Removing ketchup: pick your surface
Ketchup is a two-phase grease-plus-colour stain, usually from a dropped chip or a squeezy bottle that sputtered. 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.
Not water-soluble
Water alone will not touch this stain; it needs an absorbent, surfactant or solvent stage.
Heat sets it
Keep hot water, steam and dryers away until the ketchup is fully out — heat fixes it permanently.
Fresh vs dried-in
Fresh ketchup mostly sits on top of the pile — lift the blob before anything touches it and half the job is done. Dried ketchup has both set its tomato tannin and bonded its oil into the fibre, so both phases of the method need repeating.
Ketchup removal guides by surface
Ketchup on a wool carpet
hard to remove · pro sometimes needed
Neat washing-up liquid for the oil phase, then a one-to-two white vinegar solution for the tannin phase
Read the guideKetchup on a nylon carpet
moderate to remove
Neat washing-up liquid for the oil phase, then a one-to-two white vinegar solution for the tannin phase
Read the guideKetchup on a polypropylene carpet
moderate to remove
Neat washing-up liquid for the oil phase, then a one-to-two white vinegar solution for the tannin phase
Read the guideKetchup on a fabric sofa
moderate to remove
Neat washing-up liquid for the oil phase, then a one-to-two white vinegar solution for the tannin phase
Read the guideKetchup on a microfibre sofa
moderate to remove
Isopropyl alcohol (surgical spirit) on S-code microfibre; minimal water-based cleaning only on W-code
Read the guideKetchup on a polyester carpet
moderate to remove
Neat washing-up liquid for the oil phase, then a one-to-two white vinegar solution for the tannin phase
Read the guideKetchup on a shaggy rug
moderate to remove
Neat washing-up liquid for the oil phase, then a one-to-two white vinegar solution for the tannin phase
Read the guideKetchup on a velvet sofa
moderate to remove
Neat washing-up liquid for the oil phase, then a one-to-two white vinegar solution for the tannin phase
Read the guideKetchup on a suede sofa
hard to remove · pro sometimes needed
A dry absorbent powder overnight and a suede brush, then a purpose-made suede cleaner
Read the guideKetchup on a linen sofa
moderate to remove
Neat washing-up liquid for the oil phase, then a one-to-two white vinegar solution for the tannin phase
Read the guideKetchup on a cotton sofa
moderate to remove
Neat washing-up liquid for the oil phase, then a one-to-two white vinegar solution for the tannin phase
Read the guideKetchup on a fabric car seat
moderate to remove
Neat washing-up liquid for the oil phase, then a one-to-two white vinegar solution for the tannin phase
Read the guideKetchup on a leather car seat
easy to remove
A barely damp cloth, then a dedicated pH-neutral leather cleaner
Read the guide