Having clean furniture plays a significant role in boosting your home’s appeal, health, and aesthetic value. Keeping your household furniture clean can be overwhelming, but it’s worth the hassle. Pets and kids are the main cause of furniture stains. They can be sticky, sweaty, and dirty – leaving a trail of mess all over your home’s furniture. But, even though they’re the prime culprits for the more severe messes, you and your guests can create wear and tear on your furniture just by sitting or leaning on it. For instance, if your lean against a couch with oily skin for quite some time, you may cause long-lasting stains. There are two distinct types of furniture stains: oil-based and water-based stains. Oil-based stains are hard to clean because they aren’t soluble in water.



Below are tips on how to protect furniture from stains:

1. Apply Protectant

Protectant is a spray that attaches itself to the fibers of your upholstery creating a protective barrier. Some new furniture will come with a layer of stain protection, but this wears out within a short span, making your sofas more susceptible to soiling and staining. There are various benefits to adding a protectant:


– Versatility
– Prolongs the freshly cleaned appearance of your furniture
– Extends the life of your furniture
– Offers effective stain protection
– Repels liquid
– Boosts indoor air quality
– It’s budget-friendly


To improve the effectiveness of this spray, in the long run, reapply it periodically. You can hire a professional cleaner to help you apply the spray, especially if you have a busy schedule or you lack enough knowledge about it. In addition, some expert cleaners will apply a protectant as a part of their additional services.

2. Invest in the Right Fabric

There are numerous types of upholstery fabrics for furniture: leather, polyester, rayon, acetate, wool, olefin, silk, cotton, linen, acrylic, and velvet. Choosing the right upholstery fabric can be daunting and time-consuming. Some of the factors that you should consider when picking an ideal fabric include durability, color, patterns, natural vs. synthetic, and stain resistance. Also, purchase a fabric that echoes the mood and style of the decor in your space. Not only will the fabric colors affect your indoor decor, but also the patterns, decorative flourishes, and texture of the material. Synthetic fibers are repellent, unlike natural fabrics. These materials are great for pet owners because they’re less likely to hold stains. On the other hand, some natural materials have a long life span, but they’re prone to stains.

3. Use Furniture Slipcovers

For some, slipcovers are a great option for adding an extra layer of protection to their furniture. Slipcovers come in an array of colors and materials. Choose a material that’ll repel spills. In addition, ensure you pick a material that matches your indoor decor. Slipcovers with soft fabrics will make your furniture more comfortable. They’re ideal for protecting your furniture from stains because you can easily replace them. If you’ve kids or pets, consider cleaning them on a regular basis. This is because they attract dust, dirt, and other pollutants. Cleaning slipcovers will enhance their longevity and appearance. Slipcovers are flexible because you can take them off when you want. For instance, you can remove slipcovers when you’re expecting guests to come over.

4. Vacuum and Clean Furniture Often

Furniture cleaning can play a major role in protecting your upholstery fabrics from stains. You can either vacuum or clean with an upholstery-safe product. Furniture cleaning might seem like a straightforward process, but that isn’t the case. The do-it-yourself route can increase the risk of upholstery damage. For instance, a low-quality cleaning solution can deteriorate upholstery fabrics. Therefore, you should consider hiring professional cleaners with sufficient experience in this industry. Professionals will use high-quality, eco-friendly cleaning products. In addition, they’ll use high-tech equipment to improve the efficiency of the task. Hiring experts will help you save time and money in the long run. Your furniture is an investment, so professional furniture cleaning will boost the longevity of your pieces.

5. Change Your Habits

Change is inevitable. Simple habits can help you protect the upholstery from stains. For instance, you can choose to get rid of stain-causing elements from your space or even the furniture. Avoid eating or drinking in the bedroom or lounge. Furthermore, if you’ve pets, consider buying a dog or cat bed for your furry friends. Also, you can invest in a pet-friendly cushion for your pet. This will prevent them from hopping on your clean couches, thus minimizing the risk of stains. These habits are effective in protecting your furniture from any kind of stains.

6. Treat Stains Immediately

Based on research, you should clean spills right away to prevent permanent stains. The longer the stain takes, the more persistent it becomes. Permanent stains can reduce the durability of upholstery fabrics. You should keep effective stain and odor removers on hand at all times. Currently, there are numerous cleaning products on the market. Choose a cleaning solution that’ll maintain the integrity of your fabrics. Cleaning stains instantly is a great way to protect your furniture from stains. You should avoid scrubbing the stain because it’ll spread to other parts of your furniture that weren’t affected. Therefore, remove the food or water stain gently. For a water-based stain, use warm water and soap or a suitable cleaning product. On the other hand, use an appropriate spray to remove an oil-based stain.

Protecting Furniture from Stains

There are numerous benefits of stain removal: extend the life span of your furniture, save money in the long run, get rid of odors, and improve the look of your furniture. Spills are unanticipated; therefore, you should prepare ahead of time. Some of the effective ways of protecting your upholstery include treating stains immediately, purchasing the right upholstery fabrics, regular professional cleanings, having a professional apply a protectant, and regular vacuuming. 

To schedule a professional furniture cleaning, call Ayoub Carpet Service® at 703-255-6000.