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Unless you have a housekeeper or live in an HGTV-ready home, your upholstery probably gets dirty with everyday use. Whether from kids or pets, spots and spills are a fact of life for upholstery fabrics. Fortunately, there are several tricks for removing even stubborn stains from your furniture. The problem is that some stains are much harder to remove than others. Here are the top five hardest upholstery stains to remove, along with expert advice on how to tackle each one:
Candle Wax
Candle wax is one of the trickiest stains to remove from upholstery fabric because it has a higher melting point than most cleaning products. The best way to remove candle wax from your upholstery is to use a commercial solvent, such as Citrus Solvent, which contains petroleum distillates and citrus oil. These solvents break down the wax so that it can be easily wiped away with a rag. If you don’t have a commercial solvent on hand, you can also use a mixture of warm water and dish soap to dissolve the wax, followed by a quick wipe with a dry rag.
Coffee
Coffee is one of the most common and difficult stains to remove from upholstery fabric. To remove a fresh stain, apply a commercial stain remover, such as Carbona Stain Remover, to the fabric. Then, allow the solution to sit on the stain for at least 30 minutes. Finally, use a clean cloth to blot the fabric dry and remove the stain. If the stain has already dried, you can try a hot water extraction, where you soak the fabric in hot water to dissolve the coffee stain. Then, use water and mineral spirits to clean and rinse the fabric. Once it’s dry, you can finish up with a commercial stain remover.
Food Coloring
Food coloring is a common staple for kids’ crafts, but a difficult stain to remove from fabric. The best way to remove food coloring from upholstery fabric is with a commercial stain remover, such as Shout Advanced Stain Remover. This product contains enzymes that break down the stain, making it much easier to clean. If you don’t have a commercial stain remover on hand, you can also create a homemade stain remover using dish soap and hot water. Just combine equal parts dish soap and hot water, and use a rag to scrub the stain. Then, finish up with a clean cloth and water to rinse out the stain remover.
Grass and Weed Killer
Weed killer is one of the trickiest stains to remove from upholstery fabric, as it contains powerful chemicals that will stain and damage the fabric. Most weed killers are also resistant to water, making them even harder to remove. The best way to remove weed killer from your upholstery fabric is with a commercial solvent, such as Citrus Solvent. This solvent can break down the chemical compounds in weed killer, making the stain much easier to remove. If you don’t have a commercial solvent on hand, use a mixture of warm water and dish soap to dissolve the weed killer. Then, finish up with a quick wipe with a dry rag.
Oil and Grease
Oil stains are among the hardest stains to remove from upholstery fabric, as they’re difficult to break down and are often resistant to water and soap. The best way to remove oil and grease from your upholstery fabric is to combine warm water with vinegar, which will break the stain down and make it easier to remove. Once the stain is dissolved, use a clean cloth to blot the fabric dry and remove the stain. If vinegar alone doesn’t remove the stain, you can also try adding baking soda to the mix to boost its cleaning power.
Red Wine
Red wine is one of the trickiest stains to remove from upholstery fabric, but with the right combination of cleaning products, you can make short work of even the most stubborn stain. The best way to remove red wine from upholstery fabric is with a commercial solvent, such as Citrus Solvent. This product contains citrus oils that break down the stain, making it easy to remove with a cloth. If you don’t have a commercial solvent on hand, you can also create a homemade solvent using water, dish soap, and some lemon juice. Just combine water, dish soap, and lemon juice in a bowl and use a rag to scrub the stain.
Conclusion
Upholstery may look decorative and beautiful, but it’s also a fabric meant for durability and longevity. It’s designed to hold up to daily use, including kids and pets, as well as occasional spills and messes. That said, it’s important to know how to clean it when stains happen. To clean your upholstery, start by vacuuming it at least once a month to keep it clean and free of dust and debris that can cause stains. Then, when a stain happens, try one of these five hardest upholstery stains to remove, and soon your furniture will be looking as good as new.