Best stain remover for upholstery?

[MsVanRein]

I have a stain on my new sofa and need something that will take it out. I have no idea where to start when I look at stain removers my mind boggles as I've never really had my own sofa before!!!

The sofa fabric is a linen cotton mix and light pink if that makes any difference. Also I don't know what the stain is!

[wowfudge]

Right - how long has the mark been there and what does it look like, i.e. what colour is it and how big is it? Where on the sofa is it and are the covers removable?

Really difficult to advise without more info however if you haven't tried anything yet but you don't think it is fat or grease based then for general muck removal I would just try a white cloth wrung out in cold water with a drop of washing up liquid dissolved in it. Not very soapy or you'll have a devil's job getting the soap out and don't use hot or even warm water as you could fix the stain.

Work from the edges in to stop spreading the mark and go gently so you don't rub the fabric up and make the area look different from the rest of the sofa. When you think you have the mark out, rinse the cloth out in cold water and go over the area to remove any soap residue and any muck you've loosened. Leave to dry.

You could end up with a water mark and if you got the sofa new recently there should be something on the sofa (under the seat cushions?) or in the paperwork that advises you on cleaning.

My best advise for keeping sofas clean is not to eat dinner sitting on them!

[MsVanRein]

Thanks for your reply very helpful!

Sofa brand new on Thursday - stain was not there when it arrived and sofas weren't used at all before the mysterious stain appeared! We don't ever have food in that room so nobody has been eating near it (sofa in sunroom I allow food but not the sitting room!)

My best bet is DS has had something to do with it.

I will have a look for cleaning instructions and try the damp cloth - tips on cold water and how best to rub without ruining fabric are very much appreciated btw.

[wowfudge]

You're welcome - hope it works. I'd have a word with your DS now about it - you don't want to spend your life cleaning it - assuming he's old enough to have that conversation with.

I am a very tidy person generally, and I have dropped stuff on the sofa and had to clear it up: I have only myself to blame!