Removing fruit juice: pick your surface

Fruit Juice is a tannin (plant pigment) stain, usually from a toppled beaker or an overfilled glass at breakfast. The chemistry stays the same wherever it lands — but the safe way to treat it changes completely with the surface, which is why each pairing below has its own guide.

Water-soluble

Water-based cleaning can dissolve this stain — method and temperature are what matter.

Heat sets it

Keep hot water, steam and dryers away until the fruit juice is fully out — heat fixes it permanently.

Fresh vs dried-in

Fresh juice is dilute tannin and sugar and lifts readily with cool water. Dried, the sugar turns the patch faintly sticky so it collects soil, and dark juices like apple and grape oxidise browner over days — treat sooner rather than later.

Fruit Juice removal guides by surface

Fruit Juice on a wool carpet

moderate to remove

WoolSafe-approved wool detergent in cool water, then the diluted white vinegar stage — mild acid suits wool, which is itself happiest slightly acid

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Fruit Juice on a nylon carpet

easy to remove

Mild washing-up liquid solution, followed by a one-to-two white vinegar and cool water solution

Read the guide

Fruit Juice on a polypropylene carpet

easy to remove

Mild washing-up liquid solution, followed by a one-to-two white vinegar and cool water solution

Read the guide

Fruit Juice on a wool rug

moderate to remove · pro sometimes needed

WoolSafe-approved wool detergent in cool water, then the diluted white vinegar stage — mild acid suits wool, which is itself happiest slightly acid

Read the guide

Fruit Juice on a fabric sofa

easy to remove

Mild washing-up liquid solution, followed by a one-to-two white vinegar and cool water solution

Read the guide

Fruit Juice on a microfibre sofa

easy to remove

Isopropyl alcohol (surgical spirit) on S-code microfibre; minimal water-based cleaning only on W-code

Read the guide

Fruit Juice on a polyester carpet

easy to remove

Mild washing-up liquid solution, followed by a one-to-two white vinegar and cool water solution

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Fruit Juice on a cotton rug

easy to remove

Mild washing-up liquid solution, followed by a one-to-two white vinegar and cool water solution

Read the guide

Fruit Juice on a shaggy rug

easy to remove

Mild washing-up liquid solution, followed by a one-to-two white vinegar and cool water solution

Read the guide

Fruit Juice on a velvet sofa

easy to remove

Mild washing-up liquid solution, followed by a one-to-two white vinegar and cool water solution

Read the guide

Fruit Juice on a linen sofa

easy to remove

Mild washing-up liquid solution, followed by a one-to-two white vinegar and cool water solution

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Fruit Juice on a cotton sofa

easy to remove

Mild washing-up liquid solution, followed by a one-to-two white vinegar and cool water solution

Read the guide

Fruit Juice on a fabric car seat

easy to remove

Mild washing-up liquid solution, followed by a one-to-two white vinegar and cool water solution

Read the guide