Don't let a couch spill stain your whole evening
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As the furniture focal point of the living room, getting a stain out of a couch is a crucial skill to keep in your back pocket. And even better? The tips you'll learn with sofa stain removal carry over to cleaning carpets and other tricky fabrics in your home.
So, whether your mud-covered dog just trampled across the sofa or a glass of red wine tumbled at your last dinner party, here's what you need to know about how to get a stain out of a couch.
First things first: Why is it important to act quickly when stains happen? The longer the stain sits, the deeper it will sink into your couch fibers, making it increasingly difficult to remove. If you want to return your couch to its pre-stain glory, tackle them fast using the DIY methods below.
Some over-the-counter or DIY stain removers can make stains worse. If you are unsure of the material and the stain is over a week old, a professional cleaner will know the correct solution to use.
Whenever possible, take care of that stain the second it hits the couch. If it's a wet stain, dab up as much liquid as possible with a dry, absorbent towel. If it's a stain from a solid substance—such as mud or wax—wait for it to dry and hard, gently scrape away the excess, and then vacuum with a small attachment.
Next, take a moment to read the fabric tag below your cushions or under the sofa. Your fabric care tag will include one of four codes to indicate the safest cleaning method. Here's how to decipher them.
W: The W code means you can use all water-based cleaners on this couch. Steam, many fabric cleaners, and DIY water-and-soap combinations work best.
S: The S typically means that your couch fabric is dry-clean-only and should only be spot-cleaned with a solvent-based cleaner. You may need a commercial product in this case.
S/W: There's more wiggle room to use water-based cleaners for spots and stains, but only dry cleaning for deeper cleans.
WASH: The simplest of the bunch, these cushion and couch covers can go in the washing machine. You still need to use a delicate setting and air drying.
X: Take extra care with this type of upholstery. You should only remove dried-on stains with a vacuum or dry cloth and speak with a pro for deeper cleans.
Remember that all fabrics are different. If the fabric tag provides a word of warning, call your local upholstery cleaner to take a look. Even if they handle the first stain for you, they can offer advice for future cleans.
Learning how to clean a couch stain takes a bit of science and many basic household or pantry products. While there are plenty of commercial cleaners on the market, time is of the essence when you have a stain, so many of these are ideal when you're in a pinch and can't run out to the store.
If you have a "W" or "S/W" on your upholstery tag, the dish soap and water trick will work. Diluted dish soap is an excellent solution for most common food stains and mud. The solution is gentle enough for spot-cleaning couches and it has a high enough pH to break up basic stains.
Add several drops of clear dish soap to a glass of cool water. Avoid using colored dish soaps that may have dyes that can stain delicate fabrics.
Wet a microfiber cloth and blot the area until it covers the stain.
Blot with a dry towel to remove moisture, taking care not to rub the stain in further.
Let it dry fully before using.
Sometimes we need something a bit more basic to absorb greasy stains. If you dropped food on your couch, such as french fries, sauce, or butter, here's what to do.
Sprinkle a layer of baking soda over the stain.
Let the baking soda sit for at least 20 minutes to absorb that stain.
Vacuum up the baking soda and repeat the process until the stain dissipates.
If your couch allows water-based cleaners, take care of the rest of the stain with soap and water.
When removing stains from a couch, vinegar and dish soap provides a strong combination. This method is for couches that can handle water-based cleaning solutions, and it works well on stains like coffee, tea, berries, juice, gum, and red wine.
Combine a mixture of three parts warm water and one part white vinegar.
Dab the solution on the stain, ensuring not to soak the area and spread the stain.
Follow up with a cloth of plain water once the stain fades.
Finish with a dry cloth to absorb the water.
If your couch sits near a table or ledge with a drippy candle, you could end up with a naggy wax stain. Not only can wax burrow into the fabric, but it can leave a dark or greasy mark behind. The trick to getting wax out of carpets or couches is hardening and remelting it until you can remove it safely.
If the wax is still melting or soft, place an ice pack wrapped in a towel over the stain to harden it. Dabbing ice water will do the trick, too.
Scrape off the hardened wax with a butter knife.
Dish soap, vinegar, or rubbing alcohol can take care of the remaining stain.
Be sure to spot test hydrogen peroxide on a hidden part of your couch first as this solution can bleach certain colored fabrics.
Combine ½ cup of dish doap and 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide.
Appply to the stain and leave for three minutes.
Gently blot and remove the solution.
Steam cleaning is another excellent option if your couch can handle water. Steam cleaners often use water or very gentle cleaning solutions to break up and remove stains more thoroughly than blotting by hand.
Follow the instructions on your steamer to cover the stained area, plus consider giving the rest of your couch a refresh once you eliminate the stain.
Reach for the vodka bottle when trying to get stains out of couches with the "S/W" or "S" label. Vodka acts as a solvent that can break down stains and evaporate without leaving an odor. It’s a great option for removing grass, wine, or pet urine stains.
Vodka can even play double-duty by freshening your couch from the smelly stain. Keep in mind that only plain vodka will do. The sugars in flavored vodkas will leave a sticky and smelly residue, so leave the fruit vodkas for your cocktails.
Here's what to do:
Dab undiluted vodka on the stain and let it sit for several seconds.
Use a new damp cloth to dab up the rest of the stain.
Let the area air dry or dab with a dry cloth.
Olive oil and vinegar is a great combination for salads and your leather couch. Olive oil will break up greasy stains on your leather, while the vinegar will act as a solvent without damaging its color.
Combine one part white vinegar and three parts olive oil in a container.
Dab or spray the mixture onto the leather couch stain.
Let it sit for several minutes.
Brush it away with a damp cloth.
Let's start by saying that store-bought dry-cleaning solutions are not right for every fabric. Only use them if your couch has the "S/W" symbol on its tag. The chemicals can be harsh and abrasive, so they're not always ideal. The most important tip is to follow the instructions on your bottle, wear protective gear, and ensure proper ventilation.
While we will wish to avoid spills, splashes, and spots from pets, it's not usually within our control. If you don't want to go back to the days of plastic couch covers, here are some options to try.
You'll find a wide range of upholstery protection products on the market that you can spray on certain couch materials to protect against stains. The products provide a thin barrier between your couch fabrics and stain-causing liquids.
One of the best ways to simplify sofa stain removal is to catch the stains early. Check your couch once a week when cleaning the rest of your home. Run over the cushions with vacuum cleaners and address any sticky or odd-smelling spots right away.
If you know there's a rainy day in the forecast and your dog will inevitably go tromping through the mud, put a preventive pet cover on your couch. That way, you can keep your pet happy and your couch stain-free.
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Due to the time-sensitive nature of removing stains from your couch, the DIY method is worth a shot as a first step. However, if the stain is particularly stubborn or if you have the "X" symbol on your tag, it's best to call a local upholstery cleaner.
The cost to clean an upholstered couch typically ranges from $100 to $300, but up to $500 for tricky fabrics like suede. Keep in mind that these prices cover cleaning the whole couch, and professionals may create custom contracts for stain removal.
Stains can be removed from couches by spot-cleaning them with the appropriate solution. Check your upholstery tag below the cushions or under your couch for the right spot-cleaning solution. In some cases, you may also be able to remove the upholstery covers and throw them in the wash on a gentle cycle.
Use similar methods to get old stains out of couches as you would new ones. Determine the appropriate cleaning solution based on the tag. However, you may need to let the cleaner sit longer than you would with a new stain or make several passes at the stain. Contact a professional upholstery cleaner for guidance if the stain does not budge.
