How to Clean Stains From Furniture

Big-ticket items like furniture and upholstery should be dusted and vacuumed regularly. It's the only way to keep in check the airborne cooking oils and dust that inevitably settle on these pieces. But what's the solution to little Jack's chocolate snack that ended up sweetening the ottoman? Or Grandma's makeup smudges on the sofa? Busting these and other stains is a piece of cake.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

1. Blot the excess stain, do not soak it. This is true for all stain types.

2. Determine what kind of stain it is.

3. For grease stains, butter, gravy and salad dressing, blot on a small amount of rubbing alcohol or dry-cleaning fluid. Repeat until there is no more transfer of stain to white cloth or plain white paper towel. Then blot with a solution of dishwashing liquid and warm water, blotting from the outside of the stain in.

4. For makeup, rub a small amount of rubbing alcohol or dry-cleaning fluid on the stain and blot dry immediately. If the stain is particularly stubborn, then blot it with a solution of vinegar and warm water, and blot dry it immediately.

5. For ink, blot the fabric with rubbing alcohol and blot dry immediately. Repeat until the stain disappears. Then, rinse with a solution of white vinegar and warm water and blot dry again.

6. For juices, wines and tomato-based sauces, wet the fabric slightly with warm water and let soak for one minute. Then blot dry with a paper towel. Repeat until no stain substance is visible on the paper towel. Then, rub in a detergent solution of dishwashing liquid and warm water and repeat until no stain transfers to the paper towel. Finally, blot with club soda or tonic water.

7. Blot in with warm water and pat dry with a paper towel. This is a universal step to be performed after the specific removal process, regardless the type of stain.

8. Brush dry with a clean, dry wash towel or soft-bristle brush.