Water may seem harmless, but it can actually leave stains behind on furniture and upholstery. We often think of things like coffee, tea, chocolate, or juice as staining fabrics, but water stains are quite common too.
Water has tiny particles and minerals, which can leave behind stains on upholstered furniture after the water has evaporated. Fortunately, you can remove water stains using vinegar, baking soda paste, or even more water. These methods take some time, but they’re undoubtedly effective.
Table of Contents
Remove water stains with vinegar
Sitting around the dining table enjoying time eating and talking with loved ones can be ruined by a simple spill. It’s inevitable that we’ll accidentally spill our water glass on our upholstered furniture at some point. The good news is we can prevent water stains by using vinegar.
Distilled white vinegar is the best type of vinegar you can use to remove water stains from upholstery. It requires patience, but gets the job done. But don’t leave it for too long, because it can damage the color of your fabric.
Follow these steps to remove the water stains from your upholstery:
- The rule of thumb is to ensure that you absorb all spillage as fast as possible. Use a clean, dry cloth to absorb the water until there’s none left on your upholstered furniture.
- Soak a clean cloth with distilled white vinegar. Dab the stained area using the vinegar-moistened cloth. Keep in mind to be careful blotting around the stained area and put more force around the center for the best results. But never rub the stained area forcefully as it can damage the fabric of your upholstery.
- For 20 minutes, let the vinegar solution stay on the fabric to soak in the solution.
- Soak the clean cotton cloth with warm water and rinse it thoroughly.
- Dab the stained area using the cotton cloth.
- Repeat the steps above until you remove the water stains. And, use a hairdryer to dry the stained surface. It will work best if you switch the hairdryer into a cooling mode.
Baking soda can also remove water stains
Using baking soda to remove water stains is an aggressive method. But baking soda is usually the best and most effective method forgetting rid of all kinds of stains from most surfaces.
When removing water stains from your upholstered furniture using baking soda, follow these steps:
- Wipe your upholstery with a clean and dry cloth. By doing this, you can remove the dust or dirt on your sofa.
- Cover the stained area with baking soda. Let it stay in your fabric for up to 20 minutes.
- Get a vacuum cleaner to get rid of the baking soda and stains. You can also use a dry carpet cleaner if you want to clean your upholstery chair completely
- If stains are still visible, use a clean cloth to remove the residues.
Using water is a practical way of removing water stains
The cause of water stains is water itself. But surprisingly, you can also use water to get rid of them. In case you are having trouble removing the stains, you can go back to the basics. And the first thing that you can use is water with a bit of soap.
To use water to remove water stains from upholstery, follow these steps.
- Pour clean water in a bucket or bowl and pour in a bit of liquid soap. Mix thoroughly.
- Get a clean sponge and let it soak the soapy mixture. Then use it to blot the stained area on your upholstery. But, don’t be too harsh, because you may damage your upholstered furniture.
- Continue doing the same process until the water stains are no longer visible. Make sure that you change the mixture with clean water when it becomes dirty. It will prevent the water stains from returning to the fabric.
- Use a hairdryer to dry the upholstery. You can also use a clean cloth or paper towels to let it dry. But, the most practical method is to leave it to dry on its own.
Common questions about water stains
Does water stain upholstery?
Yes, especially if the water is dirty, colored, or mixed with other elements, it can undoubtedly stain your expensive upholstered furniture. The main reason for this is the properties of water. It has iron and other minerals that can stay on fabric, creating a white or rust-colored stain on your upholstery.
How can I recognize water stains on my upholstery?
Water stains on upholstery are usually light brown colored. You might also notice a ring-shaped stain. It’s like you can tell someone was drinking a glass of water earlier, placed it on the upholstered furniture, and forgot about it, causing water stains to form.
Water stains come in all different sizes. It happens when you accidentally splash water on your upholstered chair. Discoloration can also occur on the upholstery if the water is acidic. These things happen when you spill water and don’t soak it up, just leaving it to dry.
Why does water leave brown stains?
Some unfiltered water has high levels of iron and manganese. This can give it a different smell, color, or taste and leave behind brown stains on your laundry, dishes, and favorite upholstery. As we all know, the fabric absorbs everything, leaving your favorite sofa with water stains. And if you don’t pay attention to it, it will be difficult to remove. Try to use the processes above to avoid staining your comfy and soft upholstered furniture.
The bottom line
Your upholstery plays an important role in making your home look inviting and cozy. You entertain guests, share precious time, and enjoy being with your family. However, be vigilant when taking care of your upholstered furniture. It’s vulnerable to stains. If you somehow stain your upholstery chair, don’t worry as you can remove the stain with any of the methods mentioned above. Don’t let yourself suffer from water stains.
