Success was found by DuPont when they discovered what they initially called Fiber A.  Fiber A could successfully stand in for silk or wool, depending on the context in which it was used.  In 1950, the fiber was dubbed Orlon and more testing on it was begun.  During this time, other fiber manufacturers developed their own versions of the new material.  These fibers would later come to be known as acrylic.

Furniture textiles are not often made from acrylic, but acrylic blends are a much more common occurrence.  The qualities of acrylic that make it attractive as an ingredient in blends are its high level of color acceptance (meaning that it takes dyes easily) and its resistance to mold, sunlight, and insect damage.  It also dries quickly and is an extremely resilient fiber.

One notable quality of acrylic fibers is that they accept a wide variety of dyes.  Cationic and disperse dyes are usually successful, and there are certain types of acrylic that are able to be colored with acid dyes.

The stain resistance of acrylic fabrics is related to the type of dye that affects the fiber.  Acrylics that are able to be dyed with cationic dyes tend to resist food and beverage stains, while acid-dyeable acrylics are susceptible to this type of stain.

When cleaning acrylic fabrics, the regular methods of wet cleaning are usually safe and effective.  As with any fabric and any cleaning method, however, testing a small and inconspicuous area before cleaning the entire piece is necessary to avoid damage.  Acrylics are usually resistant to cleaning solvents used in the course of fabric cleaning.