Stains on a sofa

First aid for any stain

1. Blot Use a clean, absorbent cloth or paper to blot gently, without rubbing.
2. Read the label There is often a code under the seat cushions or on the underside of the sofa: W, S, WS or X. Code X means no liquid at all.
3. Cool water, very little If the code allows it, gently blot the spot with a cloth dampened in cool water. Do not soak it, because the liquid can reach the upholstery.
4. Test in a hidden spot Test any product in a hidden spot first, to see whether the colour bleeds.

Table by stain

More detail: wine and coffee stains, grease stain, urine smell in a sofa.

Pen and felt-tip

There is no single solution for ink. The University of Georgia mentions solvent for upholstery, but solvents can harm foam, and red ink is treated differently. So do not rub and do not use several products one after another. The outcome of an ink stain on leather cannot be promised. Tell us on the form what kind of ink it was, if you know.

Vomit, chocolate, candle wax and sweat

We have no separate checked source for these stains, so we write only what applies to them all: remove the excess, do not rub, do not use hot water and read the label before using any product. For leather and faux leather, send a photo first. Tell us on the form what it is, and a specialist will tell you what to expect.

Why a ring stays after cleaning

A ring is often not a stain but a sign of overwetting. If fabric is overwetted, the finish moves and leaves a ring. When textiles get soaked, the colour may change or bleed and the fabric may shrink. That is why very little water should be used.

Chlorine bleach and strong substances can turn a small stain into a bigger problem, because they change the colour. The wrong product can make the colour bleed, and solvents can harm the upholstery. If this has already happened, say so on the form.

Old stains

An old stain is not always hopeless, but the outcome cannot be promised. A stain that has been exposed to heat, or one that someone has tried to remove with several products, is harder. On light fabric a shadow is more visible: light-coloured and white sofa cleaning.

On velour and chenille some “spots” are not stains at all but pressure marks, which are a property of the fabric: velour sofa cleaning. More on the limits: what comes out and what may stay.

Do you need a specialist for a small stain?

If the stain is small and fresh, blotting and a little cool water are often enough. It is worth bringing in a specialist if the stain is old, large or on a light or delicate fabric, if the label says S or X, or if the spot smells.

The service: sofa cleaning. Two-seater sofa from €35, three-seater from €45, corner from €50, large corner from €60, U-shaped from €65. The price depends on size, fabric, dirt, smell and distance. 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.