How to Get Grease Out Of a Suede Couch

Like leather, suede does not withstand wet cleaning very well. Therefore, you need to find other stain-removing methods to combat tough stains such as grease and oil on a suede couch. Unfortunately, grease gets absorbed into suede fabric very quickly. That’s why it is imperative to use products that are able to pull oily reside from suede without causing any damage or discoloration. Removing grease from your suede couch will keep it looking clean and new.

This is a fool-proof way of removing grease from suede couch. You will need 2-3 table spoons of cornstarch, one white dish towel, one soft bristle brush and a soft eraser. Once you have collected your apparatus, follow these step by step instructions to remove the stain:

• Use your white dish towel to blot extra grease from your suede couch. Do not press the towel into the fabric. Remove as much grease as you can by just dabbing it.
• Pour 2-3 table spoons of cornstarch directly on the stain of grease. Gently pat it into the fabric, and allow to stay on the couch like this overnight. Cornstarch will pull up and absorb the grease out from the suede.
• In the morning, brush cornstarch from the couch using a soft bristle brush.
• If the grease still remains on the surface, apply some more cornstarch, leave for 2-3 hours and then brush away.
• Keep repeating the process until all of the grease goes away.
• Keep removing the residue by rubbing with a brush gently.
• Rub a soft eraser on the affected surface to restore the suede pile (texture of the fabric).

This is another method of removing grease from your suede couch. You will need a commercial de-greaser, sponge, washcloth, suede brush and an eraser. Follow these steps for the process:

• Lightly dampen a sponge and apply on the grease stain to blot it away. If the stain is quite small and you use this step immediately, then this step alone may be sufficient to remove the stain from your couch.
• If the grease stain has dried, then you will need to use a suede brush to get rid of it. Gently rub the brush over the grease stain. Don’t be too tough with this step. Although the stain may not go away completely with this step, it may at least look a little smaller. If you don’t have access to a suede brush, you may also use a pencil eraser to gently rub on the stain.
• If the stain is quite old and firm, you may need to take help from an expert use commercial de-greaser. Apply the de-greaser on the stain and once again blot it using a wet sponge. You may need to repeat this process many times before you can successfully remove the stain.

While these methods are great to use on couch and other pieces of suede furniture, you should know that these techniques will also work on other suede items. These include suede shoes, suede purses, suede jackets and pretty much anything made from suede. Keep reading for more suede cleaning methods.

Here is the method to make your own heavy-duty de-greaser at home. You will need talcum powder, cornstarch, suede brush and paper towel to make it. Follow these steps:

• To make this de-greaser, combine talcum powder and cornstarch in equal amounts.
• Apply this mixture on the grease stained areas of your couch.
• Allow to sit for 6-8 hours in order to let the grease soak up efficiently, preferably overnight.
• Next morning, use a suede brush to remove the de-greaser with gentle strokes.
• Repeat the step until the stains are removed completely.
• Once you have removed the stain completely, use a dampened paper towel to wipe off any remaining residue.

You can try another cleaning method at home. Things required include cornstarch, vinegar, a buff and soft cloths. Here’s the process:

• Cover the grease stain with a liberal amount of cornstarch on it.
• Let it soak for 10 minutes, as it will absorb the excess oil and pull it off the suede fabric.
• Brush off. Most of the time, single application is enough to completely remove the grease stain.
• If it is a large stain, you may need to repeat the process.
• If the stain has not removed completely and there is still some residue left, then damp a soft cloth with vinegar.
• Use this soft cloth to gently brush surface of the stained part of the couch. Brush very lightly so that the suede fabric does not become damp with vinegar.
• Once you have removed the stain, allow it to dry.
• Use suede brush to brush the surface.

Light grease stains can be effectively removed from your suede couch using rubber cement. This is the same rubber cement that your kids must have used in their school projects. It is available in a small bottle and it comes with its own brush. Follow these steps to remove grease out of a suede couch using rubber cement:

• Apply a small amount of rubber cement on the stain using its own brush.
• Let the cement sit for a few minutes, allowing it to dry.
• Use a soft cloth to rub off the rubber cement from the surface of your suede couch.
• Repeat the process until the stain goes away completely.
• Once the stain is gone, let the suede to dry.
• Later, fluff up the surface again using a suede brush.

You can remove grease out of suede couch by rubbing cornmeal on it, but this method may also lighten the color of your suede a little bit. So, this method is a perfect choice for white or light colored suede, but is not recommended for dark colored suede couch.

While rubbing something on your suede couch to remove grease stain, never use harsh circular motions. Be as gentle as you can, as harsh movements will only cause the stain to enter deep inside the suede of your couch. If any of these methods do not work to remove grease from your couch, then use a professional cleaner especially designed for suede.

Follow the instructions written in your user’s manual. This document will also help you in finding the perfect cleaner for your couch, as there may be water based or synthetic cleaners available. Any spill should be cleaned immediately, as letting it sit may encourage it to set deeper. The sooner you become active, the more chances you have to remove grease from your suede couch. Keep your couch protected by spraying a protective cleaner on it at regular intervals of time. These cleaners form a coating on your couch, so that any spills do not enter deep into the suede of your furniture.

If you want to read similar articles to How to Get Grease Out Of a Suede Couch, we recommend you visit our Home cleaning category.