Yes, you read that right! For those of you who thought an upholstered couch with stains on them was a lost cause, think again! There are simple remedies to remove almost any type of couch stain, many of which require products that you can find around your house.
Before you attempt a stain removal method, however, you need to understand the washing symbols or cleaning codes that are mentioned on sofa tags. These can be found below.
W – Use water to clean
S – Use dry solvent to clean
SW – Water and dry solvents are suitable for cleaning
X – Only vacuuming or professional cleaning is advised
With this information in mind, you are now ready to carry out de-staining your couch in a safe manner! Read on for some common couch stains and the simple solutions to removing them.
Juice and Coffee/Tea Stains
What You’ll Need:
- Liquid dish soap
- Non-abrasive scrubber
- Paper towels
- Towel
Step-by-Step Process:
- Mix one tablespoon of dish soap in two cups of water. For a large or severe couch stain, you may require a stronger cleaning solution; adjust ratios accordingly.
- Use a non-abrasive scrubber to clean up the stain; refrain from using too much pressure as this may damage the fabric. Rinse out the scrubber every now and then to clean effectively.
- If the material gets too wet and the entire stain is yet to come out, soak up moisture with paper towels and allow the fabric to dry a little; repeat the stain removal process thereafter.
- When the stain has vanished, wipe over the area with a damp towel to get rid of the cleaner.
Grease/Oil Stains
What You’ll Need:
- Butter knife
- Grease-fighting liquid dish soap
- Old toothbrush
- Paper towels
- Towel
- Non-abrasive scrubber
- Household ammonia
Step-by-Step Process:
- If this is a dry stain, some parts of it may have hardened to the extent where you can gently scrape off bits using a butter knife. For a fresh stain, use paper towels to pick up chunks or bits of food before dabbing the area with more paper towels to lift some parts of the stain.
- For sofa stains of this nature, you will need a reliable dish soap that is able to cut through grease. Apply the product over the stain (undiluted), and allow it to sit for at least five minutes.
- Dampen the toothbrush and scrub the stain in circular motions. Rinse and repeat until the stain is removed.
- Rinse off the cleaning agent with a damp towel and leave it to dry completely.
- When the sofa fabric dries, you may see an outline of the stain which did not come out during the initial treatment. For this, mix equal parts household ammonia and water; apply the solution to the stain by gently rubbing it with a non-abrasive scrubber.
- Finish by rinsing the area with a damp towel.
Pet Pee Stains
What You’ll Need:
- Rubber gloves
- Paper towels
- White vinegar
- Essential oil (optional)
- Baking powder
- Towels
- Vacuum cleaner (or a damp towel)
Step-by-Step Process:
- Put on the gloves, grab a whole lot of paper towels and soak up as much pet pee from your couch as possible.
- Make a mild solution of laundry detergent and warm water; dip a clean towel in the mixture and wring it before rubbing the stained area. There is no need to scrub hard as the goal here is to allow the cleaner to work on the stain by simply applying it to the area.
- Next, cover the stain with baking powder to create a thin layer over the affected area. This is a very effective way of absorbing foul odours left by pet pee on your couch.
- Leave the baking powder for a couple of hours (or overnight) before vacuuming it up.
- Finish off by wiping with a damp towel to rinse the area and allow it to air dry.
When it comes to sofa stains, it helps to try one method at least twice before you decide to give up and call for professional help. Similarly, if you are dealing with severe or old couch stains that are sure to be troublesome to get out, perhaps it would be wise to call in a professional to do the needful.
