How to remove common stains from a sofa: coffee, oud oil, ink

1. Lift solids with a spoon or a blunt knife, scooping towards the centre.
2. Blot with a clean, white, dry cloth or kitchen paper. Press, lift, move to a clean part of the cloth, and repeat.
3. Work from the outside in, so the stain does not spread.
4. Do not rub. Rubbing pushes the stain deeper and roughs up loops and pile.
5. No hot water. Heat can set stains, especially milk and other proteins.
6. Check the label before adding anything: the cleaning code tells you whether water or solvent is allowed.

Spills blotted in the first few minutes usually leave far less trace than those left overnight or rubbed hard. Speed and a light touch matter more than any product.

• White microfibre cloths or plain white towels; coloured cloths can transfer dye.
• Clear, unscented washing-up liquid.
• A spray bottle of distilled water.
• Isopropyl rubbing alcohol and cotton buds.
• Cornflour or bicarbonate of soda, for oily stains.
• A soft brush, for corduroy and for lifting dried powder.
• A dry cleaning sponge, sometimes sold as a soot sponge, for smoke and dry dirt.

Keep everything in one box in a kitchen cupboard. When a spill happens, the minutes spent looking for a cloth are the ones that count. Before using any product for the first time, test it on a hidden spot, such as the back or the underside, and let it dry fully.

Black coffee and plain tea are among the easier stains if you act quickly.

1. Blot up as much as you can.
2. Mix a few drops of clear washing-up liquid into a cup of cool water.
3. Dampen a white cloth, dab the stain from the outside in, then blot dry.
4. Rinse by dabbing with a cloth dampened in plain water, and blot again.

Karak, latte and milky tea add milk and sugar. Milk protein sets with heat, so use only cool water, and rinse well: sugar left in the fabric stays sticky and attracts dust. If a faint brown shadow remains once dry, repeat the detergent step once more rather than scrubbing harder.

On a fabric coded S, skip the water and use a water-free upholstery solvent, following its instructions.

Oud oil and other perfume oils are oily stains, and water alone will only spread them. Deal with the oil first, then the mark.

1. Blot gently to remove any oil still sitting on the surface.
2. Cover the stain with a layer of cornflour or bicarbonate of soda and leave it for 20 to 30 minutes to draw the oil out.
3. Brush the powder off gently and vacuum the rest.
4. If the code allows water, dab with a cloth dampened in cool water and a drop of washing-up liquid, which breaks down grease, then rinse by dabbing and blot dry.
5. Repeat the powder step if a darker patch remains.

Spray perfumes contain alcohol, which can lift or change some dyes, so spray before you sit down and away from the sofa.

Bakhoor soot and smoke film are dry, greasy particles. Do not wet them first: water turns soot into a smear. Vacuum with a brush nozzle held just above the fabric, then wipe lightly with a dry cleaning sponge. And keep the burner well away from upholstery, for the fabric's sake and for safety.

Ballpoint ink is oil-based and usually responds to alcohol, if your code allows solvent cleaning (S or WS).

1. Test the rubbing alcohol on a hidden spot and wait for it to dry.
2. Dab a cotton bud dipped in alcohol on the ink line, without rubbing.
3. Blot with a clean white cloth; the ink should transfer to the cloth.
4. Change buds and cloth areas often, so you do not put ink back.
5. Finish with a cloth dampened in water and a drop of washing-up liquid if the code allows water, then blot dry.

Washable felt tips are water-based: cool water and a little detergent usually take them out. Permanent marker and gel ink are harder, and on a pale fabric they are often a job for a professional. Never use nail polish remover or bleach on upholstery: they can dissolve some fibres and strip colour.

Turmeric and saffron are strong natural dyes, and on light fabrics a faint yellow can remain. A professional cleaner has more options than you do at home.

• Bouclé: dab, never scrub, or the loops fluff up and pill. Use as little liquid as possible, because loops hold moisture. Let it dry, then lift the texture gently with your fingertips.
• Corduroy: blot and dab along the ribs, not across them. Once fully dry, brush the pile in its natural direction with a soft brush, so the cleaned area does not look flatter than the rest.
• Smooth weave: the easiest. Most spills stay on the surface for a moment, so quick blotting often removes everything. Feather the edges of any damp area to avoid a ring.

Our fine-corduroy Brioche and Snoozo follow the corduroy rules, and our bouclé Nuage follows the bouclé ones.

• The cleaning code is X, or there is no label.
• The stain is large, old or of unknown origin.
• It is permanent marker, pomegranate or berry juice on a pale fabric, or a strong dye such as turmeric.
• Your first attempt left a ring or a lighter patch.

Tell the cleaner what the stain is and what you have already tried. For regular care beyond stains, see our guide on how to clean a sofa in the UAE.