Unfortunately, accidents happen. You are sitting watching your favorite show and eating your bowl of whatever, and the dog runs and jumps, and everything goes flying. This isn’t planned, but here you are with a large tomato paste stain on your couch. What should you do? How should you go about cleaning this mess up without making it worse? That’s what we are here to discuss today.
While hiring dependable upholstery cleaners like Citrus Bright is always an option, you can try several effective DIY solutions first to get rid of those stains before enlisting professional assistance. We will give some tried-and-true advice in this blog post to assist you in removing stains from upholstery and keep your furniture looking clean and new.
Act Fast!
The first thing you must do to ensure the stain doesn’t set in is act fast! The longer the liquid and food set on the upholstery, the more of a grip it’ll get. Try to deal with spills and stains on your couch as soon as you become aware of them. A stain gets tougher to get rid of the longer it sits. Start by removing as much of the liquid as possible from the stain and gently blot it with a fresh cloth or piece of paper towel. Avoid violently rubbing the stain. This can cause issues with the fabric’s texture as well as set the stain deeper into the cushion. Try to lightly blot and clean the surface without pushing the stain further down, causing yet more issues later on.
Check your Fabric’s Cleaning Code
Check the cleaning code on the label of your upholstery before using any stain removal techniques. Manufacturers frequently offer a cleaning code that specifies the best cleaning technique for a given cloth. The most popular cleaning abbreviations are “W” for water-based cleaning, “S” for solvent-based cleaning, “WS” for cleaning that uses both water and solvents, and “X” for exclusively professional cleaning. By following the cleaning guidelines, you can prevent further fabric damage when attempting to remove stains.
Vinegar and Baking Soda
Two simple household ingredients, vinegar and baking soda, are fantastic for removing stains from upholstery. Make a paste out of baking soda and water in a ratio of equal parts to remove water-based stains. Apply the paste to the stain, allow it to sit for about 15 minutes, and then use a soft brush or cloth to clean the paste away. Try spraying an equal amount of white vinegar and water on harder stains, then blotting with a fresh cloth afterward. Always try these solutions on a hidden spot first to ensure they do not harm the fabric.
Club Soda
Fresh stains from drinks like coffee or soda can be removed effectively with club soda. Club soda should be poured on the discoloration and then blotted with a clean cloth. Club soda’s carbonation can help in removing the stain from the fabric. Repeat this process until the stain is gone.
Using Cornstarch to Remove Grease Stains
Grease stains are something we all hope not to have to contend with. However, if you find a grease stain on your fabric, it’s important to act fast with the right ingredients. Cornstarch is very effective in lifting grease from fabric. Give the grease stain a little coating of cornstarch and give it some time to dry. The grease will be absorbed by the cornstarch. The stain should appear noticeably lighter after removing the cornstarch with a vacuum. For particularly tough stains, you might have to repeat this process a few times.
When in Doubt, Call the Professionals at Citrus Bright
While certain upholstery stains may be manageable with these do-it-yourself techniques, some can be too difficult to get rid of without expert assistance. It is always preferable to call in the experts for stubborn and deeply ingrained stains or if you are unclear about the fabric cleaning code. Even the worst upholstery stains can be removed by Citrus Bright’s team of skilled carpet cleaners. We are here to help you regain the beautiful furniture as if the stain was never there. Call 480-689-3509 today to find out more. We would be happy to take a look at your situation and come up with a solution!
