What is Performance Linen?

There's a "new" upholstery fabric on the market that's generating buzz: Performance Linen. Manufacturers describe Performance Linen as "a modern, durable fabric designed to offer the luxurious feel of traditional linen with enhanced functionality for everyday use, making it ideal for high-traffic areas or homes with pets and kids."

Unlike 100% natural linen, Performance Linen is engineered by manufacturers to resist stains, moisture marking, cellulosic browning, pilling, and wear. Depending on the manufacturer, Performance Linen fabric is constructed in one of several ways:

100% Synthetic Fabrics: Some Performance Linen fabrics are made entirely from synthetic fibers, such as PET or PTT polyester. These fabrics are moisture-resistant, stain-resistant, durable, and easy to clean, but they may lack the softness and natural slub texture of traditional linen.

Fiber Blended Fabrics: Other performance linen fabrics are a blend of natural linen, cotton, and polyester, or sometimes Triexta. These fabrics retain the softness, texture, and breathability of natural fibers but are often heavily coated with a stain-resistant protector. This coating can degrade with heavy use or during professional cleaning.

How Do You Clean Performance Linen?

Always check with the manufacturer for specific cleaning recommendations, then apply your professional technical knowledge and judgment. For natural and synthetic fiber blends, it's best to use cleaning methods and chemicals that won't damage the natural fibers or result in issues such as cellulosic browning, shrinkage, or texture distortion. Although manufacturers promote Performance Linen as a "stain-resistant" fabric, stains may be difficult to remove if the treatment has degraded.

If the fiber is 100% synthetic then it will most likely have issues releasing oily soils. To help release these soils, a professionally formulated d-limonene booster can be added to the upholstery pre-spray. This will assist in dissolving and releasing oily residues effectively.

Want to master these techniques? Join our upcoming IICRC Upholstery Fabric Technician (UFT) livestream class! This hands-on class dives into the nuances of cleaning all types of fabrics, providing you with expert-level skills to handle even the most delicate and challenging materials. Don't miss the opportunity—reserve your spot today and take your upholstery cleaning expertise to the next level!