How To Remove Furniture Stains

Furnishing a house is a big investment and keeping your furniture looking great should be a top priority. Every so often, you should have your upholstered furniture professionally cleaned to keep it in the best possible condition for many years. Between those professional cleanings, spot cleaning is a necessary action. Here, you will learn how to remove two of the most common difficult stains from your sofa to keep it looking its best until the professionals come to clean the entire piece.

Food Grease Stains

Who doesn't love to curl up on the couch with a big bowl of buttery popcorn or a greasy slice of pizza? Each time you do this, you risk staining the couch with the grease in the foods. To remove grease stains from your couch you will need

• Clean plastic putty knife
• Baking soda and white vinegar
• Quality dish soap without bleach
• Dry-cleaning solvent
• Clean cloths

Begin by using the plastic putty knife to scrape away any grease that has dried. Do this gently to avoid pushing the grease deeper into the fabric.

Apply a thin coating of baking soda on the stain and let it rest for 20 minutes. Vacuum the baking soda from the couch.

Use a cloth dampened with dry-cleaning solvent to blot the spot. Then use a clean, dry cloth to blot the area dry.

If the stain persists, mix ½ tablespoon dish soap, 1 cup warm water and ½ tablespoon white vinegar. Dampen a clean cloth with the mixture and blot the stain. Continue until you see the stain vanish. Apply a thin coat of baking soda to help absorb any moisture within the couch and follow with a vacuuming.

Red Wine Stains

Red wine is easily one of the most damaging beverages in the home. Once the stain has set, it takes a little more time to work the stain out. To remove red wine stains safely you will need

• Dish soap without bleach
• Clean cloths

Mix 2 tablespoons dish soap with 4 cups of cold water. Dampen a clean cloth with the mixture and slowly begin blotting at the stain. Start at the outer edges of the stain and work your way in to avoid spreading the stain further.

Use a clean dry cloth to blot the area dry. If the stain persists, use the dish soap, vinegar and baking soda mixture from above to attempt to remove the stain.

If these methods do not remove the stains, contact your local upholstery cleaning services for help. They will have a better chance of removing these difficult stains or directing you in how to do it yourself.