Contents
Stain Removal Basics
Stain Removal Supplies
Stain Removal Tools
The Six Types of Stains
How to Remove Stains from Clothes
How to Remove Stains from Carpets
How to Remove Stains from Furniture Upholstery
The Most Common Household Stains
Avocado and Guacamole Stains
Barbecue Sauce Stains
Beer Stains
Blood Stains
Butter and Margarine Stains
Candy Stains
Cheese Stains
Chocolate Stains
Coffee Stains
Crayon Stains
Deodorant Stains
Dirt Stains
Egg Stains
Feces Stains (Human)
Glue Stains
Grass Stains
Grease Stains
Honey Stains
Ice Cream Stains
Ink Stains
Iodine Stains
Jam and Jelly Stains
Juice Stains
Ketchup Stains
Lipstick Stains
Makeup Stains
Mayonnaise Stains
Milk Stains
Mustard Stains
Nail Polish Stains
Paint Stains
Pet Stains
Rust Stains
Salsa Stains
Soda Stains
Soot Stains
Sweat Stains
Syrup Stains
Tea Stains
Tomato Sauce Stains
Urine Stains (Human)
Wax Stains
Wine Stains
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How to Remove Stains from Furniture Upholstery
Furniture upholstery is like clothing for your couch—it’s typically made from cotton or linen, and its purpose is to cover and protect the frame and cushions that form the furniture’s skeleton. Unfortunately, you can’t take off your upholstery and turn it inside out like you can a shirt—which means all stain removal on upholstery must happen at the surface.
As with stain removal from clothing, the first step in upholstery stain removal is to determine which cleaning agents your upholstery can tolerate. To do this, look for the tag attached to the furniture’s main section or to one of the bigger cushions. The tag should include a code in the form of the letters W, S, W-S, or X, indicating the type of cleaning method to use on the upholstery.
- W (water-based cleaner): Fabrics labeled ‘W’ should be cleaned with a mild liquid detergent. Rather than apply the detergent directly to the stain with a white cloth, stir up the detergent in a mixture of cool water in a 1:4 ratio until suds form. Scoop up some of the suds with a dry white cloth and apply to the stained portion of the upholstery. If this method fails to remove the stain entirely, try a commercially available upholstery shampoo, but be sure it’s water-based, not a solvent.
- S (solvent cleaner): Fabrics labeled ‘S’ are easily damaged by water and must be cleaned with solvents only. To remove stains, dab a dry white cloth with a solvent, such as acetone, and gently blot the stain, starting from the outside edges and working inward until the stain clears up. Be careful not to wet the material with any excess solvent.
- W-S (water-based or solvent cleaner): Fabrics labeled ‘W-S’ can tolerate most cleaners. However, always follow the general guidelines for removing stains from upholstery, below. When in doubt, choose a solvent over a water-based cleaner.
- X (vacuum or brush only): Fabrics labeled ‘X’ can only be vacuumed or brushed with a nonmetallic brush—never cleaned with solvents or water-soluble cleaners.
General Guidelines for Removing Stains from Upholstery
In addition to the rules for dealing with each of the different types of upholstery, there are a few general guidelines for upholstery stain removal.
- Always test an inconspicuous patch of upholstery, such as the underside of a cushion or the inside of a leg, before applying any type of cleaner to the stained portion. Check for both color bleeding and any wrinkling or buckling in the fabric.
- Never soak upholstery with any type of liquid, including water. Excessive moisture can degrade upholstery fabric, causing it to lose its shape, color, or texture.
- Never let cleaning agents or water seep beneath the surface of the upholstery. Liquid that penetrates into the inside of furniture can cause corrosion or mold buildup.
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