Sofas are often one of the most comfortable spots in the home, but they can fall victim to spills, stains, and wear and tear. If you find yourself tackling stubborn sofa stains, fear not! With good upholstery cleaning techniques, you can restore your sofa to looking its best.
Here’s how to face sofa stains head-on.
What are the worst stains for sofas?
We all know how annoying stains are, especially when it comes to sofas. Some of the worst stains include food and drink, ranging from chocolate and grease marks to coffee and wine.
Pet stains are also a typical problem we see, especially if accidents like urine or vomit penetrate deep into the fibres, leaving stubborn stains and lingering odours.
Other stains come from pen or marker ink, which is particularly challenging to remove from fabric sofas, requiring specialist cleaning techniques. We also see makeup and cosmetic stains a lot on sofas, and if they’re oil-based, the stains can attract more dirt, leaving even darker marks.
How do you get stains out of fabric sofas?
Removing marks from a fabric sofa requires a custom approach for the type of stains you’re tackling while ensuring the material doesn’t get damaged.
If the spillage has only just occurred, blot the stain immediately with a clean cloth or kitchen towel to absorb as much as possible. You can also apply a gentle cleaner, such as mild detergent with water to spot-clean the stain and lift it out of the fabric. Check your sofa cushion covers to see if they’re machine washable, as this can also help.
For stubborn stains, you’ll need to use a specialist stain remover for upholstery, paying careful attention to the manufacturer’s instructions. However, the safest method is to hire a professional upholstery cleaning service for the most effective results.
Can you steam clean a sofa and other upholstery?
Steam cleaning is a great deep cleaning method for sofas and other upholstered furniture. It involves specialist equipment that applies hot steam to penetrate deep into fibres, loosening dirt, grime and stubborn stains. It’s particularly effective at removing pet odours, killing bacteria and refreshing the sofa fabric without resorting to the harsh chemicals you’ll find in many cleaning products.
If steam cleaning a sofa, hire a professional. They’ll always test a small area first to ensure compatibility with the upholstery material while using a steam cleaner with adjustable settings. This allows them to customise the intensity of the steam to suit the fabric and stain.
How can you prevent sofa stains?
Preventing sofa stains for good requires maintenance and protective measures. Use removable, washable sofa covers or throws to protect the upholstery from spills and stains. You could also implement rules for eating and drinking in the living room to minimise the risks of spills.
To clean your sofa, regularly vacuum and brush it to remove dust, debris and pet hair. You could also apply a fabric protector to your sofa to achieve a barrier against spills and make cleaning easier, but you’ll need to check compatibility with the fabric first.
Need an upholstery cleaning service? Contact us now for a free quote
Efficient Cleaning offers upholstery and sofa cleaning across South West London and Surrey, coming out to Ham, Molesey and beyond. For a free quote, contact us now.
