Keeping upholstered furniture clean is about more than appearance in an aged care setting — it’s part of infection control, resident comfort, and protecting the lifespan (and warranty) of furniture you’ve invested in. The good news: most modern aged-care-specific fabrics are engineered to be cleaned hard, and many can be safely disinfected with a diluted bleach solution.

This guide covers which popular aged care fabrics can be bleach cleaned, how to do it without damaging the fabric, and the questions cleaners ask us most often.

The short answer: Yes — many antimicrobial aged care fabrics can be bleach cleaned, but never assume. Always check the care label or manufacturer instructions first, and always pre-test on a hidden area, because not every quality within a range is bleach-safe.

Before you start: 4 rules for every fabric

1. Check the care label first. Cleaning codes and bleach tolerance vary even within the same fabric range.
2. Pre-test on a hidden area. Apply your solution out of sight and let it dry before doing the whole piece.
3. Rinse thoroughly. Leftover residue can mask the fabric’s stain- and water-repellent finish. Rinse with cold water and extract.
4. Dry fully before reuse. Allow furniture to dry at room temperature before it goes back into service.

Warwick Tritan fabrics

(Anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, anti-dust mite)

• Mix a 5% bleach (sodium hypochlorite) to 95% water solution.
• Pre-test on a hidden area first.
• The solution can stay on the surface for up to 10 minutes, then must be thoroughly rinsed off using a water-extraction machine with cold water.
• Extract residual moisture and allow to dry at room temperature. Furniture must be fully dry before reuse.

Note: not all Tritan qualities can be bleach cleaned — confirm via the care label or warwick.com.au.

Materialised – Zircon Zem

(Anti-bacterial, anti-microbial; waterproof base cloth)

• Protect from direct sunlight and vacuum regularly.
• Blot off liquid soiling; remove bulky matter with a flat blade.
• Brush/vacuum off loose particles, then mop up excess spills with a soft brush or sponge.
• Wash the fabric face with plain water, mild soap solution, powdered enzyme detergent (e.g. Radiant), or upholstery shampoo. Use only water-based products — no solvent-based cleaners.
• For disinfection, use Crypton Care (from Materialised) or diluted bleach at 1 part bleach to 10 parts water.
• Remove all cleaning product completely — residue masks repellency. Test a hidden area first. Steam cleaning is suitable.

Materialised – HealthGuard

HealthGuard is a concentrated antimicrobial finish applied to Zircon Zem, Zircon Peau De Peche and Zircon Linen — all waterproof base cloths with a soil-release surface. It’s a safe, non-irritant, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial treatment that increases product lifespan, emits no VOCs, contains no heavy metals or organo-chlorines, eliminates Golden Staph and MRSA (A129), and biodegrades safely. All treated articles are independently tested by universities and accredited institutes. Follow the Zircon Zem cleaning steps above and confirm bleach tolerance on the care label.

Materialised – cleanable with Clinell Wipes

Materialised specify that the following fabrics are cleanable with Clinell Wipes: Vaggio, Melange, Grand Sierra, Laurel, Vista, Weave and Impression.

See the full list of Materialised fabrics that are Cleanable with Clinell Wipes.

Wortley – vinyls

• General maintenance: clean weekly/fortnightly with warm soapy water, then dry with a clean cloth.
• Spot cleaning: a 50:50 solution of methylated spirits and water; rub gently, then follow with warm soapy water.
• Bleach/disinfectant cleaning: suitable on Austex Linea, Austex Pellan Ultimate, Austex Plush and Austex Soho Allure Dye, using a 1:10 bleach solution or common disinfectant wipes.

Quick bleach dilution reference

• Warwick Tritan & Lustrell: 5% bleach / 95% water (about 1:20)
• Materialised Zircon / HealthGuard / Vista (vinyl): 1 part bleach : 10 parts water
• Wortley vinyls (listed Austex ranges, plus Studio Encore and Tessuto): 1 part bleach : 10 parts water

Always confirm against the current care label — these are general guides, not a substitute for manufacturer instructions.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need to rinse bleach off upholstery?

Yes — leave it on only briefly (up to 10 minutes for Warwick Tritan), then rinse thoroughly with cold water and extract. Residue can degrade the fabric and mask its stain-repellent finish.

Is a 50/50 bleach and water solution safe for aged care fabric?

No — that’s far too strong. Aged care fabrics use much weaker dilutions (around 1:10, or 5% for Warwick Tritan). The 50:50 methylated spirits/water mix is only for spot-cleaning Wortley vinyls.

Can bleach cause stains or colour loss?

It can if too concentrated, left on too long, or not rinsed out — which is why you pre-test and stick to the recommended dilution.

How do I disinfect chairs between residents?

On bleach-cleanable fabrics, use the recommended dilution, leave briefly, rinse, extract and dry fully. For non-bleach-safe fabrics, use the manufacturer’s approved disinfectant.

How do I know if my fabric can be bleach cleaned?

Check the care label or manufacturer care sheet — not every quality within a range is bleach-safe.

Choosing fabrics that are easy to clean

If you’re specifying furniture for a new fit-out or refurbishment, fabric choice makes infection control far easier. Antimicrobial, bleach-cleanable fabrics like the ranges above are built for high-traffic aged care environments. See our upholstery options and care guide, or contact our team for advice on the right fabric for your facility.