Whether after spilling a drink, after your pets urinated on it or even after cleaning to remove the fabric from a sofa, unsightly marks can remain on the sofa. This is even a particularly common problem on a fabric or velvet sofa. After all, stains are part of life’s ups and downs and reflect time spent with family in the living room! However, once the stains have set in, that’s all we see and we can only wait for one thing: to find a way to make the stains disappear without leaving a trace. In this article, discover how to remove a halo on a fabric sofa using ecological and economical grandmother’s tips and tricks.
No more chemicals with questionable composition! With the natural solutions offered here, you will find a sofa like new, all without harming the planet, your pets or your children.
Some precautions before treating a halo on a sofa
It is not because the household products presented here have a gentler composition that you should not be careful when using them! Therefore, above all, you will need to ensure that you vacuum and dust the upholstery fabric carefully so as not to risk damaging it even further. To avoid any risk of discoloration, it is also very important to test the solution on an inconspicuous corner and adapt your cleaning products to the sofa covering. This will help you avoid unpleasant surprises.
Additionally, you may sometimes find that there are color differences after treatment. To avoid it, it may therefore be necessary clean the entire sofa seatespecially in the case of old furniture. Finally, make sure you act quickly on the stain. In fact, the sooner you treat the halo, the easier it will be to make it disappear!
So, how do you get rid of a halo on a sofa?
1) Bicarbonate for perfect anti-scratch cleaning of the sofa
Baking soda is a cleaning, stain removing and deodorizing product which absorbs stains and marks. It is therefore not surprising that it is THE maintenance product for cleaning a fabric sofa. Using it is also very simple. You can in fact dilute it carefully in hot water and soak a soft cloth with this solution before rubbing the halo or prefer to directly moisten the halo before sprinkling this white powder on it. Then leave it on for two hours before vacuuming the area to remove the remaining grains.
2) Sommières earth, absorbent and stain remover powder
Easy to find in the drugstore section of a DIY store, Sommières earth is a clay very effective for stain removal on all textiles. We happily use it for grease or sauce stains, but none seem to be able to resist it! To use it effectively, simply sprinkle it on the stain quickly after it appears. Then, you will need to leave it on for two to three hours to maximize its absorption. Finally, brush or vacuum the powder to remove residue and reveal a clean, crisp sofa.
Good to know: Although these alternatives are a little less effective, it is possible to use talc, flour or even cornstarch as a replacement for sodium bicarbonate and Sommières earth. They should preferably be used as explained earlier for bicarbonate.
3) Marseille soap, a powerful stain remover
Effective against stains and marks of all kindsMarseille soap is also very easy to use! Simply dilute it in hot water, soak a soft-bristled brush or microfiber cloth and gently rub the area to be treated. Then, rinse using a clean cloth soaked in clean water, then let it air dry.
4) White vinegar against a halo on a sofa
White vinegar helps remove stubborn stains and stains, especially from spilled coffee or soda. In addition, it allowseliminate bad odors which accompany the urine halos. It will be advisable to dilute it in hot water, soak a cloth with it and rub carefully before rinsing with a cloth soaked in clean water. After rinsing, let it air dry well.
5) 70° alcohol for old halos
If the halo is old or particularly recalcitrantyou can use a clean cloth soaked in 70° alcohol to get rid of it. It will then be enough to gently dab the trace and repeat the application if necessary until the stain disappears. On a white sofa, it is also possible to use hydrogen peroxide (or hydrogen peroxide).
6) The iron for a halo of fat on a sofa
On a greasy stain, you can test the blotting technique ! To do this, cover the halo with absorbent paper or a clean cloth, then place your hot iron on top. Repeat the operation several times, changing the paper towel or the corner of the cloth used, until the greasy halo has completely disappeared.
7) Glycerin for a halo of tea or coffee
Dilute the glycerin in hot water, soak a cloth with this solution and rub the coffee or tea halo gently.