I have a brocade, silk, and a designer (Donghia) fabrics that I am not sure of the fiber content. But it is fabulous in texture and color. With high quality natural fabrics you have to be careful. All natural fabrics will stain. As will natural cellulocis fabrics (rayon, acetate, lyocell) as there base is from a cellulose.

Man-made fibers, such as nylon, polyester, acetate, will usually not stain, but they will melt.

My dining room chairs are covered in a Zimmer & Rohdes beautiful cotton blend with some silk. They have had drips and spills, but seem to recover nicely.

Always keep a large scrap of the fabric to test different cleaners on if the need arises for cleaning. This is the only way you will know whether a cleaner is safe and effective to use on that particular fabric.

Always blot a spill-- never, never rub! Rubbing will only work the spill into the fibers. When you blot, blot gently. Heavy handed blotting can also work the spill into the fiber.

Make sure that any fabric you select is made specifically for upholstery. Upholstery fabrics have a finish on them that help guard against staining and they are more durable. Don't believe anyone that tries to tell you otherwise. Most manufacture will list the uses for the fabric in the back of the swatch book. If it is not listed, contact them by phone or email. I find most manufactures are responsive to such inquires.

Before you buy, check with the upholstery shop on the yardage needed. Like wallpaper, pattern repeat must be calculated, in addition to any self-welting. You want each chair to have the exact placement of the pattern.

Silk must be backed with a lining before it can be used for upholstery. There is go way of getting around it. Without the backing the fabric will not hold its shape. No reputable furniture maker or upholstery shop will put un-backed silk on a piece. If the upholstery shop does not do the backing in their shop, they will be able to give you the name of a place that will back the silk for you. The upholstery fabric store might also offer this service. Other lightweight or loosely woven fabrics may require a lining as well. If you are unsure if a backing is needed, take a sample to the upholstery shop for evaluation before you buy.

Thank you everyone for all of your information! I loooveee this forum-you are all so great! I still am stumped-the outdoor acrylic fabric I was going to use has only 12,000 rubs so I'm still searching for that perfect fabric. These are kitchen chairs so the hunt is hard! Thank you to everyone who has made suggestions and gave me information, I feel more equipped to make a good choice. Thank you!

Dacron is a notorious stain magnate....and wool a stain repellant...
I have a bench that is a regular "dog perch" and has been for more than 20 years....it's cotton velvet and wipes clean with a wet cloth.....after spraying with stain repellant, of course!
My daily use dining room chaire are covered in cotton sateen....at least 18 years...
For the seats of kitchen chairs? all the rules about backing silk can be broken....the area is not that large and the seats that "cushy".
Do you need them to last more than 7 or 8 years??
Go for it!
Linda C

Breaking the rule on silk backing for kitchen chairs is not true. Each time you sit in a chair, the padded is depressed. The silk is stretched down away from the edges. When you stand up, the padding comes back up and the stress on the silk is released. This repeative motion of weight and pressure stress and release will stretch the silk out.