How to clean a sofa from stains and stains at home on your own?

Wrong actions

The nature of stains is divided into two types: dry and wet. The first include paint, grass, lipstick, which are easier to remove. The second ones are difficult to remove, since you first need to remove excess moisture.

Regardless of the reasons for its appearance, in order to prevent the stain from expanding over the surface, it is not recommended to perform the following actions:

There is no need to soak the stain with water;
It is impossible not to dry the item;
Do not remove the stain from the center to the edge;
Use several types of chemicals at once.

How to remove a stain from a sofa: comparison table of products

Homemade upholstery stain removers work well on many stains:

Ways to reduce spots

Dirt, stains on furniture leather, white leather sofa

Dilute 1 egg in 1/2 glass of milk, wipe the sofa with a damp cloth, stubborn dirt will disappear.

Immediately sprinkle with salt. Let dry, then clean and vacuum. Wash the white wine stain with an aqueous solution of methyl alcohol (3 parts alcohol, 1 part water), dry, wash with a solution of mild soap and water and dry. Red wine stains can be washed off with... white wine! Then do the same as with a white wine stain (it's easier).

If the blood has not yet dried, it can be easily washed off with cold (!) water. Dried blood can be reduced with a solution of aspirin tablets in a glass of water. You can also wash it afterwards with water and laundry soap. If the stain is dry, wash with a solution of cold water and salt (1 tablespoon per liter). Hydrogen peroxide on cotton wool is also suitable (be sure to test on a piece of fabric that is not visible). Sometimes toothpaste can help, but not on all types of fabric.

Stains from pens, felt-tip pens, pencils

Removed with a special furniture shampoo. A wax crayon stain can be removed by placing loose paper and ironing it, changing the paper (or napkin). Regular pencil marks can be washed off with hot water and dishwashing liquid. Acetone and alcohol can also help, but not on all types of upholstery. Lemon juice does not remove the handle from fabric well, hairspray can ruin fabric upholstery.

It is better to immediately cover fresh stains with salt (or potato starch, chalk, talcum powder) and change it several times. You can iron it with an iron through a cloth. Fats also dissolve the following substances: gasoline, ether, acetone, alcohol, purified turpentine. One of the solvents can be mixed with talc or starch and put a cloth on the stain. But you cannot apply these products directly to the fabric of the sofa (only on a cloth) and in the required proportions, otherwise you can simply ruin the sofa.

Stains of greenery, iodine

For leather sofas: a mixture of washing powder and ammonia. But it is preferable to use special means. It is also recommended to drop bleach onto the stain and then scrub with a brush, or an ammonia solution (10%).

Acrylic paints can be easily washed with cold water from household items. soap or acrylic paint thinner. Oil paints are reduced with paint thinner. Be sure to test it on another similar piece of fabric! (Acetone may increase the stain.)

Wash with mild soap or warm salt water and dry with a soft cloth.

If the glue is PVA, place a very wet rag on the stain and hold it, the glue will soften and you can wipe it off. Other types of glue: soak the glue with a cotton swab containing Anti-Glue (sold in tubes as glue).

Iron on low setting through paper or a cloth, then carefully scrape off. If a stain remains, sprinkle with chalk or talcum powder and iron again. It's even better to use a special stain remover. On plush and velvet, stains are removed with alcohol or turpentine, but do not iron, so as not to spoil the lint of the fabric.

Place the ice in the bag on the chewing gum; when it hardens, peel it off. Wipe with a cloth soaked in methyl alcohol, cover with a clean, dry cloth and let dry.

Fruit juices can be washed with a solution of ammonia and white vinegar (1:1), jam and preserves can be washed with a soapy solution and vinegar. A solution of a mixture of ammonia and vinegar also works.

Lipstick stains

Use a cloth soaked in ammonia (turpentine) to wipe the stain, place a dry cloth or napkin on top and iron at low temperature. It will also help to apply a mixture of lemon and soda (half a lemon and a little soda) to the stain, let it dry and clean with a brush.

Removed with soap solution.

Immediately get wet, dry, then treat with 1-2 tbsp. l. white vinegar per 1 liter of water.

Stains from sweet drinks, milk, ketchup

Rinse immediately with warm water.

Vinegar solution or foam detergent.

Pour in baking soda, wipe after 15 minutes, then dilute a solution of one teaspoon of vinegar and four tablespoons of water. You can first fill it with the solution and add baking soda on top. The entire sofa can be washed with the same solution to refresh the color and remove small stains.

Fucorcin stain

Folk remedy: mix tooth powder and alcohol in half, apply to the stain, let dry, vacuum. Fukortsin becomes discolored when the stain is treated with sodium sulfite solution. But it cannot be left on the fabric! It is imperative to wash or neutralize (especially acidic solutions) with a soda solution.

Wet with a damp cloth, and then dry from the center to the edges with a hairdryer, using circular movements, while constantly wiping the edges of the stain with a damp cloth.

Some types of ink are removed by tomato juice, alcohol, and denatured alcohol. But it’s better not to experiment and purchase a special product.

The best time to remove stains is when they are still fresh. Dried stains are more difficult to remove. Apply the stain remover first to a small piece of the sofa upholstery in an inconspicuous place to ensure that the color does not change.

What's the best way to clean a sofa from stains?

Fresh marks are easier to clean than old ones. Dishwashing detergent or 72% soap is suitable for removal. If the stain emits a strong odor, it is better to use a specialized product, since upholstery absorbs odors well.

In order to get rid of the trace, you need:

Start eliminating immediately, as old stains may be impossible to remove on your own.
Wipe marks from edge to center.
Remove excess moisture with paper, sponge, towel or napkins.
Use cleanser using gentle movements on the affected area.

The use of the available product depends on the color of the furniture: some products affect the fabric, lightening or darkening the upholstery. Sometimes this leads to divorces.

How to remove a stain from a sofa: comparison table of products

Homemade upholstery stain removers work well on many stains:

Ways to reduce spots

Dirt, stains on furniture leather, white leather sofa

Dilute 1 egg in 1/2 glass of milk, wipe the sofa with a damp cloth, stubborn dirt will disappear.

Stains from pens, felt-tip pens, pencils

Stains of greenery, iodine

Wash with mild soap or warm salt water and dry with a soft cloth.

Place the ice in the bag on the chewing gum; when it hardens, peel it off. Wipe with a cloth soaked in methyl alcohol, cover with a clean, dry cloth and let dry.

Lipstick stains

Removed with soap solution.

Immediately get wet, dry, then treat with 1-2 tbsp. l. white vinegar per 1 liter of water.

Stains from sweet drinks, milk, ketchup

Rinse immediately with warm water.

Vinegar solution or foam detergent.

Fucorcin stain

Wet with a damp cloth, and then dry from the center to the edges with a hairdryer, using circular movements, while constantly wiping the edges of the stain with a damp cloth.

Some types of ink are removed by tomato juice, alcohol, and denatured alcohol. But it’s better not to experiment and purchase a special product.

How to properly clean a sofa from stains

There are several ways to eliminate divorces:

Clean the entire surface of the sofa. At the same time, use napkins or other absorbent things to remove excess moisture.
Buy special napkins for furniture. According to the instructions, treat the surface evenly. It is better to test the product and make sure that it will not remove the paint along with the stain.
If possible, remove the upholstery and wash it. However, with some sofas it will be difficult or impossible to remove the element.
Use special household chemicals against stains. After use, dry the sofa thoroughly.

If after following these steps your upholstery doesn't look any better, leave your sofa and other furniture cleaning to a professional.

How to remove stains from furniture after cleaning?

Partial cleaning of the sofa is a mistake that many housewives make. After the procedure, strong stains appear on the surface of the sofa. The reason for their formation is the uneven distribution of liquid over the surface of the upholstery.

After drying, you may notice whitish spots on the fabric that spoil the appearance of the furniture. The upholstery can be damaged due to dust particles that accumulate on the fabric. You can use a vacuum cleaner to get rid of dirt. The procedure must be carried out once every 3 months.

Vinegar and soda

First you need to prepare a solution that will help remove whitish spots:

To clean the sofa, pour 5 liters of water into a container.
After this, dilute a glass of vinegar in a container and add 4 tbsp. spoons of soda.

Soak a cloth in the solution and wipe all areas with stains.

Removing stains from furniture after cleaning with soda and vinegar

Products for light upholstery

Sometimes yellowish shades from stains are not immediately visible on a light color. In order to remove stains from the sofa, use the following folk recipes:

Baking soda mixed with water. The paste is applied to the damaged area.
Vinegar 9% diluted one to one in water.
Hydrogen peroxide. Used even in its pure form, it neutralizes blood.
Ammonia. Helps get rid of unpleasant odors.
Citric acid or juice. Removes unwanted aroma.

General recommendations and advice

When talking about how to clean a sofa from old stains and dirt, it is worth determining the type of material from which the upholstery is made :

products made from genuine leather and leather substitutes cannot be cleaned using an iron, hair dryer, very hot liquids, as well as powders and other household chemicals containing abrasive particles;
furniture upholstered in flock or velor cannot be cleaned with chemicals or household products containing alcohol;
jacquard and chenille, as well as matting and microfiber cannot be too wet, so wet or dry cleaning is recommended;
Furniture with light upholstery should be cleaned with light-colored napkins or fabrics, as colored materials can fade;
tapestry cannot be wet, so it is cleaned with a vacuum cleaner, suede - with a brush.

Ready-made chemicals

You can also clean the sofa with chemicals. While studying the sofa cleaning product, we familiarize ourselves with its description and rules of use. The description indicates what type of fabric it is intended for:

"Vanish " The line of this product includes shampoo, antibacterial agent and powder. For coatings that do not tolerate moisture, we use the latter (cleaning using the dry method);
"Marseille Soap" . Contains olive oil and baking soda. Used to clean small stains. Wet the soap, rub the stained area and after 20 minutes rinse with a damp cloth;
"Denkmit" - foam for cleaning carpet and sofa upholstery. We use it for velvet, tapestry and silk coverings;
"Sama " Effectively fights old stains, dirt and bacteria;
Bagi "Shtihonit" . We use it as a stain remover and as a complete cleaning agent;

We also recommend that all housewives find out how to wash kitchen towels from old grease stains and odors.

"Pro Brite " An environmentally friendly product, suitable for people with allergies. It has a sprayer that is convenient for applying the product to local areas of the upholstery;
"Dufta" , "Simple Solution" , "Nature's Miracle" . These products effectively combat unpleasant odors and completely eliminate them.

Cleaning with a vacuum cleaner

This method is suitable if you need to get rid of dust, hair and bed mites. But, alas, it will not help with stains or unpleasant odors.

Most vacuum cleaners come with attachments for carpets and upholstered furniture. They must have special thread-lifting strips, which in addition comb the fibers and lift them.

There is also an attachment for orthopedic mattresses and upholstered furniture. Thanks to the high air flow speed, it can be used to remove dust even from the deep layers of thick mattresses.

A washing vacuum cleaner will help you clean the sofa from stains without streaks. It comes complete with a special nozzle designed for cleaning upholstered furniture. It does its job no worse than a sponge and shampoo, and you need to put in much less effort. Thanks to the special design, water does not penetrate deep into the sofa and only washes the top layer.

Household chemicals

Specialized compounds have a soft effect on upholstery material and, if the instructions are followed, do not leave streaks. Cleaners are available in spray or foam form.

Vanish

The product easily copes with stains from tea, red wine, juice and other similar stains, and also effectively eliminates unpleasant odors, including those from pets.

To obtain the desired result, Vanish is applied to the problem area using a spray bottle, and then removed with a dry cloth. The product removes fresh and minor stains the first time; old and complex stains require repeated treatment.

Attention! Vanish should not be used on delicate fabrics: silk, velvet, etc.

Before use, it is recommended to test the product on a hidden area of upholstery material.

Main advantages of Vanish:

performance;
ability to eliminate odors;
ease of use;
availability;
reasonable cost;
convenient packaging.

Tuba

Tuba upholstery cleaning foam is suitable for all types of upholstery: natural and synthetic. Foam effectively removes contaminants of various origins, while preserving the original color of the material and providing the surface with protection from re-contamination. Tuba is designed for dry cleaning, eliminating the slightest wetting of the upholstery.

During use, the foam is applied to a sponge and distributed over the problem area. Leave for 2-3 hours, and then remove the remains with a vacuum cleaner. Tuba copes well with fresh stains and returns the upholstery to its original appearance.

In addition, the drug has several other advantages:

availability;
relatively low cost;
environmental cleanliness;
ease of use.

Nordland

Penetrating into the structure of the fibers of the upholstery material, microactive foam cleans them to the very base, removing traces of grease, nicotine, dirt and dust. The product not only preserves the original brightness of the upholstery of upholstered furniture, but also adds freshness to it. Norland is suitable for cleaning synthetic, natural and mixed fiber surfaces.

The advantages of foam are as follows:

effective removal of old stains;
delicate effect on the fabric surface;
ability to align microscopic villi;
absence of harmful chemical components;
ease of use;
reluctance to leave traces;
biodegradability over 90%.

Cleaning a sofa with different coverings. Types of materials and features of its processing

Fabric upholstery of furniture can be made of different coatings, with their own characteristics and contraindications for care:

Cleaning such a surface does not cause many problems. The main rule when cleaning dermantine coating is not to over-wet it. Remove stains with egg white, after beating it until it forms a thick foam. Apply it to the dirt and leave it for 5-7 minutes, and then wipe it off.

We soak a microfiber cloth with a vinegar solution (1 teaspoon of vinegar per 1 liter of water) and clean the dirt with light movements in the direction of the pile. To remove complex stains, we turn to dry cleaning.

suede and nubuck

To clean such a coating, use a brush with soft bristles. Remove grease stains with an eraser or alcohol solution. We recommend regular treatment with impregnations that repel dirt.

A very capricious and demanding coating that can only withstand dry cleaning with a vacuum cleaner. Cleaning products negatively affect the quality of upholstery and its color. Wet processing is possible only with foam; we try to minimize the volume of moisture.