How to Deal with Makeup Stains on Your Couch | Sonic Couch Cleaning Services

Makeup marks are one of the more common stains we see on fabric couches. The good news is a fresh mark is one of the easier ones to deal with at home.

What you'll need

Baking soda
A small amount of mild dish soap
Clean cloths or paper towels
A vacuum with a hose attachment
Warm water
A dull knife or spoon

Steps to try

Scrape off any excess, caked-on product with the dull edge of a knife or spoon.
Sprinkle baking soda generously over the mark and leave it for 20–30 minutes to draw out the oils.
Vacuum the baking soda off using the hose attachment.
Mix roughly two cups of warm water with a tablespoon of mild dish soap.
Dampen a clean cloth in the solution and blot the mark, rinsing the cloth as it picks up residue.
Blot with a clean, damp cloth to lift the soap, then blot dry and let it air dry fully.

Worth knowing

This works well on fresh marks on sturdier fabrics. Older, set-in makeup stains — or marks on delicate fabrics like velvet or silk blends — are harder to shift with a home method and are usually better left to a proper inspection rather than risking the fabric with repeated scrubbing.

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Frequently asked questions

Common questions about how to deal with makeup stains on your couch.

Will the stain come out completely?

We can't promise a specific result. What comes out depends on the fabric, how old the stain is, its condition, and any prior treatment. We'll give you an honest assessment before starting.

How do you decide which cleaning method to use?

We inspect the fabric and check the manufacturer's care code (W, S, WS or X) where one exists, then choose a method suited to that fabric — hot-water extraction, steam cleaning, low-moisture cleaning or a solvent-based approach.

Is steam cleaning the same as hot-water extraction?

Not exactly. Steam cleaning uses steam vapour, while hot-water extraction applies a solution and water then extracts it back out with the soil. Both are used across our services depending on the fabric.

Do you clean leather?

Yes. Leather is cleaned and, where suitable, conditioned using products matched to the leather finish rather than fabric cleaning products.