Life gets messy and your furniture is no exception. From spilling wine on the couch to children tracking in mud after playing outside, we are constantly fighting a battle against a challenging opponent: stains. To help you go into battle fully-equipped, we have listed the most common stains and how to remove them from your furniture.
Pre-Cleaning Tips for Removing Stains From Furniture
Before you start the cleaning process, make sure to read through these important tips:
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Read the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions. These instructions include crucial information that can help you remove the stain without having to research other remedies. If you don’t follow it, you can potentially void warranties and ruin your furniture instead of fixing it.
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Take a look at the tags. Reading the tags on your furniture can simplify the process by answering questions about cleaning dos and don’ts for that item, such as if the material is water soluble. You’ll usually find one of four letters on the cleaning tag of your upholstered furniture. Here’s what they mean:
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W — You can clean this material using water.
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S — No water. You need to buy a special solvent-based cleaner.
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WS — You can use water or a solvent-based cleaner.
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X — Must be professionally cleaned. You can only vacuum or brush the material.
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Vacuum before you start cleaning. This removes any residual debris from previous spills and messes so they don’t sink down into the fabric when you clean it.
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If in doubt, test it out. If you can’t find instructions or aren’t sure which cleaning method will work for the stain, choose a hidden area to test it out and adjust the method as necessary.
Red Wine
Parties for Wine Wednesday or relaxing nights at home sometimes result in the dreaded wine spill on your carpet or furniture. When this happens, try your hardest to not go into panic mode. Quickly follow these steps on how to remove the wine stain from your furniture and get back to sipping and enjoying the night.
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Blot the area with a clean, dry towel or cloth to pick up the remaining liquid. Do not scrub.
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Pour a small amount of carbonated water directly on the stain. Blot dry. Repeat as needed.
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Mix ¼ cup of baking soda and ⅛ cup of water to form a paste. Apply the paste to the stain and let it sit for several hours until completely dry. Vacuum it off.
Butter & Oil
Eating greasy and oily food isn’t just bad for your body, it’s bad for your furniture. Greasy hands leave a lasting mark if you don’t know how to remove the stain from your furniture. When you find yourself in the midst of an oily food mess, clean it up quickly and easily with these steps. Keep in mind, there are a few different ways to remove grease stains from furniture, so take a look at them all to see which one works best for your item.
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Sprinkle the area with cornstarch or baking soda and let it sit for 15-20 minutes. This helps lift out the grease.
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Vacuum the area using the upholstery attachment.
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Use a little dish soap and scrub at the area with soft items like a toothbrush.
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Blot it clean with a moist paper towel.
Ink
Ink stains may seem insignificant compared to a big red wine splotch on your couch, but they will slowly turn your furniture into an art piece that no one wants to buy. Whether the kids drew on the dining room chair cushions or your pen spilled ink on the sofa, keep your furniture looking as it did when you bought it with these directions.
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Mix a solution of one tablespoon of white vinegar and ⅔ cup of rubbing alcohol.
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Dip a clean towel or cloth into the solution and blot the stain.
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WARNING: Don’t rub the stain because it will only spread it further.
Mud & Dirt
No matter what you do, mud and dirt will get tracked into the house year round. The goal is to keep that dirt contained in the entryway, but that doesn’t always work out like we’d want it to. With children, pets, and guests, it’s almost an impossible challenge to prevent mud from dirtying your home. Beat the challenge by removing the furniture stains with these tips.
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Let the dirt dry. Scrape off the excess and vacuum any loose pieces.
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Mix a solution of two cups of water and one tablespoon of clear dishwashing liquid.
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Using a sponge, apply the solution to the stain.
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Blot dry. Repeat as needed.
Beer & Coffee
The two staple drinks of most working adults are beer and coffee. These beverages are delicious and brighten up your day until they sadly darken your furniture with stains. Don’t remove the drinks from your diet out of fear of their staining power. On those messy days, simply use these directions on how to remove the stain from your furniture.
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For beer stains, rub the stain with an ice cube.
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Mix a small amount of liquid detergent (a teaspoon should be plenty) and warm water.
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With a paper towel, use this solution to blot at the stain.
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Coffee stains can be removed the same way, but you can skip the ice cube step and get right to the detergent solution.
Pet Stains
Our fur babies bring so much joy and laughter to our homes, but they also bring stinky messes. Don’t be distracted by those sweet “I’m sorry eyes” for too long because the stains your pets leave can turn your home into one big, smelly kennel. Keep your house fresh and clean by following these steps on how to remove the stains from your furniture:
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Mix a solution of one cup of white vinegar and one cup of cool water.
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Spray solution onto the stain (Be careful not to soak the area).
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Use a clean towel or cloth to blot the stain. Work from the outside edges of the stain to the center.
And there you have it! With these tips and directions, you can win the battle against stubborn stains. From now on, you can go about your days in comfort knowing that life’s messes, spills, and stains are no match for you and your home. You can also check out the 5 most kid-friendly furniture fabrics in this blog post.
