How to get kids' paint and crayon out of a fabric couch

Removing kids' paint stains from a sofa set in Monroe

At Mr & Mrs Steam, we love helping families bring their furniture back to life!

For this project in Monroe, NC, we professionally deep cleaned a 2-seater sofa, a 3-seater sofa, and an ottoman that had accumulated dirt and paint stains from kids' activities.

Our goal was to remove stubborn stains, refresh the upholstery, and restore the furniture's clean, beautiful appearance. The family thought the paint would never come out.

Before

After

Before

After

Our cleaning process

We used professional hot water extraction equipment to deep clean the upholstery, focusing on areas affected by paint stains and everyday dirt. Our cleaning process included:

• Thorough vacuuming to remove loose dirt and debris.
• Professional upholstery pretreatment.
• Special attention to kids' paint stains.
• Deep hot water extraction to remove dirt and cleaning residue.
• A final inspection to ensure the best possible results.

The whole job, two sofas and an ottoman, took about two hours. The family was very happy with the result and told us how quick and easy the service was.

What a job like this costs

These are our starting prices for the three pieces in this job. Send us a photo of yours and we confirm the exact price before you book.

Paint or crayon on your couch? Try this first

Check the cleaning code on the tag under a cushion. W means water is fine, S means solvent only, W/S means either, and X means vacuum only. Test every step on a hidden spot first.

Crayon

1. Hold a bag of ice on the mark for a few minutes, so the wax goes hard.
2. Scrape the wax off with the edge of a spoon, then vacuum the crumbs.
3. Blot the colour that is left with a white cloth, cool water and a few drops of dish soap. Work from the outside of the mark inward.

Washable paint or washable marker

1. If it is wet, scoop it up with a spoon. If it is dry, brush off the flakes.
2. Blot with cool water and a little dish soap, then blot with plain water.

Acrylic paint or permanent marker

Dried acrylic paint is a kind of plastic, and permanent marker is made not to wash out. Both need a solvent, which can also lift the fabric's own dye. This is where we suggest you call a professional.

What makes it worse

• Rubbing. It spreads the mark and roughs up the weave.
• Too much water. On cream fabric it can dry into a brown ring that is bigger than the stain.
• Heat, bleach or a “magic eraser”. Heat can set the dye, bleach strips colour, and a melamine sponge wears the fibre.

When to call a professional

Call us when the marks cover a large area, the fabric is cream or white, the code is S or X, or you have tried and the mark is still there. Our machine rinses the fabric and pulls the water and dirt straight back out, so there is no ring. The rest of the couch gets clean too, so the treated spot does not stand out.

A fresh start for your furniture

Kids, pets, and everyday life can leave furniture looking worn and stained. But that doesn't always mean it's time to replace it!

Professional upholstery cleaning can help extend the life of your furniture, improve its appearance, and make your living space feel fresh and inviting again.

Book your professional upholstery cleaning

Mr & Mrs Steam is a family-owned, insured cleaning business serving Charlotte, NC, and surrounding areas, including Monroe. We specialize in professional sofa, sectional and ottoman cleaning, carpet cleaning and area rug cleaning.

Give your furniture the care it deserves! Contact us today for a free quote, or call or text (980) 497-8003, and let us bring your upholstery back to life. See the full price list or more of our work in the gallery.