The short answer: act fast, blot instead of rubbing, and use only what your sofa’s cleaning code allows. On fabrics coded W or W/S, a few drops of mild dish soap in cool water removes most food and drink stains; on S fabrics, use a solvent upholstery cleaner or isopropyl alcohol instead of water; on X fabrics, vacuum only and call a professional. Test anything on a hidden spot first.
Rules that apply to every stain
- Find the cleaning code on the tag under the cushions or on the deck. Our couch cleaning guide explains W, S, W/S and X.
- Blot, don’t rub. Rubbing spreads the stain and roughens the fibers. Work from the outside of the stain toward the middle.
- Use cool water, never hot, on protein stains such as blood and vomit: heat sets them.
- Use as little liquid as possible. Wet foam under the fabric dries slowly and can leave a ring or a musty smell.
- Rinse and blot dry. Soap left in the fabric attracts dirt.
How to get blood out of a couch
- Blot up as much as you can with a clean, dry white cloth.
- W-coded fabric: dab with a cloth dampened in cold water, then with a little mild dish soap in cold water. S-coded fabric: use a solvent upholstery cleaner.
- Rinse with a cloth dampened in clean cold water and blot dry.
- For dried blood, an enzyme cleaner made for upholstery can help on W-coded fabric. Hydrogen peroxide can lift blood from white, colorfast fabric, but it can bleach colors, so test it on a hidden spot first.
How to get red wine and coffee out of a couch
Blot immediately. On W-coded fabric, dab with cool water and a drop of mild dish soap, repeating in small amounts, then rinse and blot dry. Sprinkling salt or baking soda on a fresh, wet stain can help draw liquid out before you clean. On S-coded fabric, use a solvent cleaner. Old or large wine stains are a job for a professional.
How to get ink out of a couch
On S and W/S fabrics, dab the ink with a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol, using a fresh swab as the ink lifts, and blot as you go. Don’t spread it by rubbing. On W-only fabric, try a little dish soap in water first. On leather, use a leather ink remover; see how to clean a leather couch.
How to get grease and oil out of a couch
Sprinkle cornstarch or baking soda over the spot, leave it 15-20 minutes to absorb the oil, then vacuum. Treat what remains with a drop of dish soap in water (W codes) or a solvent cleaner (S codes).
How to get gum and wax out of a couch
Hold an ice pack or a bag of ice against the gum or wax until it hardens, then gently lift it off with a blunt edge such as a spoon or plastic card. Treat any oily mark left behind as a grease stain. Don’t pull soft gum, because it spreads into the weave.
How to get slime out of a couch
Scrape off as much as you can, harden what is left with ice, then lift it off. On W-coded fabric, dab the residue with a little white vinegar in water or mild soap and water, then rinse and blot dry.
How to get vomit out of a couch
Remove solids, blot the liquid, and sprinkle baking soda to absorb what remains and the smell. Vacuum it once dry, then clean the spot with an enzyme cleaner (W codes) and rinse. For lingering smells, see how to get a smell out of a couch.
How to get water stains out of a couch
Water rings usually appear on S-coded fabrics. Clean the whole panel evenly with a solvent upholstery cleaner, from seam to seam, so there is no edge to dry into a new ring. If that doesn’t work, call a professional rather than adding more water.
How to get nail polish off a couch
Blot wet polish with a paper towel without spreading it, working from the outside in. Dab what is left with rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab after testing a hidden spot. Avoid acetone: it dissolves acetate and some other synthetic fibers and can strip color. Dried polish on fabric is hard to remove at home, so call a professional for anything larger than a few drops.
How to get crayon off a couch
Scrape off what you can with a dull knife, then harden the rest with an ice cube in a bag and lift it away. Treat the waxy color left behind with a few drops of dish soap in warm water on W-coded fabric, or a solvent cleaner on S-coded fabric. Rubbing alcohol on a swab lifts most remaining color; test it first.
How to get permanent marker off a couch
Dab the ink with rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball, blotting with a clean cloth and switching to fresh cotton as the ink transfers. Don’t rub, which spreads it. This works on most synthetic fabrics and microfiber after a spot test. On leather, don’t use alcohol; see how to clean a leather couch.
How to get paint off a couch
Water-based paint, such as latex or acrylic, comes out best while wet: blot, then dab with cool water and a drop of dish soap (W codes) and rinse. Once dry, gently scrape off the raised paint and soften what remains with rubbing alcohol. Oil-based paint needs a solvent that can damage upholstery, so leave it to a professional.
How to get hair dye out of a couch
Act immediately: hair dye is designed to stain. Blot, then dab with a mix of one tablespoon of dish soap and one tablespoon of white vinegar in two cups of cool water (W codes), rinsing and blotting between rounds. On S or W/S fabric, try rubbing alcohol. Dye that has set may not come out fully.
How to get mold off a couch
Take the cushions, or the couch if you can, outside so spores don’t spread indoors, and wear a mask. Vacuum the surface, preferably with a HEPA filter, then dab the area with rubbing alcohol mixed half and half with water, or with white vinegar on W-coded fabric. Let it dry completely in fresh air. If mold has grown into the cushion foam, replace the foam: it can’t be cleaned out. Fix the damp that caused it, too. For the smell, see how to get a smell out of a couch.
Quick stain chart
| Stain | W or W/S fabric | S fabric |
|---|---|---|
| Blood | Cold water, then mild soap; enzyme cleaner if dried | Solvent cleaner |
| Wine, coffee, juice | Mild soap in cool water | Solvent cleaner |
| Ink | Mild soap first; alcohol on W/S | Isopropyl alcohol |
| Grease | Cornstarch, then dish soap | Cornstarch, then solvent |
| Gum, wax, slime | Ice, lift off, treat residue | Ice, lift off, solvent |
| Vomit, urine | Enzyme cleaner | Professional |
| Water stains | Rings mainly affect S-coded fabric; not addressed separately here | Clean the whole panel evenly with a solvent cleaner; call a professional if it persists |
| Nail polish, marker | Rubbing alcohol on a swab (no acetone) | Rubbing alcohol |
| Crayon | Ice, scrape, dish soap | Ice, scrape, solvent |
| Paint | Water-based: dish soap while wet, scrape when dry | Not split by fabric code here; oil-based paint needs a professional on any fabric |
| Hair dye | Dish soap and vinegar mix (W); rubbing alcohol (W/S) | Rubbing alcohol |
| Mold | Outdoors: vacuum, then alcohol and water or vinegar | Outdoors: vacuum, then alcohol and water |
For urine, see the full guide on how to get pee out of a couch.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a magic eraser on my couch?
It is better not to: melamine sponges are mildly abrasive and can roughen fabric and remove the finish from leather.
What removes old stains from a couch?
Old stains need patience: repeat the right treatment for the stain in small amounts, letting it dry between attempts. Set-in stains, especially on S- or X-coded fabric, are best left to a professional upholstery cleaner.
Want a couch that is easier to keep clean? See pet-friendly and performance-fabric sofas and slipcovered sofas.