The 4 problem food and drinks to watch out for this Christmas

Christmas is a time for indulgence – that’s generally why we all love it so much! During the festive season, we all enjoy the additional glass of sherry or an extra mince pie. However, unfortunately, Christmas can also be a time when your beautiful sofa covers is most at risk of spills and stains, due to all the extra food and people around. In fact, some can prove incredibly difficult to remove (we’re still talking about the stains here, but we suppose it could apply to certain guests too).

Here are the top four stain-making culprits to look out for, and what you can do about them.

1. Chocolate

From coins to advent calendars, chocolate is everywhere at Christmas. Sadly, it also melts quickly and can easily stain your sofa covers.

If chocolate accidentally melts on your sofa and leaves a mark, try mixing a small amount of washing-up liquid with some warm water. You can then gently apply this mixture to the affected area, lifting the chocolate out in the process. Once the stain is no longer visible, wipe the area with clean water and air dry until the stain has completely lifted.

2. Red wine

If you accidentally spill a glass of claret on your sofa cushion, then you need to start the cleaning process before the stain sets in. To stop the stain becoming permanent, you should blot up as much of it as possible with kitchen roll or an old towel. While doing this, always ensure that you’re working inwards, as this will stop the stain from spreading. Then, you should keep the stain wet by dabbing it with water mixed with washing-up liquid regularly.

Once you’ve removed most of the stain, sponge the area with cold water and blot it until completely dry.

3. Fruit juice

Kids are great at knocking over glasses of juice when they’re running around with their new toy – as almost every parent knows! Thankfully, these stains generally aren’t too tricky to remove, as long as you’re prepared in advance and you manage to act quickly. Start by scraping up any pulp (if there is any) and then flush the stain with water mixed with detergent and blot it dry.

4. Coffee

A large brown coffee stain is particularly nightmarish if you have light sofa covers. Thankfully, you should be able to remove the stain quickly and easily.

To do this, soak up the spilled coffee with a towel while it’s still wet and hasn’t soaked into the sofa. Then, combine two cups of cold water with one tablespoon of washing-up liquid. Following this, wet a towel with the soapy water. Using the towel, blot the stained area and watch as it lightens. As the towel soaks up the coffee, wring out the liquid.

Once the stain is no longer visible, wet a clean towel with cool water, then blot the couch to remove the soap.

If you’d like to provide your sofa with some extra protection from the perils we’ve outlined above, then consider purchasing one of our beautiful sofa covers. From festive reds to natural tones and luxurious velvet options, we’re certain we stock something that matches your style. Plus, if you pick up any nasty stains, most of our loose furniture covers are machine or hand washable.

If you’re having trouble making a decision, or you’re looking for something in particular, don’t hesitate to let one of us know. You can get in touch using the contact form on our website, or through our Facebook or Instagram. We’re always happy to hear from you!