Fake tan stains because the DHA in it is designed to dye skin — and it'll happily dye carpet fibres too. Fresh, it usually lifts; once it has 'developed' for a few hours it gets much harder.
Blot up any wet tan straight away and treat it fast, before the colour develops. Speed makes the biggest difference with fake tan.
- Clean white cloths / kitchen roll
- Washing-up liquid
- White vinegar
- Bicarbonate of soda
- Cool or lukewarm water
Step by step (carpet)
- Blot up as much as you can with a clean cloth.
- Treat with a teaspoon of washing-up liquid and a tablespoon of white vinegar in 250ml of lukewarm water; dab and blot.
- Lift the colour in gentle stages, working from the edges in.
- Rinse with clean cool water and press dry.
- Repeat patiently — tan often needs several passes.
The vinegar's mild acidity helps break down the tan's dye. If it has fully developed and won't shift, that's a fair point to call in a professional rather than keep scrubbing.
By surface
🛋️ Sofas & upholstery
Check the cushion's cleaning code first: W or W/S means the method above is fine used sparingly; S means solvent-clean only, so leave that to a professional. Use less water than on carpet and blot, don't soak.
🧶 Wool & delicate rugs
Use cool water and a gentle touch — wool can ‘brown’ if over-wet and some rug dyes run. Test a hidden corner first, and for an antique, hand-knotted or silk rug, don't gamble — leave it to us.
🛏️ Mattresses
You can't rinse a mattress, so go light: blot, treat sparingly, then use bicarbonate of soda to absorb the rest. Never soak it — trapped moisture leads to mould and smells.
✅ Do
- Act before the tan develops
- Use a white-vinegar solution
- Blot from the outside in
- Test on a hidden patch first
🚫 Don't
- Leave it to develop
- Rub it in
- Use bleach
- Over-wet the area
Tried it and the fake tan mark is still there — or it's a wool rug, a mattress or something you'd hate to ruin? Don't keep scrubbing; that's how a stain turns permanent. We can often draw out what's left with professional hot-water extraction, and we'll tell you honestly what we expect to get up before we start. Watford family business, 25 years, fully insured — the quote's free.
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