Upholstery Stain Removal Tips

Upholstery stain removal is more difficult than removing stain from any other fabric. Upholstery refers to the piece of fabric or foam or leather used for stuffing or covering a sofa, chair, couches etc., so upholstery stains must be removed properly and effectively, otherwise they will form a bad part of your beautifully decorated house. The stain removal process depends on the type of upholstery fabric used and depending on that it might require “dry-cleaning” or you can use water in some case while in many cases no liquid can be used, so the only option left with them is vacuum cleaning.

Tip 1: Fast Action

Whenever the upholstery gets stained, you must take your action immediately. The longer the stain stays the more time you give it to dry. Once the stain is dry it becomes harder to remove the stain. So according to the given direction you must wash it or dry clean it.

Tip 2: Stain Type

If the stain is thick then it is better to dry it first and then brush off the residue. After that you can remove the stain. If you try to remove it using some liquid, there is a fair chance that a bigger area will get stained. In case of wet stains use a dry cotton cloth to soak the excess moisture from the stained area and then remove the stain.

Tip 3: Organic Stain

In case the upholstery gets stained with things like: wine, juice, mustard or some other food material, it is best to spot clean the stain with water or you can clean it with a solution containing one part vinegar and three parts of water. Most of the organic substances are water-soluble so they can be easily cleaned by water.

Tip 4: Blood

In many cases upholstery can get stained by blood. Blood stains cannot be removed easily. Mix two tablespoons of salt in 8.5 ounces of water, then apply this solution over the stain. You might blot it or rinse it with this solution and if still the stain persists you can try removing it using a dilute solution of hydrogen peroxide.

Tip 5: Ink Stain

Accidental ink stains are very common if you have kids in your house. Removing ink stains is not a big deal. You need to first spray hairspray on the stained area and then follow the standard cleaning procedure.

Tip 6: Protein Based and Non-Protein Based Fabric

The protein based fabric includes silk, cotton, linen, rayon etc. In case the upholstery is made of these protein based fabrics, dry-cleaning is a must. Using water you might get water marks on the fabric and the stain might not go away completely. Use a water-free solvent and gently rub or blot the area for removing the stain. For non-protein based fabrics like polyester, nylon, or olefin use pure water for stain removal. Take a piece of wet cloth and rub it on the stained part of the upholstery. You might use detergent on the stained part and then continue to rinse or rub in a circular way, till the stain is gone.