How to Eliminate Fireplace Smoke From Your Sofa

Fireplace smoke makes white sofas appear dingy.

Sofas situated near fireplaces may acquire smoke stains, which consist of mainly of soot particles. Smoke comes from fireplaces when wood burns at temperatures too low for proper combustion. Soot particles typically produce dark-colored stains that become more challenging to extract over time. The key to eliminating these stains is to address the darkened areas immediately, using appropriate stain removal agents.

Things You'll Need

• Baking soda
• Vacuum cleaner with crevice attachment
• White rag
• 1 tsp. dry-cleaning solvent
• Towel

Instructions

1. Coat the smoke stain liberally with baking soda. Leave the baking soda on the smoke stain for 15 minutes to absorb soot.

2. Vacuum the baking soda and absorbed soot off the sofa’s upholstery using the machine’s crevice attachment.

3. Dampen a white rag with 1 tsp. dry-cleaning solvent. Tamp the blemished portion of the sofa to eliminate the remaining smoke stain.

4. Continue tamping the smoke stain with solvent until the undesirable dark blemish disappears. Moisten the rag with additional solvent if the smoke stain is severe.

5. Blot the previously smoke-stained portion of upholstery with a towel. Absorb any excess dry-cleaning solvent lingering in the upholstery. No rinsing is necessary with dry-cleaning solvent.

Tips & Warnings

• Repeat the entire procedure if the smoke stain is extremely stubborn.

• Follow the dry-cleaning solvent’s label to reduce the possibility of damaging the sofa’s upholstery.

References

• Tasmania Environment Protection Authority: What is Fire, What is Smoke?
• "Good Housekeeping": Stain Buster -- Smoke
• University of Illinois Extension: Stain Solutions - Soot