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How to Remove Stains from Furniture: A Cleaning Guide

The pieces of furniture that are in your household are subject to getting stained at some point. Human nature precludes us from being aware one hundred percent of the time. As a result, one clumsy move may end up being more than just a detriment.

Some pieces of furniture are to be considered the centerpieces of your home. When a stain of any kind affects them, it lessens their external value. By promptly acting on these blemishes when they occur, you can return your pieces of furniture to their former glory in quick fashion.

Whether you spill water on your couch or stain a wooden piece of furniture, it may seem like it is the end of the world. However, there are certain methods that you can employ in how to remove stains from furniture. Here are the six common types of stains you may encounter, and how you can remove these stains from the furniture:

How to remove food stains from furniture

After a long day of work, you may just want to unwind with a good meal and a good movie. You sit down on your couch and then the worst happens; something spills over and stains your sofa. The stain that is left behind may seem like it can’t be removed, but don’t panic – there is a way to remove the stains from furniture if you act quickly.

Using a combination of water and soap will remove the stain, if acted on promptly. Use a sponge to scrub the stain repeatedly, and make sure the water temperature is warm to boot. Most of the time, the food stain will be gone within minutes, as long as a good amount of force is used in the rubbing motion.

How to remove coffee stains from furniture

One of the most commonly-known stains is one made by a coffee spill. Whether it appears on your clothing or, in worse circumstances, your sofa, chances are the sight will be unbearable. Luckily, it is possible to remove the stains from furniture when you act urgently.

As is the case with other affected pieces of furniture, use a small combination of liquid detergent and warm water. Apply the solution to a cloth, and blot away at the stain until it is gone completely. Just be sure to be careful with your cup of Joe moving forward!

How to remove pet stains from furniture

If you have a pet, especially if it is new, your couch may be the first to suffer an inevitable fate. Whether through general food mess, or through urination, pets can sometimes prove to be a handful. In regards to the latter stain of urination, there is a solution to get rid of the unsightly pigment.

Mix a solution that is half-water and half-vinegar, to start off with. Then, grab a clean rag, and apply the solution onto the rag in an applicable amount. Use the rag to blot the stain repeatedly until the stain begins to lessen in appearance. Finish off the process by applying baking soda to where the stain was, and this will eliminate both the visibility and the odor that was once there.

How to remove white ring stains from furniture

If you accidentally left a wet glass on the surface of a wooden piece of furniture, chances are a white ring stain will be left behind. This can quickly become a nuisance, especially if previous methods won’t work to remove the stains from the furniture. This is the time to employ the use of vinegar.

Like baking soda, vinegar is considered to be a highly-effective means of eliminating stains. For your stained wooden chair, for example, apply vinegar and olive oil to a rag, and blot the stain until it is gone. The continued application will allow the stain to eventually dissipate for good.

How to remove non-greasy stains from furniture

While some stains may be relatively easy to remove from furniture, others may prove to be more challenging. Take, for example, non-greasy stains, which have all the properties of an unpleasant visual, but are more impervious to typical stain removals. In this case, liquid detergent will be your best friend.

If there is a non-greasy food stain on your wooden chair, mix the detergent with warm water. Apply the solution to a cloth, and rub over the stain in question. Eventually, it will begin to decrease in appearance, and will be gone for good.

How to remove permanent marker stains from furniture

If you are an artist, or are just analyzing measurements on a piece of furniture, chances are you’ll use a permanent marker. This tool is handy for making marks on specific dimensions. If you are planning to get rid of the mark eventually, this may be rather difficult and it may be easier to just buy some replacement furniture instead.

However, just because it has the word “permanent” in its name, doesn’t mean that it actually is. Isopropyl alcohol is the best tool to use in this scenario. Apply the chemical to a rag, and repeatedly rub over the stain. If this doesn’t work as effectively as it can, using toothpaste is also a viable alternative.