If you’ve ever owned furniture before you know how difficult it can be to deal with upholstery that has been damaged as a result of spilled drinks, food, or just dirt in general. Unless you’re the type of person to deal with the stains right away, they’re going to set into your fabrics and be incredibly difficult to remove without the right products or cleaning equipment. Instead of forcing yourself to look at dirty furniture on a regular basis or spending money on new pieces, consider these tips to help clean set-in upholstery stains.

Tip 1: Vacuuming

The best thing that you can do to prevent stains for staying in your furniture is to regularly vacuum the fabric. This helps to prevent dust and crumbs from settling into the materials and in the event of an older stain, vacuuming can help to fade it over time. It’s also great for giving you an idea of how bad a particular stain is as it will get rid of all of the excess dirt that could be making it appear worse.

Tip 2: Read Instructions

Every piece of furniture that you buy is going to have a list of instructions or cleaning codes that you should be reading through. These are tips from the manufacturer for how you can get rid of stains with the right solutions and cleaning methods. Some materials may require just water whereas others may need a certain type of solvent. In the event that you don’t have instructions or cleaning codes, use a gentle cleaner in an inconspicuous area of the furniture to see if it works. If it doesn’t damage the upholstery, you can move forward.

Tip 3: Steaming the Stains

Steam can be quite effective for getting rid of set-in stains. Although it won’t work as a sure-fire cleaner, it is the perfect solution for loosening the dirt so your cleaning solution will work better. You can use an iron with a steam feature or an actual steamer for the same effect.

Tip 4: Simple Solutions

You’re going to want to try cleaning the set-in stains with a simple solution first such as water and dish soap before moving onto the chemical solvents. All you have to do is blot the spot with the water and soap mixture, making sure that you don’t rub the material. In the event that it doesn’t work, you’re going to have to pull out your store-bought cleaners.

Tip 5: Store-Bought Cleaners

These products are specifically designed to get rid of various types of stains, regardless of their age. Since every solvent is different, it is advised that you find a cleaner that is recommended for your upholstery such as leather or microfiber. Make sure that you test the product on the underside of the couch or a cushion to see if it will damage the material or not.

If none of the above works, it’s time to call in the carpet cleaning pros! They use state-of-the-art equipment and high quality products to get your upholstery looking like new.