Common Upholstery Stains and How to Treat Them

One nightmare any homeowner can never recover from is a stain on their lovely upholstery. The stains seem haunting, whether from the kids with their dirty, greasy hands or the pets with all the dirt and mud. And if not this, the guests at the party may spill some wine, or maybe your coffee will spill on the couch.

No matter how hard you try, protecting your upholstery from stains and spills is impossible, but luckily, most of this can be adequately treated!

Professional upholstery cleaners bring you the most common upholstery stains and show you how to treat them correctly so your home always feels fresh and in good condition.

Food and Drink Stains

We deal with the most staining from food and beverage products. Fortunately, they are usually not that difficult to treat if they are caught early.

Wine Stains

Don’t be intimidated by red wine stains. Use a clean cloth and blot as fast as you can. Next, mix up to 2 cups of cool water with 1 tbsp of dish soap and 1 tbsp of white vinegar. Dip a clean cloth in the solution, moderately dab it on the affected area, rinse with clear water, and blot it dry.

Coffee and Tea Stains

Coffee and tea stains leave a stubborn brown stain. First, blot the spill, then mix warm water, dish soap, and a splash of vinegar. Dab the site, rinse, and then blot dry.

Chocolate and Sauce Stains

Can you ask your kids not to touch things with those chocolate hands? Definitely not! If you spot a chocolate stain on your couch, use a spoon to scrape it off, then dab the area with a solution of mild soap and warm water until the stain fades.

Dealing with Grease or Oil? Don’t Panic

No matter where that grease stain came from, working on it quickly can prevent it from setting. They can be easy to remove if you act quickly!

Sprinkle as much baking soda or corn starch directly on the greasy spot to soak up the oil, allow it to sit for 15 to 20 minutes, and vacuum it up.

Then, get a clean cloth and warm water, mix in a mild soap, and blot the area.

Tip: Always work quickly; grease can easily soak deep into fabric.

Got Pets? Here’s How to Handle Their Messes

We love our four-legged companions, but let’s be serious: they sometimes make extreme messes on the furniture.

First, blot as much wet liquid as possible from the pet’s urine with paper towels. Then, mix equal amounts of water and white vinegar and gently blot. This will neutralise the urine odours and stains. Next, sprinkle a thin layer of baking soda over the area and let it sit. After it dries, vacuum up the excess baking soda.

In the case of mud or dirt, don’t just begin to wipe up when it is wet; all this will do is smear the mud or dirt into the fabric. Let it all dry, vacuum the loose dirt, and wipe the area with a cloth, soap, and water.

Ink and Markers on the Couch? Here’s What to Do

Ink stains from pens or permanent markers may seem hopeless, but our upholstery cleaners in Auckland have a solution.

You can simply rub alcohol on the ink mark to clean it.

You need to take a cotton ball, dampen it with alcohol, and gently blot the stain. Working from the outside of the stain towards the inside helps minimise spreading. Use water to blot the area to remove any remaining residue, and finally, dry the area using a towel.

IMPORTANT: Always test rubbing alcohol on a hidden part of your fabric before using it on the stained area.

How to Effectively Treat Blood Stains

Blood stains upholstery quickly, whether from a scraped knee or a nosebleed. To clean, you should only use cold water, as hot water will set a blood stain. Gently dab the area with a wet cloth filled with cold water. If the stain does not come out, add a mild soap and dab at the area until the stain lightens. Rinse and pat dry the area with clean water!

Clean that Water Stain

It may seem odd, but water can also produce visible stains, especially on delicate fabrics. These appear as lighter rings or patches attributed to the pigment of the fabric itself, where the water didn’t dry evenly.

To remove a stain, just wet the original stain, blend the edge with the rest of the fabric for an even dry, blot with a towel, and air dry completely.

When to Call a Professional

At times, no matter how much you try, you always have that one stain, or it just ends up being too delicate a fabric for you. That’s when it is better to work with a professional upholstery cleaner.

Professionals have various specialised equipment and stain removal products appropriate for any fabric, especially delicate ones like velvet, suede, or silk.

Final Thoughts

Marks on upholstery can affect our experience and truly are a part of everyday life. With the knowledge you have on stain removal, it does not have to be permanent. Whether it’s red wine at the dinner table, dog paws on the couch, or pen marks on the upholstery, you should be able to tackle it.

Keep the products mentioned above at hand: baking soda, white vinegar, and mild soap, and it will be easy to clean up any upheaval in your life.