There are certain inevitabilities in the world: the sun will rise in the east and set in the west, your co-worker will take the best donut in the box, and your sofa will get stained. I know, it’s a hard truth to come to terms with. But the sooner you accept this truth the better you’ll be prepared for the inevitable. Sure, you can cover your sofa in plastic like an Italian grandmother, but – let’s be honest – that’s no way to live your life. The good news is that there are ways to tackle stains that happen to your Apt2B furniture. And we’ll tell you exactly how.
Quick Reflexes and Quick Fixes
It’s 9:30PM. You’re halfway through the newest episode of This Is Us. You’re ugly crying, you’re drinking wine, and that’s when disaster strikes. A splash of wine on your Apt2B sofa. We’ve all been there. And it’s going to be OK. Here’s what to do after you set the wine down, take a deep breath, and get your cleaning supplies.
- For lifting a small spot stain, all you’ll need is an upholstery cleaning product like Resolve (easy to find), a microfiber cloth, and another dry cloth.
- Dampen your microfiber cloth with the upholstery cleaner and gently rub the affected area.
- Pat dry with the second cloth.
Spoiler alert: the stain will still be there. Don’t panic. Don’t lose faith. It’s normal for this process to take a few applications before you see results. It’s also important not to skip the pat drying step. It might seem inconsequential, but it really helps to transfer loose parts of the stain onto a dry cloth. In a majority of situations, this is all you’re going to need to do to fix a spot stain!
- Dog friendly!
- Wine friendly!
- Millennial friendly!
- Cat friendly!
The Heavy Guns
Uh oh. It’s been a few days and you can still see the stain (it’s unclear if anyone else notices it). But all that matters is that you know it’s there. Like it’s taunting you. Again, we’ve all been there! This simply means that you might need to explore some more heavy-duty options. One of the advantages of Apt2B’s custom upholstered sofas is that almost every seat cushion and back cushion features zipper removable cushion covers. This means that you can actually take your cushion covers to the dry cleaners and have them professionally remove the stains.
Plus, a good dry-cleaning will make your cushion covers look as good as new! I know what you’re thinking – “why can’t I just throw them in the washing machine at home?” The truth is that all washing machines are not created equal. A dry cleaner is a sure bet. They’re professionals and they’ll know exactly how to best clean your cushion covers. Think of it this way: you CAN cut your own hair at home, but just because you can doesn’t mean you should.
Precautionary Measures
Let’s be honest, taking precautionary measures is boring and annoying. Everyone in Los Angeles is supposed to have an earthquake survival kit in case “the big one” hits. My liberal estimate is that about 15% of Angelenos actually have one. The good news is that taking precautionary measures for your sofa’s stain safety doesn’t have to be boring! In fact, there are dozens of amazing fabric choices that will help you reduce the chances of experiencing stains.
Believe it or not, microfiber fabric and our plush velvet fabric is actually extremely durable and extremely stain resistant. These are also some of the easiest materials to clean. Plus they’re just downright comfy! You could also choose our Charcoal fabric. We jokingly refer to this fabric as “bulletproof” at the Apt2B HQ. The great thing about Charcoal is that even if you do end up staining it, you’ll never see it! It’s important to know that even though I’ve singled out some of our extremely high-performance fabrics, all of our Apt2B fabrics are durable, stain-resistant, and easy to clean. You really can’t go wrong! (Don’t forget we offer up to 10 free swatches for you to see IRL and test out performance on if that’s necessary and important to you. Order those here.)
- Great for stains, spills, kids and pets!
- Offer excellent clean-ability and durability!
- Can be spot cleaned and/or dry cleaned with ease!
- Fleece backing provides an extra layer of durability and comfort.
Bonus Tip
Don’t have any upholstery cleaning products lying around? Not to worry! You can actually use 70% Isopropyl Alcohol (rubbing alcohol) to lift most stains. Follow the same steps as above!
Bonus Bonus Tip
Almost every single Apt2B sofa features detachable, flippable, and reversible seat cushions and back cushions. Need to hide or ignore a stain for the time being? Just flip your cushion!
