Grab a magazine or take a look online inside a celebrity house designed by the professionals. You are almost certain to see a white sofa sat in a pristine living space. It looks fantastic, which is why white sofas are so popular.
But, there is a big difference between placing a white sofa in a celebrity home and putting one in your home. Celebrities have assistance and probably an insistence on things looking perfect at all times, you have children and a ‘regular’ life to lead. It’s a lot harder to stop spills and stains appearing on the sofa.
Fortunately, with the right approach, you can get even the toughest of stains out of your white sofa.
Start With Water & Soap
The obvious starting place is to use water to remove the stain as this has the least chance of causing further damage.
When using water you should start by blotting with paper towels, preferably white ones to avoid colour transference. Blot, do not rub and keep doing this until the blotting process stops removing any stain.
You can then add a little mild dish soap into some warm water. Put your clean cloth into the water and allow it to soak it up. Then squeeze it out to ensure the cloth is just damp.
It’s a good idea to use microfibre cloths as they won’t leave particles behind and are good at attracting dirt.
With your damp cloth start blotting the sofa again. You’ll find more of the stain comes out.
Keep blotting with clean sections of damp cloth until nothing else comes out of the stain. At this stage, there should be a noticeable difference.
Use Some Bleach
Bleach is a great way to whiten anything and it can be useful in cleaning a white sofa. However, moderation is the key.
Use a solution of 1/10 parts bleach and water. You’ll want to use a white paper towel again for this part. Get the paper towel damp with the bleach solution and carry on dabbing the stain. Bleach is very good at killing any bacteria contained within the stain. It will also lighten the area, helping to restore a white finish.
Rinse
You’ll want to get a bowl of clean warm water and another white paper towel to finish. You can dampen the paper towel and dab it across the area where the stain was. Do this several times to ensure you have removed all traces of bleach, effectively rinsing the area.
Dry
It’s a good idea to blot the area again with a dry paper towel. This will help to remove any moisture in the sofa and prevent you from getting a watermark where you have removed the stain.
Again, you’ll need to keep blotting until the paper towel doesn’t absorb any more water.
This is a slow process. But, if done properly it is usually successful in removing the stain from your white sofa.
Getting Professional Help
There are several reputable companies specializing in leather sofa cleaning. If you can’t get the stain out then you should call them to do it for you. They have the knowledge and experience to deal with any stain and leave your sofa looking like new.
In fact, it’s a good idea to get the professionals to clean your white sofa at least once a year. This will help it to stay looking good and in great condition.
The Dry Option
If you are worried about water stains you may prefer to try the dry-cleaning option first. This effectively means finding a dry sofa cleaner and then following the instructions on the container. You will need to put a little of the solvent on the stain and then start blotting.
It is best to start at the outer edges of the stain and work your way in. The solvent is designed to lift a variety of substances out of the fabric or leather finish and help restore it to new.
Final Thoughts
Removing stains from any sofa requires patience, especially if the sofa is white and stains are more noticeable. But, if you stick to the plan, blot, and use damp cloths, the stain will slowly lift. It’s a great feeling when you realize you have eliminated the stain and your sofa looks like new again.
Of course, if it’s the children that caused the stain you may want to get them to clean it out. But, you’ll have to watch them to make sure they blot not dab.
