‘A trip to the kitchen saved the day’: Your upholstery stain-removal secrets

Whether it is muddy paw prints on a rug or a split glass of red wine on the sofa, knowing the best option for your cleaning task or fabric type isn’t always obvious. But when Eve Smallman tested the market’s leading brands and natural cleaners, Telegraph readers had a lot to say about what actually works. Many insist that rather than dashing to the supermarket for a specialist spray promising miraculous results, the best solutions are often already sitting in your cupboards at home. Here are your hacks and tips for tackling stubborn upholstery stains. Household hacks While some readers prefer a catch-all stain removal product (you’ll find their favourites below), many have a surprising number of alternative solutions that they claim work just as effectively and sometimes better. Removing ink stains One of the most common reader recommendations was alcohol-based hand gel for removing Biro and ink marks. Reader Rose Sweetland says: “I discovered during lockdown that hand gel is brilliant at removing permanent marker and other ink stains. It also removes sticky residue from tape.” Kimberly Sims also advises to “always place something behind the ink stained fabric, if possible, to allow the stain to ‘go through’. Keep going, over a couple of days, if the stain has dried in”. Hairspray also works for removing Biro or whiteboard pens, according to Sam Thomas. You can also use “WD40 first and then wash it out”, she explains.