This Brilliant $5 Spray Melts Away Wine Stains — Even on White Clothing

The upholstered furniture in your den, dining and living areas is made for, well, living. And with all that wear and tear, it's bound to get dirty. Regular vacuuming with the upholstery tool is a must to remove dust and loose dirt from a fabric's surface, but sometimes your upholstered furniture needs more.

Upholstery is trickier to clean than carpet because it can be made from a wide variety of fibers and fabrics. Some, like synthetic microfiber or cotton chenille, can be cleaned with most products. Silk damask, on the other hand, could be damaged when cleaned with a water-based method. So before you grab any old cleaner from your cabinet and start spraying, it's a must to know what type of cleaning process is safest for the fabric covering your chair. Check the care tag on your upholstered furniture before you clean it so you know exactly how to clean your couch. A quick cheat sheet:

• W: Water-based cleaning solutions are safe to use
• S: Only solvent-based cleaning solutions are safe to use
• WS: Both water- and solvent-based cleaning solutions are safe to use
• X: Neither water- nor solvent-based cleaning solutions are safe to use. Only vacuuming or professional cleaning are safe.