Stains on your sofa? Here's a guide to treat some of the most common types of stains and remove them effectively
The sofa is a key piece of furniture in most homes and is typically constantly in use by our family members, friends and guests. And due to this high frequency of use, sofas can get dirty quite quickly - often picking up hard-to-remove stains too.
So, what are the most common types of stains that get onto sofas and how can you remove these effectively, regardless of the material the sofa is made/covered with? Well, check out the guide below:
1. Coffee and tea
Coffee and tea stains on sofas are particularly common on sofas. To remove these stains, it is important to act promptly, carefully dabbing the tea/coffee stain to remove as much liquid as possible.
Of course, you must pay close attention to the cleaning/washing instructions indicated on the label on your sofa, but generally, (and no matter the type of material), coffee and tea stains can easily be removed. Rub a bar of Marseille soap on the stains and leave the soap to act for 15 minutes before wiping away with a cloth dampened in warm water.
If the stain is fresh, sparkling water is also an effective remedy - but only if the material of the sofa is washable: apply the sparkling water directly to the stain, leave it to act (so that the carbon dioxide bubbles lift the stain) and then dab dry with a sponge or an absorbent cloth.
2. Pets
Having pets in the home is generally a joy, of course, but pets can also sometimes be a headache. Amongst these, pet urine stains on the sofa are perhaps the most annoying. In these cases, speed is of the essence: it's vital to prevent the urine from penetrating the fabric and underlaying cushioning (which, if it happens, may force you to replace the cushions or even the entire sofa to get rid of the smell). Cleaning urine is more complex, but you can still get good results:
- Firstly, dab away any excess urine using a clean cloth and being careful not to rub it deeper into the fabric;
- Prepare a 1:1 solution of water and white vinegar and spray it over the urine-stained area, leaving it to act for 30 minutes before wiping away the stain with a damp cloth. The vinegar should be able to effectively remove the stain, and will help to neutralize the smell of urine;
- To finish the cleaning and neutralize any residual urine odor, add 15-20 drops of essential oil to 250 grams of baking soda and sprinkle this mixture over the affected area in a thick layer. Leave this on to act for several hours, (overnight if necessary), then remove with a vacuum cleaner.
3. Red wine
Other very common, hard-to-remove stains on sofas are red wine stains. Again, it is vital to act immediatley and dab away as much of the wine as possible using paper towels. To effectively remove wine stains, the method varies, depending on whether the stain is still fresh or has dried out:
- for a fresh stain, dab the stained area with milk and leave this on to act for about an hour before rinsing off with warm water;
- for already-dried red wine stains, the remedy of choice is lemon juice: pour the juice directly onto the stain and leave this on to act for 15 minutes before dabbing away the stain using a clean, damp cloth.
4. Oil and fat/grease stains
Another common type of stain found on sofas is caused by fatty/greasy/oily food accidently being dropped on them. And again, acting quickly is important to prevent a fat stain from fixing in the fabric.
The cleaning methods differ depending on the material your sofa is made of:
- Leather and suede sofas - which are quite delicate - can be treated by using Marseille soap. Dampen a microfiber cloth with a solution of a little warm water and Marseille soap (or a neutral soap) and dab the fat stain, taking care not to rub it in any deeper. Wipe away the stain away with a cloth dampened with warm water and allow to dry;
- Fabric-covered sofas are generally more robust and can be treated by using dishwashing detergent (which contains degreasing products). Apply a few drops of the detergent to the fat stain by dabbing it on; leave on for 5 minutes before wiping off with a cloth dampened in warm water. You can also use this method as a pre-treatment remedy if the fat stain is on a cover which can be removed and washed in the washing machine.
5. Ink
Finally, ink stains are also commonly found on sofas, frequently caused by a leaking pen or when the kids "accidently color outside the lines"! Treating an ink stain varies, depending on whether the ink is fresh or dry:
- Fresh ink stains must be dabbed as soon as possible with absorbent paper towels to lift any excess. Move from the edges of the stain towards the middle, taking care not to rub the ink any deeper into the fabric. In the case of light, small ink stains, it may be sufficient to use an ink eraser. Once treated with the eraser, remove any residue ink by simply dabbing it with a cloth dampened in a solution of water and a little neutral/Marseille soap;
- Dried ink stains can be treated by applying denatured alcohol to a cloth and using this to dab the stain to lift the ink from the fabric. Rinse off with warm water and allow to dry.
What other types of stains have you had to remove from your sofa?
