Quck answer
Grease stains on furniture upholstery can be stubborn and difficult to remove. Here are some effective methods to help you get rid of these stains:
1. Blot the stain immediately with a clean cloth or paper towel to absorb as much grease as possible.
2. Sprinkle a small amount of baking soda or cornstarch on the stain and let it sit for at least 15 minutes to absorb the grease.
3. Use a brush or toothbrush to gently scrub the stained area.
4. Vacuum or brush off the baking soda or cornstarch.
5. Apply a small amount of dishwashing liquid or laundry detergent to a clean cloth and gently dab the stain.
6. Rinse the cloth with clean water and dab the stained area again to remove any soap residue.
7. Blot the area with a dry cloth to remove excess moisture.
8. Allow the upholstery to air dry completely.
Remember to test any cleaning solution on an inconspicuous area of the upholstery first to ensure it doesn’t cause any discoloration or damage.
Although it’s not advisable to eat on the couch, many people still indulge in food while relaxing on their favorite furniture. This habit, however, can result in greasy stains on the upholstery, which can be challenging to remove. While you may be familiar with getting rid of grease on clothes, cleaning upholstery is a different ball game. Knowing the right techniques to remove grease stains from your sofa or chair can help you restore its original look.
Get Rid of Visible Grease
If there is any grease left on top of the upholstery or has dried up, gently scrape it off using a plastic knife. Be careful not to spread the stain further. Then, blot the area with a dry or damp cloth to absorb as much grease as possible. This may not remove all of the grease, but it’ll take away a significant amount before proceeding with other cleaning methods.
Absorb the Grease
Prior to scrubbing the stain, absorb as much of the grease as possible using baking soda or corn starch. Sprinkle a generous amount of the powder over the entire stain, ensuring that it covers the area thickly. Wait for 15 to 20 minutes to allow the powder to pull out the oil from the fabric, then vacuum all of it off using a brush attachment. Inspect the area and proceed with additional cleaning based on the furniture upholstery type.
Determine the Type of Fabric
Furniture upholstery has a cleaning code that indicates the type of cleaning solution that’s safe to use on it. You can usually find this information on the tag, which is often located under the sofa or removable cushions. The four code options include:
- W: This type of upholstery is compatible with water-based cleaners such as shampoo.
- S: You can only use dry-cleaning solvents that don’t use water on this type of upholstery.
- S/W: This cleaning code means you can safely use both water-based cleaners and solvents on the furniture upholstery.
- X: If you see an X on the tag, you should only have the upholstery professionally dry cleaned. You can vacuum the fabric, but you shouldn’t use any cleaners on it.
Use Additional Cleaning Techniques
Based on the type of furniture upholstery, use additional cleaners to remove the remaining grease stains. For type W sofas, apply a small amount of grease-fighting dish soap onto a cleaning cloth and dab the stain with it. Rinse off the soap with a clean, damp cloth and let the spot dry. Repeat the process if necessary if the grease mark still appears after the area dries.
For type S sofas, use a dry-cleaning solvent designed for sofas. Follow the instructions on the package to clean the grease stain. Avoid using water on a type S sofa since it can leave marks or damage the upholstery.