You will definitely agree on this: there is nothing that ruins your fancy home furnishings than nasty stains. Not only does your furniture look unappealing, but these stains also speed up the age of your decorative and functional pieces. It is almost impossible to maintain clean furniture and avoid stains as they are part of the usual wear and tear of our household fittings.

From spilled milk on the couch and mattress to children dropping down ice creams to pets bringing in messy mud, our constant opponents are stains. But before jumping out in great anticipation to your furniture cleaning/ makeover project, allow us to give you some reminders first.

What You Need to Know Before Trying to Remove Furniture Stains

We know you love your home furnishings and have invested a lot in your personal space. But stains happen. And when they happen, we normally panic and the initial remedy we can think of is to apply some dishwashing liquid or cleaning detergent to the stained area. So here are some pre-cleaning tips for you to take note of. The same guidelines apply to cleaning second-hand furniture. Exercise caution and be sure to follow these.

• Read the cleaning instructions of the manufacturer.

It is not appropriate for you to try to clean your household furnishings straight on. If there’s actually some manufacturer’s instruction, make sure to utilize it first. Failure to follow such may waive your rights to claim from warranties.

• Check the furniture’s tags.

To simplify the guessing game in trying to remove furniture stains, check the tags and labels. Most likely, there is a tag about cleaning do’s and don’t to maintain clean furniture. Here are the most common cleaning codes for your upholstered furnishings:

• W – The material should be cleansed by water-based products.
• S – This means you need to buy solvent-based products, and water is not allowed as a cleaning agent.
• WS or SW – A combination of water and a solvent-based cleaner can be used.
• X –  This denotes that the material can only be cleaned professionally. Only vacuum cleaning or light brushing is allowed.
  
• Remove residual dirt by vacuum cleaning the furniture.

To reduce, if not fully eliminate the sneezing from all the dust and dirt, first, vacuum your upholstery and furniture. This removes the residue of dust, so they don’t sink in the fabrics during actual cleaning.

• In case of doubt, perform an initial test to clean a part of the furniture that is not seen.

When unsure, try to do some initial cleaning on a hidden area. Test out an area that is not visible to adjust the method as may be necessary. It will be difficult if not impossible to undo the damage to the material in case you have used the wrong method to remove furniture stains.

Goodbye Stain Games: Easy Steps to Clean Your Furniture

Before proceeding to each type of common stain and the necessary steps to achieve clean furniture, we want to suggest the use of distilled water instead of tap water. This is to avoid leaving mineral stains on your furnishings.

Let’s jump to the tips and tricks you can carry up your sleeves to remove furniture stains and keep them clean and fancy every single time possible. 

Greasy and Oily Stains

Not only are greasy and oily foods harmful to the body, but they are also not great on your furniture! Your greasy hands while binging some series on your exceptionally comfortable sofa can leave a mark that lasts. When in the middle of a greasy mess, make sure to clean it up immediately with these steps.

1. Get your kitchen essentials – cornstarch or baking soda. Sprinkle the area with either and let it sit for around 15 to 20 minutes (or longer depending on how long you have let the oil spill). This helps lift out the grease.
2. Using the upholstery attachment, vacuum the greased area.
3. Grab a clean sponge or toothbrush with soft bristles and apply song dish soap.
4. Finally, blot the area clean with a moist paper towel or cloth. 

Ink Stains

Whether your children have intentionally drawn on your furniture pieces or ink has just accidentally spilled on your favorite upholstery, we normally panic and start to think that it could be a permanent stain. However, there’s a solution to this. Here are some easy steps to follow.

1. Make a solution of rubbing alcohol  (⅔ cup) and white vinegar (one tablespoon).
2. Take a clean towel and dip it into the solution and try to remove furniture stains. Voila, you have clean furniture at hand!
3. REMINDER: Try not to rub the stain to avoid spreading the ink stain any further.

Mud and Dirt

It is almost inevitable to let messy mud inside your home. The dirt should’ve been contained in the entryway but if the precautions didn’t work, then it’s time to learn how to remove them. Here’s how to revert your home furnishings into clean furniture after being dirtied by mud. 

1. Wait for the mud to dry. Scrape off excess dirt and vacuum the rest.
2. Mix a solution of water (2 cups) and clear dishwashing liquid (one tablespoon).
3. Apply the solution to the stain using a sponge.
4. Blot dry. Repeat the steps as may be necessary.

Coffee and Beer Stains

The most common drinks for most working adults are coffee and beer. Sadly, these can drastically darken your daybed or upholstery with stain. You don’t have to remove coffee from your diet as you can actually achieve clean furniture using the steps that follow below:

1. For beer stains, you can start by rubbing the stain with an ice cube.
2. Mix a small amount of detergent (one tablespoon) and warm water.
3. Use the solution to blot clean with a paper towel or cloth.
4. For coffee stains, you can skip the ice cube part and get straight to the detergent.

Pet Pee

If you have pets inside your humble dwelling, then you’re most probably wondering how you can protect your home furnishings. Here are some helpful tips for pet owners.

1. Mix a solution of water (½ cup) and vinegar (½ cup) and pour it on the stain.
2. Blot the area clean with a cleaning rag until the majority of the moisture has been removed.
3. Sprinkle baking soda atop the spot and let it dry. This helps reduce the foul smell as well. 
4. Vacuum clean the area to get rid of the baking soda residue that has dried up.

Keeping your home furnishings clean is one of the most challenging yet overlooked parts of homescaping. Knowing how to remove furniture stains will save you all the worries and keep your living space aesthetic at all times.