A sofa is often so much more than just a piece of furniture. Our beloved sofa might be the entire centrepiece of our sitting room and may even be our favourite midday resting spot, gathering area for loved ones, or the best seat in the house when we’re watching films or television. But what happens when our sofa becomes stained? What can we do? It can be harrowing to stain our favourite sofa — prompting questions about being able to ever entirely remove it, the need to replace the sofa, and more. While cleaning furniture can seem like a steep challenge, though, there are steps we can take to remove even stubborn stains.

Fortunately, through prompt action, we can often mitigate the effects of many common stains, and in some cases, may be able to remove the stain entirely. If you’re wondering how to get stains out of sofas, read on. We’ll be covering sofa stain removal, including: the importance of assessing the stain, common cleaning supplies you might use, pre-removal techniques, the process of stain removal, and — what we can do in the future to make this process easier on ourselves, or even less frequent. Let’s dive in.

Table of contents:

  1. How to Assess the Stain?
  2. What Cleaning Supplies Might I Need?
  3. Stain removal: Do's and Don'ts
  4. Pre-stain removal - How to get started
  5. What is the General Stain Removal Process?
  6. How do I Rinse and Dry After Removing a Stain?
  7. How Can I Prevent Future Stains?
  8. Conclusion
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How to Assess the Stain?

Our first step when we’ve encountered a stain on our favourite sofa is generally going to be an assessment of the stain. Different materials (think red wine, olive oil, coffee, ink stains, soda, pet stains, chewing gum, etc.) may necessitate different care options, so it’s important to take a moment to consider exactly what kind of stain it is.

We’ll also need to take into account what kind of material our sofa is made out of; whether it’s cotton, velvet, wool, leather, polyester, or linen, can make a difference in terms of how we address the stain properly.

Finally, we’ll need to spend a moment considering how fresh the stain is; newer couch stains are typically easier and more feasible to remove in entirety, while older stains may present a bigger challenge and necessitate additional steps.

What Cleaning Supplies Might I Need?

Once you’ve identified and assessed the stain, factoring in what kind of stain it is, the material that is stained, and how recent or fresh the stain is, it’s time to gather your tools and supplies. These can range, depending on your specific needs and preferences but might include:

  • White vinegar - often used for coffee stains and tea stains
  • Dish soap - often used in conjunction with cold water to remove soda stains
  • Cold water or cool water - often used for protein-based stains
  • Baking soda - often used for coffee stain, tea, and other dark stains
  • Enzyme containing cleaning agents - often used for more set-in and old stains
  • Clean towel, such as microfiber cloths
  • Dry towel
  • Rag
  • Scrub brush
  • Paper towels

Which cleaning method and product you opt to use to remove stains may hinge upon what kind of stain you’re removing — as well as what type of fabric you’re removing it from and how long it’s been there. For materials such as leather, or delicate fabrics like silk, or velvet, you may need to adhere to your manufacturer’s care and cleaning instructions and use only cleaning products that they indicate for use for removing stains.

For a soda stain, on some types of upholstery, for example, the recommended treatment is often water based cleaning solutions, such as a combination of cold water and hand dishwashing liquid to the affected area — as long as the spill is recent. Since soda stains are often water soluble, this may be effective for fresher stains. However, when the spill has been able to dry and soak in, this soap mixture may not work. The recommended treatment solution may shift from soapy water to an enzyme-containing cleaning product that was formulated for the material you are cleaning.

stain removal cleaning supplies

Stain removal: Do's and Don'ts

When using stain removing products, it’s important to remember that even the most innocuous-seeming products can carry some potential health hazards, so always carefully consult with the label to ensure that you’re using it properly. If the cleaner came in a spray bottle, there will likely be instructions for use and safety considerations printed on the label. If you cannot locate instructions for use, consider contacting the manufacturer to enquire, and if that isn’t possible, do not use the product.

Always work in a properly ventilated area, and never mix two cleaning products together or use them at the same time. Additionally, since some cleaning products, such as solvent based cleaners, and even rubbing alcohol, can be harmful to the skin or when inhaled, be sure to wear gloves and a respirator if applicable. If you’re ever unsure, always consult with the manufacturer.

There are also some common stain removal pitfalls to look out for and avoid. Perhaps the most common is rubbing. When we clean, we often instinctively begin to rub back and forth and apply pressure. For many surfaces, this is an effective technique. However, the materials from which sofas are constructed can be very porous. Upholstery, made from fabrics, cottons, polyesters, and even leathers, can all be extremely conducive to stain penetration, so it’s often very important not to apply pressure or rub when we’re trying to lift a stain.

Another common pitfall is using the wrong product for the wrong stain. While warm and soapy water is often our go-to when something needs cleaning, warm water can actually set in some stains even worse — especially ones with proteins in them, or ones that are particularly sticky. In cases such as these, cold water may be better suited for stain removal. Similarly, while white vinegar might be recommended for a range of stain types, it can also eat away at nearby surfaces such as the finish of wood, so there may be cases where plain water is a more viable alternative.

Read also: How To Clean Sofa Arms

Pre-stain removal - How to get started

Before attempting to remove a stain, there are some pre-stain removal preparations that may be helpful to carry out. Firstly, for most stains, an important initial step is to gently blot away any remaining excess of the spill with a clean cloth or rag. This will clear your work area and keep any more material from seeping into the surface you’re cleaning.

Next, be sure to consult with your furniture manufacturer’s documentation. If your sofa came with a care or owner’s manual, be sure to first consult what it says about stain removal and cleaning. If not, check for a tag with care instructions. When in doubt, consider simply calling, emailing, or reaching out via chatbox to the manufacturer of your sofa to enquire about care instructions.

Next, be sure to consult with any documentation that came with any bought cleaning products, such as the label, for use directions, safety precautions to be followed, and any other guidance provided by the manufacturer.

After you’ve consulted with any manufacturer instructions and warnings for both the furniture and your cleaning products, follow those directions to test the product in a spot test on a small and inconspicuous area. This is to ensure that there aren’t any unwanted effects caused by your cleaning product.

cleaning product and sofa cleaning label

What is the General Stain Removal Process?

While the specific method used may vary widely depending on what material your sofa is, what has been spilled onto it, and instructions from the manufacturer of your sofa and cleaning product. We can explore some of the basic steps used in the stain removal and cleaning process. While each type of stain may not rely on the same process, there are some common steps, such as:

Step one

Pre-treatment: This step typically consists of carefully blotting up any remaining material that has spilled with a clean cloth. This includes consulting with any manufacturers cleaning instructions on the sofa and use instructions for the cleaning product you’ll be using if applicable. Establishing ventilation if necessary, and donning any protective gear you will use such as gloves and a face mask.

Step two

Stain removal: This step typically consists of using the cleaning product you’ve chosen for the sofa that you’re cleaning, and gently dabbing at the stain with your cleaning cloth.

In order to protect the couch fabric, ensure that you only use a cleaning solution formulated for the material you’re cleaning. For example, while white vinegar may be perfectly acceptable for cleaning stains out of many fabrics, it may be harmful to leather upholstery, and the same technique may not be applicable.

Step three

Rinsing and Drying. We’ll cover this step in more detail in the next section, but it consists of clearing away any leftover cleaning product and drying the affected area.

Read also: How to Clean a Velvet Sofa

sofa stain removal process

How do I Rinse and Dry After Removing a Stain?

Next, you’ll want to remove the cleaning product if possible. This can often be accomplished by dabbing at the affected area with a clean, damp cloth that has no additional cleaning product on it already. This will help you remove any residue left behind by the cleaning product. Cleaning product residue may leave an unwanted texture, and may pose a risk of damaging the upholstery over a long term period if left there.

To prevent water damage, water stains, or the presence of moisture that can lead to odours, be sure to use a clean, dry, cloth to blot dry the affected area once it’s been rinsed. To do this, gently dab a dry microfiber cloth or paper towel on any wet spots to get the fabric dry to the best of your abilities.

In order to speed up the drying process, which can also help you mitigate the risk of pathogen growth, you may rely on fans and natural ventilation through windows or doors as you let it sit. If the outside humidity is low.

How Can I Prevent Future Stains?

Once you’ve removed difficult stains, you’re likely not keen on creating another one. To ensure that your sofa remains clean and fresh, be sure to spot clean spills as soon as they happen, vacuum your sofa regularly to remove loose particles using the brush attachment if you have one, and if it’s leather, follow any regular treatment instructions from the manufacturer such as periodically applying leather conditioner. You may also wash any throw pillows or cushions regularly, if they allow for washing, and make use of throw blankets to use as removable, machine-washable, dirt protection.

Additionally, the use of stain protection — such as Prochem or Scotchgard, can be an effective way to mitigate future spills and prevent stains. These products are designed to make sofas and other upholstered furniture more resistant to staining, and they can be an effective part of a stain-mitigation strategy.

Read also: How to clean fabric sofa

preventing future stains on sofas

Conclusion

While unsightly stains can be alarming, there are fortunately some often effective steps that can be taken to remove them — sometimes entirely. It can be a wonderful sense of relief seeing your beloved sofa back in its original state, free of unsightly blemishes and marks.

If you’ve been wondering about an unsightly stain, don’t fear! There are steps you can take — whether at home, DIY style, or with some help from the professionals. Remember, there’s no harm in calling in the cavalry, especially when it comes to one of the most important pieces of furniture in your sitting room. If you’ve already tried and there is still some remaining stain, it may be time to reach out for help. Professional upholstery cleaners may have the expertise and experience to be able to remove stains that you’d previously thought permanent.