How to Remove Stains from Sofas
Accidents can happen to the best of us, no matter how hard we try to keep everything clean! Whether you have a small child pouring juice onto everything or you dropped some of Friday night’s curry after a few glasses of wine, marks and stains on the upholstery can be a super annoying and daunting task to deal with. But there are a few tips and tricks you can use to help you remove those stains quickly and effectively – restoring your pride and joy to its former glory in no time at all.
Before you start, always check the labels on your upholstery to see whether it has a specific cleaning code. They usually look like this:
- W = wet or water cleaning
- S = dry cleaning only
- SW = wet and dry cleaning both appropriate
- X = professional cleaning only
If you are unsure, call the shop where you bought your sofa to find out more. Once you have this information, you can find the best way to remove the stains.
Grease
Hoover the area first to lift any excess grease and then pour baking soda onto the affected area and leave for 20 minutes. Depending on when the stain occurred, this should soak up a lot of the excess grease. Hoover the baking soda up and blot the remaining stain with a clean cloth soaked in vodka or a toothbrush and washing up liquid.
Food
Water and soap are usually good at most food stains. Using a clean wet cloth, work a small amount of soap into the stain, leave for 20 minutes and blot with a clean sponge. If this doesn’t work, try using a cleaner with enzymes in it, such as biological laundry liquid.
Wine
Believe it or not, it is possible to remove wine from upholstery. First of all, try lifting the stain out by using sparkling water and a clean cloth. If you find that doesn’t produce the desired effect, mix a tablespoon of vinegar and a teaspoon of laundry detergent in four cups of cold water. Using a clean cloth, dab at the stain with the mixture, leave for a few minutes then blot with a clean sponge afterwards.
Ink
If you have any rubbing alcohol to hand, pour a small amount directly onto the stain and then gently dab at the stain from the outside in with a clean cloth. It is super important to avoid rubbing the stain as this will spread it further and make the problem worse.
Coffee
Though it is a tough stain to work with, coffee can be removed with a small amount of detergent and warm water on a clean cloth. Gently blot at the stain with the cloth and then soak it up with a paper towel.
If you’re looking for a sofa for your home, head to our showroom in Weston-super-Mare or drop us a line on 01934 513740 to speak to our experienced, knowledgeable staff. They will provide you with support and dedicated assistance to help you find the perfect sofa for every room in the house.
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