How to Clean Fabric Sofa Stains
Sofas and upholstered chairs are very susceptible to staining and dirt accumulation due to the fact that our children and in some cases our pets spend hours sitting, eating and drinking on them. They not only can easily become embedded with the dust and dirt but are also prone to various types of spills and staining.
Fortunately, most stains and spills are treatable, if the proper care and actions are taken in a timely manner. Here are some tips to help you deal with stains on fabric upholstery:
Timing is essential
Always treat spills as soon as possible. Absorb excess liquid or gently scrape off excess spilled non-liquid from the upholstery, but without scrubbing it. Just blot it, so that you don’t get it pushed further into the furniture.
Wash the removable covers
Cleaning and treating stains from the upholstery is way easier if your furniture has removable covers. You can easily pre-treat the stain and pop the cover in the washing machine, take it to the dry cleaners or wash it by hand, depending on the type of fabric you are treating.
Read the cleaning tags and labels
Always read the instructions for the cleaning of the fabric before proceeding. If you don’t have such cleaning codes available, test the cleaning detergent on a hidden spot of the fabric to see if there is any sort of negative reaction to it.
Buy or make your own spot-removal solution
There is a wide variety of stain removal and cleaning solutions for upholstery on the market. Pick the one which can be used on your type of upholstery and treat the stain in accordance with the instructions of the producer.
If you prefer, you can mix your own stain removal solution a home. Depending on the type of stain, you can use different products for this, including:
White distilled vinegar: Diluted with an equal amount of water, this is a very effective stain removing mixture and has an antimicrobial effect too.
Mild laundry detergent: Make a mixture of lukewarm water and the detergent to create suds. Apply the mixture on the stain with a cloth or sponge and blot it out carefully, without rubbing it. Rinse with a clean damp cloth after you are done.
Baby wipes: These are great for cleaning spills and upholstery. They are not too wet and are gentle, so they will keep the fabric of your upholstery safe while you are cleaning it.
Hoover the area
In order to avoid getting the dust and dirt on the surface of your upholstery to get embedded deeper in the furniture, make sure you hoover the area which you will be cleaning before proceeding. Use the soft brush attachment for the best effect.
Clean the stain
Apply the cleaning solution of your choice on a clean towel or microfiber cloth and blot the stained area, without rubbing it. Do not oversaturate the furniture, and always rinse off the solution with the help of a damp cloth.
