Bryan,
The reason behind manufactures' cleaning instructions are not always obvious.
All the fibres in an upholstery fabric may be dry cleanable but the fabric may have a spray-applied backing or surface coating which is intolerant dry cleaning solvents.
Alternatively it may be because despite the fabric being dry cleanable, the manufacturer is aware the a dry cleaning shop will use a tumble-drier, the heat of which may cause damage.
It is long overdue for an organisation such as the BSI to introduce some sanity into the labelling of upholstery, detailing such things as fibre content, padding, pH sensitivity etc.
Since the fabric producers are becoming cleverer at imitating one fibre or fabric with another, so the risk factor for the cleaner becomes greater. Pre-testing is our only defence but there are some things which do not become obvious until after a normal test period has expired.
John.
