Gravy is a double challenge — grease plus protein — so it needs a degreaser and cool (never hot) water, because heat sets the protein part.
Lift any solids with a spoon and blot the rest. Keep the water cool from the very start so you don't cook the protein into the fibres.
- Clean white cloths / kitchen roll
- Washing-up liquid
- White vinegar
- Bicarbonate of soda
- Cool or lukewarm water
Step by step (carpet)
- Lift and blot the excess with a spoon and cloth.
- Sprinkle bicarbonate of soda over a greasy patch and leave a few minutes to absorb, then vacuum.
- Treat with a teaspoon of washing-up liquid and a tablespoon of white vinegar in 250ml of cool water; dab and blot.
- Rinse with clean cool water and press dry.
- Repeat gently if needed.
Cool water is the key rule here — hot water on the protein in gravy can lock the mark in permanently.
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
- Keep the water cool throughout
- Absorb grease with bicarb first
- Blot from the outside in
- Test on a hidden patch first
🚫 Don't
- Use hot water — it sets the protein
- Rub it in
- Use bleach
- Over-wet the area
Tried it and the gravy 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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