The most common household stains and how to remove them..

As we step into spring, with lighter, brighter and longer days it can feel like a spotlight is being shone into every room, picking up the wear and tear of winter and bringing that natural springtime urge to clean to the fore. Yes, spring cleaning is a thing – maybe at heart we’re just big bears coming out of hibernation and wanting to clear our caves of winter’s clutter?

Rather than sleeping it through, however, we spend our winters creating warmth and comfort, with rich foods, hot drinks and moments of forgetfulness. Here are the most common stains for carpets and furniture and, handily, a guide on how to remove them.

Tea, coffee and hot chocolate

Drinks made with milk carry a portion of fat in them, which clings to fabric and makes them a little trickier to remove. Hot chocolate especially can prove difficult, as the cocoa has very dark tannins as well. 

Really these stains are best addressed immediately, but I am the first to admit that what looks find in the cold light of winter can make a reappearance in the bright light of spring! 

If you should find an old tea, coffee or hot chocolate stain, all is not lost. Mix together a solution of equal parts of white vinegar, washing up liquid and warm water and blot the stain till it absorbs the liquid. Leave it for a few moments and then soak it up with a microfibre cloth, rubbing gently to lift the stain. You may need to do this a couple of times.If it’s really stubborn, apply the liquid and leave it in place for 10-15 minutes, then go again.

Red wine stains

Red wine stains are famously difficult to remove due to their high pigment and tannin content, and an old red wine stain can make any homeowner’s heart sink. 

In this case, laundry detergent is your friend. Mix a small amount into hot water and blot into the stain. Leave it to soak for a few minutes and blot dry with a clean microfibre cloth. Repeat the process until the stain lifts out.

Chocolate stains

Halloween, Christmas, and the general need to treat oneself when the weather is cruel… Chocolate forms a major part of most people’s lives in the winter months, and once chocolate gets ground into the carpet or furniture fabric, it can be tricky to remove. Especially if small children have successfully hidden said stain for months after it took place due to guilt over secret chocolate stashes… Chocolate contains a huge hit of fats, in the milk and in the cocoa butter, and the cocoa itself has dark tannins that create a deeper stain. 

First of all, scrape away any chocolate you can with a blunt knife or spoon, then vacuum the area. Mix a solution of washing up liquid and hot water and carefully blot this into the stain. Don’t rub as this will push the fats deeper into the fibres. Repeat until the stain has lifted, then use hot water with a splash of white vinegar to make sure you have lifted away any traces of the washing up liquid. 

Mud

First, give the area a really good vacuum, to make sure any dust and flakes are lifted out. Next brush with a clean, soft nail brush or similar and vacuum again. Make up the old faithful washing up liquid and water mix, then dab – don’t rub – the stain. Work from the edges inwards, till the stain has soaked up the water mix. Then blot the water away, don’t rub – you don’t want to push the tiny granules of mud deeper into the fabric fibres. Rinse and repeat until clear.

Candle wax

Who doesn’t love a candle in winter? It’s rare that you spill a candle, but it does happen, on both wooden shelves, etc, and furniture fabrics or carpets.

For upholstery, first you need to gently scrape off the excess wax using a blunt knife or spoon, being careful not to damage the fabric, then place brown paper or kitchen paper over the stain and run the the tip of a a warm (not too hot) iron over the paper to melt the wax, which will then be absorbed by the paper. 

For wooden surfaces, scrape the wax off using a bank card, rather than a knife, which could scratch your furniture. Then use warm soapy water to lift away any wax that has soaked into the wood grain. Be sure to dry it thoroughly afterwards to prevent water damage. If the stain remains, use white vinegar on a dry cloth to lift out the last residue.

Eddie – Friday 4th April 2025.