Whether we like it or not, stains happen. It is inevitable that your living room sofa, your entryway rug or your favorite shirt will eventually become the victim of spilled wine, coffee or even finger paint (right, parents?). The good news is that you don’t need to ditch your beloved sweater or that upholstered chair you adore – all you need to do is follow our simple guide to removing common stains. These tips work on both your clothing and your home furnishings!

• Wine:
  • Blot the stain with a clean towel to absorb excess wine – BLOT, don’t rub!
  • Mix equal parts hydrogen peroxide and Dawn dish soap and pour the mixture onto the stain. Let it soak in.
  • Blog out the excess solution.
  • Wash the garment in your washing machine. If there are still traces of the stain, repeat the process. Do not put into your dryer until the stain is gone to avoid it setting
  • Watch the process in action here: Watch Video!
• Coffee:
  • If your garment is washable, blot the stain with a clean towel. You will want to wash your garment as soon as possible, but before washing, pretreat the item with a bit of heavy duty liquid detergent or a stain removal spray, and gently work in the stain removal into the fabric for at least 10 minutes. Once done, wash the item using detergent and the hottest water recommended for the fabric (following the label instructions)
  • For upholstery, blot the excess liquid out with a clean towel. Mix a solution of 2 teaspoons dishwashing detergent and two cups of warm water, dip a clean cloth or sponge into solution and work the cleaning solution into the stain. Blot a dry cloth to absorb solution once done. Finish by dipping a clean cloth in plain water to rinse the spot. Allow the spot to dry.
• Grass –
  • Pretreat with a stain remover, or heavy duty detergent that includes enzymes. If the stain is a stubborn one, you may need to let it soak overnight. Launder in the hottest water the fabric allows. Do not put the garment into the dryer until the stain is gone to avoid it setting.
  • If you find a grass stain on your upholstery, mix a solution of 1 teaspoon dishwashing detergent and 2 cups cool water. Use a clean, white cloth to sponge the stain with the solution. Blot with a dry cloth until liquid is absorbed & repeat process until stain is gone. Once gone, blot with cold water.
• Candle Wax –
  • Rub an ice cube over the spot to freeze the wax, then chip away as much as possible with a dull knife. To remove residual wax, place stain between clean paper towels and press with a warm iron to transfer wax to the towels, replacing paper towels frequently.
  • If a stain still remains, pretreat with a stain remover, then launder.

For stubborn stains and delicate fabrics, you should call in the professionals. Fabricare Cleaners has been voted best dry cleaner in Fairfield County, so you can trust our experts knowing your clothing is in good hands. We also have an entire division dedicated to cleaning everything within your home – HomeCare by Fabricare provides its’ clients with it’s expert dry cleaning knowledge of all fabrics and stain removal techniques for upholstery, rugs, window treatments, linens and beyond. If it’s in your home, we can clean it!