How To Get Stains Out From Sofa?

How To Get Stains Out From Sofa? The stains on the sofa reduce the aesthetic appeal of your entire house. You want to remove them as fast as you can to prevent them from getting deeper and harder to remove.

Here are the best ways you can eliminate the stain without damaging the fabric.

Cotton and linen upholstery

1. Vacuum the stain

If your sofa is made from linen, cotton, or any other delicate material, you should begin with vacuuming. It will help to remove the loose dirt and make the further steps easier. Use a soft attachment for the vacuum cleaner to ensure you don’t damage the fragile fabric.

2. Create the cleaning mixture

For linen and cotton, you should go with a mixture of cool water and some drops of mild detergent. Agitate the water energetically to create suds. For a better result, you can add a tiny amount of vinegar which will help to break down the stain.

3. Blot the stain gently

Use a clean microfiber cloth and damp it with the soapy solution. Wring it out to ensure the excess moisture doesn’t penetrate the upholstery. Blot the stain with the cloth with motherly care. Avoid pressing and rubbing with vigor as it may damage the fabric.

Better go with gentle motions until the stain goes out. Damp the cloth in the soapy mixture from time to time to increase the amount of suds.

4. Rinse the area

Once the stain disappears, you need to take another clean cloth and damp it with tap water. Use it to rinse the suds from the upholstery.

5. Dry the fabric

Use a dry towel to press onto the wet fabric and remove the excess moisture. It will not dry the sofa out completely, but at least it will speed up the air drying. If you need the sofa to get dry really fast, you can use a blow dryer.

Avoid turning on the hot air setting, as it will deteriorate the delicate material.

6. Use a foam cleaner

Use a foam cleaner if the mild detergent hasn’t removed the stain fully. Cover the affected area with a coat of foam and let it sit. After 10 minutes, remove the foam residue using a microfiber cloth.

Leather and suede upholstery

1. Vacuuming

For leather and suede, vacuuming should also be first. You do it to remove the dirt that has not managed to set into the fabric yet. Do not use harsh brushes, because they can scratch the leather and leave ugly marks.

2. Use vinegar or saddle soap to remove light stains

For easy sofa stains, like baby food, use white vinegar or vodka to work the stain out. Give up on aggressive rubbing, and use instead the gentle blotting technique. Once the spot disappears, let the leather air dry.

Alternatively, you can use saddle soap, as it is leather-friendly and does a great job of lifting stains.

3. Use rubbing alcohol for tough stains

If it’s a tough stain, you should step up the game with rubbing alcohol treatment. Dip a Q-tip into alcohol and apply it to the affected area. Rub continuously until the ink, wine, or coffee goes out. Change the Q-tips frequently, as they get dirty fast and lose cleaning power.

4. Use baking soda for greasy spots

Grease stains give the most painful headaches, especially when you allow them to set into the fabric. The most efficient way to deal with grease is to use baking soda. Apply a generous coat of it on the upholstery and let it sit for 2-4 hours, depending on stain severity.

The baking soda will absorb the grease and leave the leather clean. To avoid the mess, you have to vacuum the soda after it gets its job done.

How To Get Stains Out From Sofa? – Conclusion

Removing sofa stains can be a hard task if you use the wrong products and techniques. You should choose the cleaning agents depending on the type of your upholstery fabric. In this way, you ensure that you don’t deal damage to the fabric.

Some upholstery materials, like linen, are very sensitive, so you need to act carefully and use proper products. Try to avoid forceful rubbing, no matter the material, as you risk damaging the sofa.

Better use mild and gentle motions, and repeat the process over and over until the stain goes away.