A spilled glass of wine or grape juice does not have to mean the end to your favorite living room chair or your brand-new dining room area rug. Sure, you can take preventive action, like choosing durable fabrics or even getting materials treated, but that only helps before the glass gets knocked over.

Surprisingly, your best bet when a spill strikes is doing what your grandmother might have done: Seltzer that spill.
 
Keep an unopened bottle of clear soda water or seltzer on hand for spills -- even tough ones like wine, animal urine or food. While this often works on furniture upholstery as well, you should always consult the manufacturers’ instructions, especially if your furniture is upholstered in a delicate fabric. But, once you decide the seltzer treatment is the right way to go, follow these steps:

1. Gently scrape off (or mop up) as much of the spill as possible, then soak the stained area with seltzer.
2. Let it sit for awhile while the bubbles work more of the spill up to the surface.
3. Blot carefully with a clean, white absorbent paper or fabric towel, being sure not to rub the stain back into the surface or spread it further.

This process will often eliminate the entire stain. If not, it will keep stains from drying and setting before they can be removed by conventional cleaning methods.

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Category: Furniture 101