Sofas & upholstery
Upholstered furniture covers a wide range of fabrics, constructions and fillings — from woven fabric sofas to padded chairs and loose cushions — and what's safe to try on one often isn't safe on another. Manufacturer care labels and cleaning codes are usually the starting point for working out what a specific piece can handle. This section will cover stains, lingering odours and dampness on upholstery, with fabric type and construction treated as central to what's actually safe to attempt, plus when a problem needs more than a careful spot clean.
Everything in this section
Can you use a carpet cleaner on a sofa?
Sometimes. A carpet cleaner or spot cleaner is only an option if the sofa's care guidance permits wet cleaning and your machine is designed for upholstery.
How to clean vomit from a sofa
Vomit or sick on a fabric sofa? Lift solids, blot, check the care label before adding moisture, and know when the cushion or filling needs a professional.
How to get blood out of a sofa
Fresh or dried blood on a fabric sofa? Blot, use cool water only if the care label allows it, and know when to stop before the fabric or cushion suffers.
How to get red wine out of a sofa
What to do about red wine on a fabric sofa: blot a fresh spill without rubbing, check your sofa's care guidance before treating it, and know what changes once the wine has dried.
How to get stains out of a fabric sofa
A cautious, practical guide to stains on a fabric sofa — what to check before you treat it, a careful first approach, and when the mark needs more than a household fix.
How to get urine out of a sofa
What to do about human, dog or cat urine on a fabric sofa: absorb a fresh spill, deal with a dried mark or smell, protect the upholstery and know when to stop.
How to remove water marks from a sofa
Ring or water mark on a fabric sofa after cleaning? Why it forms, the one careful fix some fabrics allow, and when to stop and ask a professional instead.
Why does my sofa smell after cleaning?
Cleaned your sofa but it still smells — or smells worse than before? Here's how to work out whether it needs more time to dry, has leftover product in it, or something deeper is going on before you try again.