From sofas to dining room chairs, upholstered furniture is frequently used for relaxing, eating, and parties. This leaves your furniture susceptible to a variety of difficult-to-remove stains. Below is an upholstery cleaning guide that will help you remove the most common types of stains your furniture will encounter.

How to Get Rid of Upholstery Stains

1. Grease

Greasy, oily stains are especially troublesome since they attract dirt and dust and grow darker over time. Sprinkle and leave baking soda over the stain to soak up the oil for at least 10 minutes. Vacuum the powder, then dab the spot with clear vodka or scrub it with a toothbrush and dish soap. Finally, blot with a damp towel repeatedly until the stain is gone.

2. Red Wine & Berries

Red wine and berries leave dark, highly noticeable stains. Luckily, sparkling water and white vinegar are effective upholstery cleaning solutions. Sprinkle the water onto the stain and dry it gently with a cloth. For persistent stains, mix a one-half tablespoon of vinegar with a one-half teaspoon of laundry detergent and two cups of cold water. Dab the solution onto the stain, rinse it with water, and blot it dry.

3. Food & Drinks

Non-oily food and beverage stains are easy to remove. Make a solution of warm water and dishwashing soap and gently scrub the stain with a clean cloth or the soft side of a sponge. Use cold water on dairy product spots to prevent curdling. Detergents with enzymes are especially useful in lifting food particles.

4. Ink

Dark ink appears as permanent on your upholstery, but dry-cleaning solvent makes quick work of these stains. Using a cloth with the solution, blot, don’t rub, the affected area, then repeatedly dab it dry. Alternatively, you can use rubbing alcohol instead. However, in the instance these methods don't work, professionals have tools and solutions explicitly catered to removing ink stains.

5. Makeup

To tackle makeup stains: first mix a tablespoon of white vinegar, a one-half teaspoon of liquid dishwashing soap, and one quart of warm water. Then, repeatedly soak the stain for at least 15 minutes, rinse with water, and dry until the stain begins to fade. Finish it off with rubbing alcohol and rinse the spot clean.

For upholstery stains that are too tough to remove on your own, get help from the professionals at Lakes Area Carpet Care. Serving Branson, Kimberling City, Ozark, Hollister, Forsyth, and Nixa, MO, this family-owned carpet cleaning company provides custom solutions for your home or business. With over 30 years of experience and a highly trained team, they offer the most efficient and effective results for tile, carpet, area rug, and furniture cleaning. Learn more about their upholstery cleaning services online. To set up an appointment, call (417) 334-6049 for their Branson location, (417) 739-5537 for Kimberling City, or (417) 485-5651 for Ozark.