Many of us enjoy sitting back and relaxing on our sofas to catch our favourite TV shows after a long day of work. However, a dirty and stained couch can often spoil the experience, and this is where a stain remover comes into play.
Fortunately, it is easy to make your own DIY sofa stain remover. So why not save yourself the hassle of spending countless hours researching the best stain remover before heading out to make your purchase by making one yourself to clean your sofa? Plus, it saves you money!
Identifying your sofa’s upholstery
However, it is advisable to identify your sofa’s material before applying any homemade sofa stain remover. This is because the ingredients used in each stain remover are different and may react differently depending on your sofa’s fabric.
Thankfully, it is easy to identify your sofa’s fabric, as most couches come with a manufacturer’s tag that details the proper way to clean the upholstery. You just have to understand what the different codes on the labels mean. Let us share the common upholstery cleaning codes you will encounter:
- W/S – use a dry cleaning agent or a mild detergent with a steam vacuum.
- S – use a dry cleaning agent only during the cleaning process.
- X – Vacuuming only; avoid using water.
- W – safe to use water during the cleaning process.
If your furniture does not come with a manufacturer’s tag, you may want to consult the store where you bought the item from. It is also advisable to spot test your DIY cleaning agent on an inconspicuous spot first to note if there are any potential discolouration before cleaning your sofa.
DIY stain remover for leather sofas
It is advisable to use mild soap and water when you are cleaning your leather sofa, but avoid oversaturating the area as it may leave water stains behind. However, if you were to accidentally leave any unwelcome stains, fret not!
One solution is to contact a leather sofa cleaning service provider to assist you with removing the stain. Alternatively, you can consider mixing your own DIY leather sofa stain remover to eliminate the stain. All you need is 1/2 cup of olive oil and 1/4 cup of white vinegar.
Mix the two ingredients inside a plastic bottle, and spray the affected areas with the solution before cleaning the stain with a microfiber cloth. Additionally, you can consider blotting the area with a towel to prevent the stain from spreading. Once you are done clearing the stain, apply a leather conditioner to help condition and preserve the leather.
DIY stain remover for fabric sofas
Not every fabric stain remover is created equal, as various fabric sofa cleaning service providers can attest. Specific cleaning agents, such as dishwashing liquid, are effective in removing the most stubborn spots. Conversely, others barely make a dent on an unwanted stain.
Fortunately, you no longer have to fret with the following fabric sofa stain remover recipe. Mix the following ingredients – 1/4 cup of vinegar, 3/4 cup of warm water, and a tablespoon of dish soap – in a spray bottle, and lightly mist the stained area with the cleaning agent. Proceed to scrub the spot using a soft cloth till the stain begins to disappear.
DIY stain remover for spot cleaning tough stains
If you are dealing with particularly deep, dark stains, you may want to consider treating your upholstery with a baking soda paste. In fact, we find baking soda to be an all-around miracle cleaner. As a mild alkali, it can get into grease and grime and break down these molecules, making it easier to wipe the stain off.
To create your paste, add 1/2 cup of baking soda into a bowl and add a few tablespoons of water before mixing everything together. Continue adding more water as needed until you have a thick and spreadable paste.
Do not hesitate to apply a generous amount to the upholstery stain and allow it to sit for a few minutes. Subsequently, you can scrub the paste into the affected areas with a microfiber cloth. Lastly, remove the paste and proceed to clean as instructed with either of the above solutions before leaving the upholstery to dry.
It is essential for you to clean and maintain your sofa regularly to ensure it remains in pristine condition, and these DIY stain removers can help you achieve that! You can also check out our helpful tips for cleaning your sofa upholsteries.
However, at the end of the day, nothing beats hiring a professional sofa cleaning service provider to clean your sofa. Not only do you save yourself the hassle of cleaning your sofa, but these professionals are also highly-trained and can help you rid your upholstery of any unwanted grime, odours, and critters.
At Clean Care Pte Ltd, our reliable cleaners possess years of experience in the industry and are well-equipped to handle any cleaning situation. If you are interested to learn more about our services, do not hesitate to contact us today!