From Sunscreen to Ice Cream: How to Clean Summer Spills from Furnishing

It’s a hot summer’s day – the drinks are chilled, food is prepped, and you’re all set for a relaxed gathering at home. Whether you're entertaining outdoors or sheltering inside from summer showers, a dropped dessert or spilled drink is bound to happen. From melting ice cream to squashed strawberries, summer’s best treats and a stray sunscreen smudge can easily end up on your soft furnishings.

Thankfully, most stains are easy to clean with a few simple steps. Here’s our guide for tackling four common warm-weather stains on your chairs, rugs, and throws, so you can get back to enjoying the sun.

Sunscreen on a leather armchair

Picture this: your friend arrives with freshly applied sunscreen and immediately settles into your leather armchair. They get up, leaving a tell-tale greasy smear where their bare arm had been resting on the leather. The oils and UV-blocking agents in sunscreen can be tricky to remove if you’re not fast, so steer your friend elsewhere and get started.

How to clean it:

• Step 1: Gently blot the area with a clean, dry, white cloth or paper towel to absorb any excess sunscreen from the surface.
• Step 2: Sprinkle some cornstarch or bicarbonate of soda on the grease and rub it in a circular motion, being careful not to spread it beyond the original mark. Let it sit for a few hours to absorb the oil.
• Step 3: Wipe it away with a clean, soft microfibre cloth.
• Step 4: Once the stain has disappeared and the area is dry, apply a suitable leather cream to condition and protect the leather (test it first in an inconspicuous spot).

Ice cream on a linen upholstered dining chair

You’re being sensible and eating ice cream at the dining table rather than on the sofa. What could go wrong? One minute it’s a refreshing treat, the next a half-melted scoop lands on your linen-upholstered dining chair.

How to clean it:

• Step 1: Use a spoon to lift off any unmelted lumps of ice cream before they sink further into the fabric.
• Step 2: Lightly dab the stain with a clean, damp, white microfibre cloth or paper towel. Make sure it’s not too wet, so the top layer of ice cream lifts without spreading further. Repeat this until no more ice cream transfers to the cloth.
• Step 3: Mix a solution of warm water and mild laundry detergent, and use a clean white cloth to gently dab the stain until it disappears. Blot away any excess liquid and avoid using too much pressure or rubbing back and forth, as this can push the ice cream deeper into the fabric.
• Step 4: Use another clean, damp microfiber cloth (not a paper towel, which will likely tear) to remove any remaining detergent suds.
• Step 5: Press a clean towel onto the area to soak up excess moisture, then leave it to air dry completely before sitting on the chair.

Strawberries on a rug

It’s a rainy day, but you promised the kids you’d have a picnic. Naturally, you embrace your inner child and have a picnic on the living room floor. Everyone’s having a great time, apart from your rug, which has just had a rogue strawberry trodden into it. Bright red and juicy – perfect for eating, less than ideal on the carpet.

How to clean it:

• Step 1: Remove any solid pieces of strawberry with a spoon.
• Step 2: Carefully soak up any juice by dabbing with a clean, dry white cloth or paper towel. Work from the outside of the stain inwards to prevent it spreading.
• Step 3: Mix a solution of warm water and a wool-safe laundry detergent, rug cleaner, or mild dish soap, and gently work it into the stain with a soft-bristled brush or a clean white cloth. Try not to use too much liquid, as the red strawberry juice could spread further into the rug.
• Step 4: Remove any excess cleaning solution using the nozzle on your vacuum cleaner and leave the rug to air dry. If your vacuum can't handle water, use a clean towel instead.
  
  

Sangria or red wine on a wool throw

Whether you’re spending the long evenings curled up on the sofa or outside on a garden chair, after the sun sets, you might find yourself grabbing your favourite woollen throw to keep warm. As the conversation and sangria continue to flow, an accidental spill is almost inevitable. Most drinks won’t stain too badly, but red wine-based cocktails are the exception. 

How to clean it:

• Step 1: Immediately scoop up any pieces of fruit from the spilled punch with a spoon.
• Step 2: Blot the spill with a clean, dry white cloth or paper towel, working from the edge of the stain in. Be gentle and don’t scrub as this can cause the stain to sink deeper into the fibres.
• Step 3: Mix a solution of warm water and wool-safe laundry detergent, and use another dry cloth to dab it onto the stain until it disappears.
• Step 4: If the stain remains, try a mixture of three parts white vinegar or rubbing alcohol to one part cold water, and dab it onto the stain with a clean white cloth.
• Step 5: Rinse the affected area with cold water, pat it with a clean towel to absorb excess moisture, and lay it flat to air dry.

Remember to check your throw’s care label. If it’s dry clean only, take it to the dry cleaners to remove any remaining stains, rather than trying white vinegar or rubbing alcohol. If the throw is machine washable, you can put it on a cold water hand-wash or wool cycle with wool-safe laundry detergent after initial spot cleaning.

Swyft's range of easy-clean fabrics means you don’t have to panic at the sight of a spill. With a few simple techniques, you can keep your home looking fresh and enjoy stress-free hosting.