When life gets messy — and let’s be honest, it always does — having the right upholstery can make all the difference. For families, pet owners, and high-traffic households, we often recommend performance fabrics like Crypton. But it’s worth noting: not all performance fabrics work the same way. Each type offers its own advantages and requires different cleaning and care routines to keep it working like it should.
Crypton® fabric is one of the most popular choices for households that want increased performance without sacrificing soft feel or style. Through Crypton’s patented immersion bath and heat sealing processes, they’re able to imbue their performance fabrics with liquid-repellent and stain-resistant qualities. Designed with built-in resistance to moisture, stains, and odors, Crypton is a favorite in family rooms, pet-friendly spaces, and anywhere life tends to get messy.
But even with its built-in protection, proper care is still key. Whether you're cleaning up a coffee spill or just doing routine maintenance, today’s Crypton care guide will help you understand how to keep your Crypton upholstery clean and performing at its best. Keep scrolling to get started!
[Disclaimer: Since Crypton manufactures their performance fabrics from a variety of different fibers and fiber blends, there may be slight variations in care instructions from one product to another. As a result, we encourage consumers to double check with their upholstery’s seller and/or manufacturer for specific care instructions when in doubt. Need help on how to check and decipher your sofa’s cleaning codes? Read more about those here.]
What Makes Crypton Fabric Unique?
Unlike popular synthetic performance fabrics like Sunbrella (acrylic) and Revolution (olefin/polypropylene), Crypton fabrics are made with many different fibers and blends of fibers, from linen and cotton, to olefin and polyester. Instead of getting their special qualities from just the properties of the fibers themselves, Crypton’s super powers are also thanks to their patented treatment processes. Many other treated fabrics rely on topical sprays or coatings that can wear out or shed chemicals over time, but according to Crypton, their fabrics are engineered from the inside out, sealing their technology into each fiber for the life of the fabric.
Crypton is designed to be liquid repellent, therefore making it resistant to spills, stains, and the odor-causing bacteria and mildew associated with excess moisture. But don’t confuse it with “no maintenance” — Crypton still needs regular care to stay fresh and looking great.
Everyday Maintenance for Crypton Fabrics
Even when your upholstery doesn’t look dirty, regular cleaning helps prevent buildup and can significantly extend the life of your furniture. Here’s how to get started:
- Vacuum weekly using a hand-vac or vacuum with upholstery or brush attachment to remove dust, dander, crumbs, pet hair, or other debris.
- Flip or rotate cushions on a regular basis (if you’ve got unattached cushions) to reduce uneven wear, sagging or fading over time.
- Blot spills quickly — even if they don’t soak in, you don’t want stains to dry in place. Even with performance fabrics like Crypton, the longer a spill sits on the surface, the more time it has to overcome the fabric’s liquid or stain barrier.
These simple habits help preserve your Crypton upholstery's appearance and performance over time. We recommend making the steps above part of your weekly tidying up routine.
How To Spot Clean Crypton Fabrics (Everyday Spills)
Regular maintenance is all well and good, but accidents do happen. When they do, taking the correct action promptly can prevent stubborn stains from setting in. For most spills and stains, a simple soap and water solution is all you need.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Warm water
- Clean white cloth, sponge, or soft-bristle brush
- Mild enzyme soap or detergent like Dawn or Woolite
- 32 oz spray bottle
Here are your first steps:
- Remove Excess Debris and blot the stain right away — don’t rub or scrub initially.
- Mix a solution using your mild soap or detergent and warm water. Use ¼ tsp of Dawn or Woolite to 1 cup of water. For a standard 32 oz spray bottle, this converts to 1 tsp to 32 oz of lukewarm water.
- Spray the stain or dampen a clean cloth, sponge or brush with the solution and lightly scrub in a circular motion from the outside of the stain inwards, rinsing as necessary.
- Rinse thoroughly by blotting with a cloth dampened with clean water to remove all soap and stain residue. Repeat steps #3 and #4 as needed.
- Blot fabric as dry as possible, and allow it to air dry the rest of the way.
How To Deep Clean Crypton Fabric (For Tough or Set-In Stains)
For stubborn or older set-in stains, Crypton recommends seeking out professional hot water extraction using water-based cleaners. Alternatively, you can rent an upholstery cleaning machine from most local hardware stores or purchase a home hot water extraction machine or carpet / upholstery cleaner such as a Bissell Green Machine.
Before attempting this method, start with these steps:
- Vacuum first to remove any loose dirt or debris, and try the initial spot cleaning steps above first. If these steps do not work, proceed.
- Pre-treat the stained area with the mild soap solution above.
- Use water-based extraction only — never solvents or bleach.
- Follow up with a clean water rinse and allow to air dry.
Note: If you're unsure, feel free to call in a professional cleaner familiar with Crypton fabrics.
What to Avoid When Cleaning Crypton Fabric
Even though Crypton is durable and made to repel stains and liquids, some cleaning products and methods can still do harm:
- Do not use bleach or cleaning products containing bleach — it can break down the fibers, fade colors and affect performance.
- Avoid dry cleaning, ironing, and solvent-based cleaners. Instead, stick with mild soaps and detergents.
- Regardless of what method you use to clean your Crypton fabric, take care not to oversaturate the fabric — moisture shouldn’t soak through the upholstery fabric into the cushion core.

General Long-Term Tips for Preserving Your Crypton Upholstery
- Clean regularly — even if you don’t see a stain. It helps to make a quick upholstery inspection and clean-up part of your weekly routine.
- Performance fabrics like Crypton often rely on their liquid repellency as a barrier to prevent staining. Waiting too long to spot clean can defeat this barrier. Don’t sit by and wait for stains to set — early action is always easier than deep cleaning later.
- Keep furniture out of direct sunlight wherever possible. Use throws or washable covers for extra protection against UV exposure as well as from high-traffic or heavy usage.
Got More Performance Fabric Questions? Let Us Be Your Upholstery Resource!
Have a stubborn stain or not sure which Crypton fabric you have? Bring your cleaning code or fabric swatch by, call us, or hop on our live chat and we’ll help you find the safest method for your exact fabric. We’d love to help you identify your fabric and walk you through the right way to care for it.
For more helpful info, check out our other upholstery resources below:
- 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
- What Are Performance Fabrics? Are They Worth It?
- What's the Best Performance Fabric? 3 Performance Fabrics You Should Know
- How to Clean Furniture Upholstery Fabric: A Guide to Upholstery Cleaning Codes
- Revolution Fabric (Olefin) vs. Sunbrella (Acrylic): What's the Difference?
- Furniture FAQ: What Upholstery Fabric Is Best for Kids & Pets?
















