When life gets messy — and let’s be honest, it always does — having the right upholstery can make everyday cleanups a whole lot easier. That’s one of the reasons performance fabrics like Reliapel™ from HomeStretch can be a great fit for busy homes, especially for families, pet owners, and anyone shopping for reclining furniture that sees daily use.
Reliapel is a next-generation performance fabric exclusive to HomeStretch. According to HomeStretch, it is designed to feel soft while offering strong resistance to dirt, scratches, liquids, and common household stains like sauce, juice, wine, and even most paints. With Reliapel, many of these messes should wipe clean with little more than a damp cloth.
That said, not all performance fabrics are the same, and “performance fabric” does not mean “no maintenance.” Regular care still matters. That’s why today we’ll be discussing how to clean and maintain your Reliapel upholstery safely and effectively. Let’s get to it.
[Disclaimer: Reliapel is a HomeStretch-exclusive performance fabric. Specific care guidance may vary by product, cover, or furniture style. When in doubt, check your furniture tag, ask your retailer, or contact HomeStretch for exact cleaning instructions. Have you found the tag, but need help understanding the fabric’s cleaning code? Read our guide to upholstery cleaning codes here.]
What Makes Reliapel Fabric Unique?
Reliapel is crafted around one main idea — making everyday furniture easier to live with. HomeStretch describes their exclusive polyester / polyurethane performance fabric as a soft-touch cover made for challenging home environments, including homes with kids and pets. That makes Reliapel especially useful on HomeStretch’s reclining furniture, where spills, snacks, pets, and daily wear are common.
Liquids are designed to repel from the surface, and many common stains can be cleaned with just a damp cloth. It is also described as highly resistant to stains and scratches, though HomeStretch notes that some precautions should still be taken when caring for the product. We’ll cover those below.
But first, let’s get into how to care for your new Reliapel upholstery, including spot cleaning and how to handle tougher stains.

Everyday Maintenance for Reliapel Fabric
Even if you’re not dealing with a spill, a little regular care is the #1 thing that can help your upholstery look better, longer. For example:
- Vacuum regularly with a hand-vac or a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush or upholstery attachment to remove dust, crumbs, pet hair, and other debris.
- Beyond that, use a lint roller as needed for stubborn pet hair, fuzz, lint, or other debris that does not come loose during vacuuming.
- Any time you see or suspect surface dirt, wipe away with a clean, slightly damp cloth before it has time to build up.
- Don’t let crumbs, grit, or pet debris sit in seams, reclining channels, or high-contact areas.
These small habits are easiest when built into your weekly cleaning routine.
How To Spot Clean Reliapel Fabric
Keep in mind that Reliapel is designed with a liquid-repellent barrier so that many messes can be wiped clean with a damp cloth — including food and drink messes like wine, juice, sauces, condiments, and even most paints. For that reason, you can start really simple when it comes to everyday spills.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Warm water
- Clean white cloth
- Soft-bristle brush (optional)
- Mild dish soap like Dawn (if needed)
Here are your first steps:
- Remove any excess debris or spilled material.
- Blot the stain right away with a clean white cloth. Avoid rubbing at first.
- Dampen a clean cloth with warm water and gently wipe the affected area.
- Rinse by wiping with a clean cloth dampened with plain water, repeat until cloth comes up clean.
- Allow the fabric to air dry completely before using.
For common stains, this should be enough. Just remember, for best results, clean the mess early before it dries or gets worked into the fabric.
How To Handle Tougher Stains on Reliapel Upholstery
Start with the same water-only method above. For tougher stains that do not respond to this treatment, you may need to step up to a mild soap-and-water solution:
- If water alone does not work, mix a small amount of Dawn dish soap with warm water.
- Apply the soapy water with a damp cloth, then gently blot or wipe the stain.
- Rinse by wiping with a clean cloth dampened with plain water, repeat until cloth comes up clean.
The key is to work slowly and methodically, and to avoid rough scrubbing and harsh cleaners that can damage Reliapel’s stain and liquid barrier.
As a result, we do not recommend bleaches, solvents, alcohol-based cleaners, or strong stain removers unless HomeStretch or the furniture care label specifically says they are safe for your exact item.
What to Avoid When Cleaning Reliapel Fabric

Even though Reliapel is built for real life, it still deserves careful cleaning.
- Avoid abrasive brushes, rough scrubbing, or scouring pads that can fray or puncture fibers.
- Avoid bleach, solvent-based cleaners, or any cleaning agent marked flammable unless the manufacturer specifically confirms it is safe for your exact cover.
- Avoid oversaturating the fabric or letting moisture soak into seams or cushion areas.
- Avoid high-heat drying methods. Let the fabric air dry instead.
4 General Long-Term Tips for Preserving Your Reliapel Upholstery
- Clean spills quickly. Early action is almost always easier than deep cleaning later.
- Keep furniture out of direct sunlight where possible to reduce long-term fading and wear.
- Use throws or washable covers in high-contact areas if pets, kids, or frequent snacking are part of daily life.
- Pay special attention to arms, headrests, footrests, and seat fronts on reclining furniture, since those areas usually see the most body contact.
Got More Performance Fabric Questions? Let Us Be Your Upholstery Resource!
If you’re not completely sure whether your HomeStretch furniture is upholstered in Reliapel, or you’re dealing with a stubborn stain that won’t budge, feel free to reach out to Woodstock Furniture & Mattress Outlet. Message us in our convenient live chat, or come by any of our Atlanta area or North Georgia furniture stores, bring us your cleaning code, fabric tag, or product information, and we’ll help you find the safest next step.
For more helpful info, check out our other upholstery care resources below:
- How To Clean Upholstery Fabric: Our Guide to Stains & Upholstery Cleaning Codes
- How To Clean Revolution Fabric: A Step-by-Step Care Guide for Olefin Upholstery
- How To Clean Sunbrella Fabric: A Practical Care Guide for Acrylic Performance Upholstery
- How To Clean Crypton Fabric: A Trusted Care Guide for Cleaning Engineered Performance Upholstery
- How To Clean LiveSmart Fabric: A Care Guide for Moisture-Resistant Performance Upholstery
- How To Clean Nuvella Fabric: A Care Guide for Ashley's Solution-Dyed Performance Upholstery
- How to Clean Sunbelievable Fabric: A Care Guide for Indoor/Outdoor Performance Upholstery
















