How to Clean Upholstery Stains With Lighter Fluid

Despite our efforts to prevent them, stains happen on upholstery. You can easily spill greasy fast food, drop or smudge lipstick or sit down on your couch with machine grease or chewing gum on your pants. The faster you tend to most stains, the more likely you'll be able to remove them. The next time you see a stain on your upholstery, grab your lighter fluid. You may be surprised that it's not just for starting fires or refilling lighters.

White, lint-free clothes
Lighter fluid
Laundry detergent

Instructions

- 1
  Read the tag on your upholstery. If the tag has a code that displays "S," "S/W" or "PL" on it, you can use lighter fluid to remove the stain.
- 2
  Pour lighter fluid on a clean, white, lint-free cloth and wring it out.
- 3
  Test an inconspicuous area on the upholstery to ensure the lighter fluid will not ruin the fabric’s coloring.
- 4
  Blot the stain with the cloth and allow it to sit for a few minutes. If the stain doesn't come off with blotting, rub the stain gently with the cloth.
- 5
  Combine 3 parts laundry detergent with 1 part lighter fluid and wipe the stain if it's still visible.
- 6
  Blot the stain with another white, lint-free cloth to absorb any lighter fluid that remains on the fabric.
- 7
  Rinse the fabric with laundry detergent and water to remove any smell left by the lighter fluid.

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