Wine and coffee stains on a sofa

What to do in the first few minutes

1. Blot Use a clean, absorbent cloth or paper to blot gently, without rubbing. Change it until the cloth stops picking up colour.
2. Read the label Code X means no liquid at all, only vacuuming and light brushing. Code S means water must not be used.
3. Cool water If the code allows it, gently blot the spot with a cloth dampened in cool water, then with a dry one. Do not soak it.
4. Blot again Use a dry cloth to blot the spot gently, and let it dry without heat.

If the stain is small and fresh, these steps are often enough. Before using any product, test it in a hidden spot: this is the colourfastness test the University of Georgia recommends.

Wine and coffee are not the same stain

For coffee and tea on upholstery the University of Georgia mentions foam, blotting and checking the label. That matches the Virginia materials: foam rather than liquid helps avoid shrinkage and colour change. The most important thing in both cases: as little water as possible.

By type of fabric

Fabric. If the label says W or WS, water-based cleaning is usually allowed, but sparingly. If the fabric is overwetted, the finish moves and a ring stays, and it may be more visible than the stain.

Velour and pile fabrics. Blot the liquid from the edges towards the middle. Viscose flock must not be rubbed, because water and pressure can flatten it permanently. Once the fabric has dried completely, it can be brushed in the direction of the pile. More detail: velour sofa cleaning.

Leather. Leather absorbs liquid readily and the stain soaks into the leather itself, so blot with a dry cloth and do not wet it. Do not spot-rub a stain on suede; leave it to a specialist. More detail: leather sofa cleaning and can a leather sofa be cleaned.

If the stain has already dried

Blotting no longer helps a dried stain, and a lot of water does not solve it: a ring may form around the stain as well. Send a photo and tell us what it is and how old, and a specialist will tell you what to expect.

If it spilled on a removable cushion

Do not take the cover off or put it in the washing machine, even if it has a zip, unless the label explicitly allows it. New Mexico State University warns that the cover may shrink, the backing may be damaged or the colour may change, and then it will differ from the rest of the sofa. A removable cushion has its own cleaning price, from €2. If it spilled on a bed: stains on a mattress.

What not to do

• Do not rub, even if the stain is dark.
• Do not use hot water: it can set the stain.
• Do not pour water directly on the sofa.
• Do not use chlorine bleach: it changes the colour.
• Do not use several products one after another.

What may stay and when to order cleaning

Cleaning is worth ordering if the stain is old or large, if the sofa is light-coloured, if the label says S or X, or if attempts have already spread the stain. In general: stains on a sofa. For light-coloured sofas: light-coloured and white sofa cleaning. What to expect: what comes out and what may stay.

Two-seater sofa from €35, three-seater from €45, corner from €50, leather two-seater from €40. 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.