanket approval for domestic upholstery extraction. Keep the shape of the symbol as well as the letter when asking for advice.
Covers, extra letters and missing labels
- Look for separate instructions for the furniture body, removable cover and cushion filling.
- Treat a zip as a construction feature until the care instructions confirm customer removal and washing.
- Do not assign a universal meaning to other letters such as C, F, R, OP or L on an upholstery label; they may be manufacturer-specific or part of a different system.
- For a missing or unclear label, contact the retailer or maker with the model and fabric details. Avoid guessing from appearance or a water-drop test.
Keep a photograph of the complete label. Cropping it to one letter can remove the washing prohibition, symbol shape or model information needed to interpret it.
Before any permitted spot treatment
- Identify the spill and the care instruction for the affected component.
- Choose a product that explicitly suits the permitted method and material.
- Test a hidden area, including inspection after it dries. A test reduces uncertainty but does not guarantee an entire panel will behave identically.
- Follow the quantity, contact time, removal and ventilation instructions.
- Stop if colour transfers, the texture changes or a mark spreads.
Use our upholstery-care guide for first-response decisions. For a specific water ring, read the watermark guide before adding more moisture.
Ask for a material-specific cleaning assessment
Send Crown the full care label, furniture model, fabric details and treatment history. The code is a starting point for choosing a method, not a promise that every stain can be removed.
View the service and discuss the item before booking.
Sources and care guidance
Sources checked on 16 October 2026. Manufacturer guidance applies to the named products; use the instructions for your own item.