Ever sat down on your well-worn couch to check the news and accidentally spilled your coffee over its nice white leather? Or writing with a pen was easy but it’s now spilling? Maybe sometimes your slice of pizza fell on your favorite couch.
What are you going to do?
Stains, just like any emergencies, occur all of a sudden when you least expect it.
No need to worry about it, we’ve done the work of finding out how to get rid of those stubborn stains. With just everyday products that are found in your home, you can be your own professional when it comes to removing pesky stains.
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Food Stains
The best way to get rid of that cheese stain? It’s simpler than you think, and it does the trick every time. Not to mention that this trick can take care of most stains.
It’s a simple combination of water and some soap. You would want to get a sponge or a clean cloth together with your water and soap. Don’t use the rougher part of the sponge.
Warm water helps, but if the stains are from dairy products like cheese, it’s best to use cool water to avoid the protein from curdling.
At times, when the reliable mixture trick doesn’t seem to work, try using a liquid detergent that has enzymes in it. Soak the stain for 30 minutes before blotting it with the cloth or sponge.
Larger stains are often a chore. Don’t start in the stain; it’s best to work from the outside first.
Greasy Stains
Baking soda is your friend when it comes to removing greasy stains. You can either put straight up baking soda on it, or you can create a solution of baking soda and water and create a mixture and apply it on the stained area.
You want to get the oil out of the stain because that’s what’s making it stick to the material. With the baking soda solution, you should then let it sit for 10 minutes or longer. Once you’ve waited it out, vacuum or sweep the excess baking soda.
For extra credit, you can try using vodka and blot away any remaining stains on it. Another alternative to vodka would be some drops of dish detergent, elbow-grease to scrub away using a toothbrush, then blotting with a clean cloth or towel.
Alcohol & Coffee Stains
Your favorite beverage spills, and the best way to get rid of it is simple.
Get that ice cube from the bucket and rub the stain with it. Mix a small amount of liquid detergent with warm water. Finally, use this to blot the stain with a paper towel.
A tip to save you when you need it: Use a cup of vinegar and another with water. Put them in a spray bottle for convenience. Spray it on the problem area before blotting with a wet towel.
Next, dilute ammonia with water, around a tablespoon for a cup of water, and blot it on the stain. Once you do that, you blot with a new but wet cloth and then dry off with a dry towel.
Fruit Stains
These stains are pretty colorful and stand out, especially when not in contrast to the color of your upholstery.
First things first, see if you can use water to clean out your furniture. Next step is you need to make a solution by mixing cold water, 1 tbsp of vinegar, and just a little bit of dish detergent. You can also use shampoo. Using the solution you just made, rub it on the stain. After that, wash away with water, dry it with a new cloth.
If that doesn’t work, cleaning services New York, MaidSailors recommends using Rubbing Alcohol. Just spray a little bit of alcohol and rub away with any cloth.
It is also advisable to clean starting from the outside of the stain and then working your way to the inside. This helps with preventing the stain from spreading out.
With some upholstery, you have options to use chlorine or stronger cleaning solutions if the material can take on harsher chemicals. Let dry, and you should be good to go.
Ink Stains
Ink stains are a common occurrence, and a well-known remedy to it is hairspray. Start off by placing a paper towel underneath the stained material to absorb the wet ink. Dab it with a cotton ball dipped in hairspray (you may also use an alcohol wipe). Let it soak for several seconds before blotting it with another clean cloth. Repeat this process until it’s gone.
Pet Pee
If you’ve ever owned a cat or a dog, you have encountered this and may have found your own way of getting rid of that stain. One suggestion would be to use a cleaning solution that’s composed half of the water, and the other half would be vinegar.
Spray it with the solution then blot a cloth onto it until you remove the moisture. The smell is the toughest part of the pee to tackle, but with a little baking soda, you can do it quite easily. After you’ve sprinkled baking soda on it, wipe away the excess or vacuum it and you’re done!
Removing stains is always a chore, but it’s a good thing to know how to get rid of it without breaking the bank. After the cleaning and the baking soda, your furniture would be looking good as new, and it’s the same old couch you know and love.