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Common sofa stains: a quick guide before you treat them

Coffee, ink, grease, mould and general dirt each respond to a different first step — treating any of them the wrong way can set the stain rather than lift it.

At a glance

Topic
General stain care

What to do

  • Coffee: blot immediately with a clean cloth, then cold water — coffee is a tannin stain like wine and responds the same way early on.
  • Grease or oil: blot (never rub) and let a dry absorbent powder like cornstarch sit on the spot for a few minutes to draw the oil out before vacuuming it away.
  • Ink: dab, don't rub, from the outside of the mark inward — rubbing spreads ink over a wider area of the fabric.
  • Mould or mildew: ventilate the room and let the area dry fully first — treating mould while the fabric is still damp only encourages it to return.
  • General dirt or grime: a soft brush to lift loose dirt before any liquid treatment stops it from turning into mud within the fibres.

What to avoid

  • Avoid hot water on any fresh stain — heat is what actually sets most stains (coffee, blood-type protein stains, ink) permanently into the fabric.
  • Avoid scrubbing any stain, on any fabric — it pushes the substance deeper into the weave or padding instead of lifting it out.
  • Avoid bleach-based products on coloured or delicate upholstery without checking the manufacturer's care label first.

When to call a professional

A stain that has already dried, covers a large area, is on a delicate fabric (velvet, silk-blend, suede), or keeps reappearing after a home treatment is usually a sign that professional extraction cleaning — which reaches the padding, not just the surface — is the safer next step.

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