Removing stains
A comprehensive guide
Fresh stains? Act immediately! Fresh stains are easier to remove than older, dried-on stains.
Always clean large areas! Don't just treat the stain, but clean the entire surface, from seam to seam. Otherwise, a light (clean) area may be visible after the stain treatment.
Only use suitable cleaners! Only use suitable cleaners, no "home remedies" such as vinegar, nail polish remover or hairspray! These can damage the sofa cover.
Stains on the sofa cannot always be avoided in everyday life. Whether it's a spilled red wine, a grease stain or coffee drips, the right method of stain removal can make the difference between a flawless piece of furniture and a permanent stain. In this guide, we will look at the different types of stains that are particularly common on upholstered furniture, the difficulties of stain removal and the first aid measures for treating stains on furniture.
The most common stains on furniture
Various types of stains appear on furniture, especially sofas and dining room furniture, which can range from spilt drinks to pet marks. Some of the most common types of stains are:
- Red wine and coffee stains: These stains are particularly common on upholstered furniture, dining room chairs or carpets and can be stubborn if not treated immediately.
- Grease and oil stains can be caused by spilled food or body creams and are often found on upholstered furniture, leather or imitation leather sofas.
- Water stains can be caused by spilled drinks, moisture or improper cleaning methods and are often found on natural leather or wooden surfaces.
- Blood stains are caused by minor injuries or accidents, often on upholstered furniture.
- Stains from pets such as urine, vomit or street dirt can be particularly stubborn and often require special cleaning methods.
- Unsightly stains are often found on older and rarely cleaned leather sofas.
You can find out how to treat these stains on your sofa in our guides:
Difficulties with stain removal:
Removing stains from furniture can present various difficulties depending on the type of stain and the material of the piece of furniture. Some of the most common difficulties are:
- Material sensitivity: some materials such as natural aniline leather, velvet or certain types of wood can be sensitive to cleaning agents and must be treated with extra care to avoid damage.
- Depth of the stain: Stubborn stains that have already penetrated the material may be more difficult to remove and may require several cleaning passes.
- Colour stability: Some stains, especially on fabrics, can affect the colour stability of the material and lead to discolouration if treated too late or not properly.
- Odor problems: Pet or food stains can often leave unpleasant odors that can linger even after cleaning if not thoroughly removed.
Product recommendations stain remover
Intensive cleaning & stain removal for leather
Highly effective yet gentle leather cleaner.
- For removing heavy water-soluble stains from everyday life
- Ideal for food and beverage stains such as coke, ketchup, ice cream, etc.
- Dermatologically tested with "very good", solvent-free
- Suitable for all types of leather
Highly effective cleaning set with brush, sponge and cloth.
- for removing oily and greasy stains (e.g. cream, oil, chocolate, etc.)
- highly effective with colour transfer (e.g. from jeans)
Degreaser Spray for smooth leather and nubuck.
- for cleaning oily and greasy stains
- spray dries out to a fine powder with the dissolved grease
- simply vacuum the residues
- retreat with KERALUX® Strong Cleaner
ink and lipstick
Roll-on pen for pigmented leather:
- ideal for removing fresh stains (not older than 5 days) from pens
- removes also fresh stains from ink, lipstick and nail polish
- incl. accessories
Removes older stains from pen, ink, lipstick from smooth leather (aniline, semi aniline and pigmented leather)
Cleaning of textile covers
Thorough cleaning & stain removing for textile upholstery:
- cleans highly effectively
- removes even older and stubborn stains and soiling
- gentle, completely without bleach
- dermatologically tested with "very good"
- complete with accessories (cloth, brush)
Ideal for thorough cleaning and stain treatment of microfibre upholstery, including Alcantara.
Removes stains of all kinds, e.g.
- food and drink stains
- oily and greasy stains
- dirt
- pet stains and much more.
Dermatologically tested with "very good"!
Efficient spray for removing oily and greasy stains from textile upholstery:
- for cleaning oily and greasy stains
- spray dries to a fine powder with the dissolved grease
- simply vacuum the residue
- treat with PURATEX® Strong Cleaner afterwards
Chewing gum residue on textile upholstery? Adhesive residue from stickers or labels? With PURATEX® Chewing Gum Remover possible to remove.