With the inevitable chaos and mischief that occur in your home, accidental spills and stains become a frustrating and stressful part of daily life. This is especially true when these stains land on the fabric of your upholstered furniture.
Whether it’s a spilled cup of coffee during breakfast or a splash of red wine after dinner, these stains may initially seem impossible to remove. However, there are several tips and tricks that can make the cleaning process easier and more efficient.
Here are a few suggestions that can help you remove stains more quickly:
Remove the stain immediately
When it comes to effective stain removal, it is crucial to take immediate action for several reasons. Acting quickly prevents the liquid from spreading and being absorbed further into the fabric. It also ensures easier removal, preventing lasting stains and odors. Additionally, this habit helps maintain the appearance of the material and prevents permanent damage.
Avoid rubbing stains
Your initial instinct upon encountering any spilled liquid on your upholstery may be to vigorously rub the area with a clean cloth. However, this approach only makes the stain more difficult to remove. Any forceful and aggressive rubbing will push the liquid deeper into the material, making it harder to eliminate.
Instead, gently dab and blot the area with a clean cloth to absorb excess liquid without worsening the stain. Afterward, proceed with a targeted cleaning solution to fully lift the stain before leaving the area to dry completely.
Use baking soda
Baking soda is a highly versatile household cleaning ingredient for a few good reasons, one of which being that it’s an effective way to remove fresh stains. All you really need to do is to sprinkle a generous amount over the affected area and let the baking soda do its magic.
You’ll know it’s working when the white powder gradually turns into a paste as it absorbs the excess liquid, which makes stain removal much easier. After letting it do its magic, simply get a damp cloth and wipe away the baking soda paste, making sure to rinse the cloth out as much as needed until everything’s been removed. You can also run a vacuum cleaner over the area to remove all traces of baking soda.
Use stain-specific cleaning solutions
While there are numerous versatile household cleaning solutions available for various cleaning needs, they may not be the most effective for removing spilled liquids. Fortunately, you can create your own solutions using a few ingredients commonly found right in your home. These solutions can help the stain removal process go much more smoothly as they serve as affordable, non-toxic and chemical free alternatives to commercial products.
For coffee or tea stains, mix a tablespoon of dishwashing liquid with a tablespoon of white vinegar and a cup of lukewarm water. Use this solution to dampen a clean sponge or cloth and carefully dab it onto the stain. Repeat as necessary until the stain fades. Then, dampen another sponge or cloth with warm water to remove as much of the solution as possible. Finally, use a dry cloth to soak up moisture and allow the area to dry completely.
To tackle red wine stains, combine three parts hydrogen peroxide with one part dish soap. Apply this solution to the stain using a clean cloth that is slightly damp but not soaking. Allow the solution to sit for 20 minutes to an hour, then use another clean cloth dampened with water to remove all traces of the solution. Leave the area to air dry thoroughly.
When in doubt, call Luce Home
There are definitely a few things you can do to help remove stains on your own, but there will be times when you’ll have to call in the professionals. Luce Home offers a wide range of affordable and customisable cleaning services that can help with your unique cleaning needs, such as our part time maid near me services that sends over a part time maid to handle all your household cleaning for you.
Their professional cleaners are more than ready to help with even the worst of stains and leave your home looking sparkling clean after every session.
Jeffrey Grant, a psychology graduate from the University of Hertfordshire, has a keen interest in the fields of mental health, wellness, and lifestyle.
