Garment Alert: How to Care for Velvet

How to Care for Velvet Clothing:

Velvet is a woven fabric made of silk, nylon, acetate or rayon with a thick, soft pile of cut or uncut loops. A similar fabric, velveteen, is made the same way but from cotton.


For best results, velvet should be dry cleaned. But to freshen the pile and remove creases, steam can be used on the wrong side of the fabric. A hand steamer works well as does holding the garment over a pot of boiling water. In both cases, never allow the garment to become wet. For very light wrinkles, hanging the garment in a steamy bathroom may do the trick

Ironing Tips

Technically, you should never iron velvet. Velvet has a pile or extra fibers added to the weave of the fabric and then clipped to make the lush texture. Ironing will crush the fibers and leave a near-permanent imprint.

Velvet should be steamed. To remove light wrinkles, hanging the garment in a steamy bathroom will probably work. A steamer does the best job removing wrinkles and rejuvenating crushed pile. Hang the garment and move the steamer up and down. Don’t hold the steamer too close to stay in one spot too long or you will damage the material. Use your hands to smooth and lightly shape areas. Use a good clothes brush to remove any lint and “fluff” the finish.

How to Use a Steamer

Clothes steamers are a quick and effect tool for removing wrinkles from clothing, linens, furniture slipcovers and drapes. Steamers are easy to use and following just a few tips will make you look like a professional.

Before working on any fabric, allow the steamer to heat completely. This will prevent sputtering of water before the steam appears. Test to be sure that you have a full head of steam.

Always steam in a vertical, upright position. Pressing down on a garment will not help to release the wrinkles. It also allows the condensation in the steamer hose to flow down, not dribble out.


To use the steamer, touch the material lightly with the steam head and wrinkles will instantly vanish. Do not directly touch velvet with the head of the clothes steamer. Some articles, such as silk, can be steamed better from the underside. This allows the steam to relax the fibers of the material, thus removing the wrinkles.

Never overfill your steamer or allow it to run dry which can damage the heating element. Keep the water container upright to prevent spills. Empty excess water before storing.

Never hold your hand directly in the steam. Burns can occur more quickly than you think. Keep it away from children.

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