The best hacks to remove stains from upholstery, according to readers

Perhaps the most unexpected recommendation was micellar water, usually associated with removing make-up rather than upholstery mishaps.

From tomato sauce to baked beans and ketchup, reader Lindy Lou has tried Garnier Micellar Water on some of the toughest food stains.

She discovered this hack when she was in hospital: “So much more food fell into the ‘drop zone’.”

“You need to use it soon after you drop something,” she says, and “it works as a pre-wash treatment” too.

You can find the best deals on Amazon and make sure to buy “the plain ordinary one, not the one with moisturiser”, she adds.

Many readers were perplexed about how to remove blood stains, but one reader, Monica Stansfeld, 73, insists that hydrogen peroxide works best, either on fresh or dried blood, however “it does have a bleaching action”, she warns, “so is best used on a white or light coloured cloth”.

If you have a look in your local pharmacy, you can “usually find a three per cent solution for cleaning dentures”, she explains.

Lots of cold water, still or running, can also “flush out fresh blood”, just as well, or if the stain is small, “your own saliva will remove it”.

Not everyone is against shop-bought cleaning products. For tougher stains and everyday mishaps, readers return to a handful of trusted brands that are praised for their reliability and ease of use.

Most readers agreed with one of Smallman’s recommendations – Dr. Beckmann Carpet Stain Remover – as the product they return to, including Catherine Francis, 64, from Conwy County Borough. She commended its ability to “tackle pet stains brilliantly, even on a light-coloured carpet”.

“I always have a bottle on standby,” Francis says, “it’s simple to use and removes odours as well as stains.”

Reader Mariette Hubert also favours the brand for dealing with stains left by her Irish Setter, Teddy, instead preferring its Pet Stain and Odour remover: “For doggie stains, it’s the uncontested star.”