What to do in the first few minutes
- Blot. Use a clean, absorbent cloth or paper to blot the stain gently, without rubbing. Repeat with a clean part of the cloth.
- Do not soak it. If you use anything, use very little. Liquid can reach the upholstery, and a water ring may stay where the spot was too wet.
- Do not use hot water. Hot water can set the stain. That also applies to a fresh stain that looks quite small.
- Find the label. It is often hidden under the cushions or on the underside of the furniture. The letter on it tells you more than any advice on the internet.
- Take photos. The stain, the label and the whole sofa in separate shots: how to photograph a sofa for a price.
Why solvent on a sofa is a risk
The University of Georgia's textile advice recommends a dry-cleaning solvent for a greasy stain after blotting. In the same place there is a warning: solvents can damage the foam upholstery of furniture. So on a sofa this advice is not simple: the fabric may look good after cleaning, while the upholstery beneath it may be damaged.
The second reason is the label. Solvents are forbidden on some fabrics, water on others, and on some no liquids may be used at all.
| Code on the label | What it means | What it means for a grease stain |
|---|---|---|
| W | water-based foam, sparingly, no dry-cleaning solvents | do not use solvent |
| S | only a mild water-free solvent in a well-ventilated room, tested beforehand | do not use water |
| WS or S-W | a mild solvent or foam from a mild washing solution, tested beforehand | the fabric and the stain decide |
| X | no liquid at all, only vacuuming and light brushing; any other cleaning has to be decided separately | do not use liquid |
| No code | the codes are voluntary, so some furniture has none | test in a hidden spot first or ask a specialist |
A test means a small amount in a hidden spot, to see whether the colour comes off. Chlorine bleach and strong substances can change the colour of the fabric, so do not use them on a sofa. Home remedies vary from source to source, so we do not give them here.
What to expect from a grease stain
Usually comes out
- A fresh stain that has only been blotted and not heated: it can usually be worked on further.
- A stain on a fabric whose label allows the cleaning it needs: it often becomes less visible.
May stay
- A stain set by hot water.
- A water ring around the stain, if the spot was too wet.
- Colour changes after bleach or strong substances.
- Crushed pile on velour, where the stain was rubbed or pressed.
A water ring appears because too much moisture moves the fabric finish, and the finish stays at the edge of the wet area. Water and pressure can crush viscose flock irreversibly, and it must not be rubbed. More on velour: velour sofa cleaning. On limits in general: what comes out and what may stay.
If the sofa is leather or faux leather
Leather absorbs liquid readily, and the stain soaks into the leather itself. Methods that suit textiles can damage the structure of leather. Do not try to clean a stain on suede; leave it to a specialist. Be careful with solvents on faux leather too, because some imitations do not withstand dry cleaning: the film or glue may deteriorate. More detail: can a leather sofa be cleaned.
When to order cleaning and what it costs
It is worth ordering cleaning if the stain is large, if there is no label, if the code is S or X, or if something has already been put on the stain. We clean at your home in Riga and the Riga region and agree the price before the work. Send a photo and a specialist will tell you the price and what to expect from this stain.
Sofa cleaning: two-seater from €35, three-seater from €45, corner sofa from €50. A leather two-seater sofa costs from €40. The minimum order is €45: if the total is lower, you pay €45. Travel is included in Riga and up to about 15 km outside Riga; further out it is from €10. See the full price list.
Sources
- Greasy stain: blot, do not rub; solvent can damage foam upholstery; excessive moisture can leave a water ring checked 7 November 2026
- Codes S, WS, X; a stain is blotted, hot water can set a stain, do not soak through to the upholstery; vacuuming and brushing for code X checked 7 November 2026
- Code W; viscose flock must not be rubbed, water and pressure can crush it checked 7 November 2026
- Code WS; label often under the cushions or underneath checked 7 November 2026
- The codes are voluntary; test in a hidden spot; covers are not taken off for separate washing checked 7 November 2026
- Test any product in a hidden spot first; care label first checked 7 November 2026
- Leather is absorbent; suede stains are for a specialist; imitations may not withstand dry cleaning checked 7 November 2026
- Heat dries leather out, makes it brittle and deforms it checked 7 November 2026
- Stains set by heat are hard to remove checked 7 November 2026