If you act quickly, it is not difficult to remove a spill and thus avoid staining. First, soak up the liquid with an absorbent napkin or cloth and roughen the surface of dried stain using a spoon. The treatment is undertaken from the edge of the stain towards the middle to avoid the stain spreading further. Then, treat the stain according to the following guide:

1. Mineral turpentine, vegetable turpentine or similar.
2. Stain remover for fat or oil.
3. Water with furniture shampoo added.
4. Acetone or nail varnish remover - oil-free.
5. Cold water.
6. Surgical spirit.
7. Borax: 1 tsp in a little hot water in a cup, topped up with cold water.
8. Table salt: 1 tsp in a cup of warm water.
9. Use no. 3, adding a dash of spirit vinegar.
10. 1 tsp of detergent in 1 cup of hot water.
11. Surgical spirit diluted with water 1:5.
12. Household disinfectant; 1 tsp to 1 litre of water.
13. Use no. 7, adding a dash of spirit vinegar.
14. Cool with ice cubes in a plastic bag, break the chewing-gum/candle wax and carefully remove the loose pieces.
15. Run a hot iron over layers of absorbent, white paper.
16. Contact a specialist.
17. Vacuum thoroughly.

Type of stain and order of treatment

TEFLON

Care instructions

Always treat stains promptly. Sponge the stain, never rub. A gentle blotting action with an absorbent cloth or sponge is most effective. Work inwards from the outside edges to avoid spreading the stain. Blot up wet or oil-based spills quickly with an absorbent cloth, tissue or sponge. For solid or semi-solid spills, lift off excess before treating using a dull knife or spatula. If the stain has already dried, gently brush off any excess material, then dab gently with a damp cloth or sponge until it disappears.

Never try to remove the stain with household detergents such as washing-up liquid. Vacuum carpets and upholstery regularly to remove accumulated dirt, which can fade colours and accelerate wear. When vacuuming upholstery, use special brushes and nozzles provided for more effective cleaning. It is recommended to have carpets and furnishings professionally cleaned from time to time. Never use water or liquid detergents on velvets.

IMPORTANT!
Before cleaning or treating stains, see manufacturer’s care instructions. When removing a stain, test any stain-removing product (including water) on a hidden part of the furnishing to ensure fabric and/or colour is not affected. For large or serious stains, DuPont recommends you consult a professional upholstery cleaner.
N.B.: TEFLON® treatment is durable to washing and dry cleaning. Warm ironing improves performance of TEFLON®.

Cleaning methods

A
Use only water-based commercial cleaning agents. Alternatively, mix 2 tablespoons of ammonia with 1 litre of water. Blot the stain gently with a cloth dampened with this solution, turning continually so that only the clean part of the cloth is in contact with the stain.

B
Use only mild, pure, water-free dry-cleaning solvents. Dampen a cloth with the solution and follow the procedure described in A.

Stain removal

Grease, oil
Follow method B described below.

Chocolate, coffee
Sponge with lukewarm water.

Wine, milk, soft drinks
Follow method Adescribed below.

Blood
Treat with a mixture of 2 tablespoons of salt to 1 litre of water. Rinse and blot with dry cloth. For persistent stains, sponge with ammonia solution described in method A.

Wax, candle
Gently scrape off wax with dull knife or spatula. Use method B or cover spot with several layers of absorbent paper and apply a warmiron.

Fruit
Sponge with cold water.

Ballpoint pen, ink
Treat with rubbing alcohol using method A.

Mud
Gently lift off as much as soil as possible with dull knife or spatula. Allow to dry, then vacuum. For persistent stains, use ammonia solution described in method A.

Pencil
Use method B, followed by a small amount of ammoniated liquid detergent. Rinse thoroughly.

Urine, sweat
Use method A, followed by a small amount of ammoniated liquid detergent.

Vomit
Gently lift off vomit and sponge thoroughly with cold water, then use method A.

LEATHER

Caring

Leather is a living material that becomes more beautiful over time if cared for correctly. Remember the following guidelines:

Never place leather furniture closer than 20-30 cm from a radiator, or in direct sunlight.
Vacuum clean frequently with a soft brush, and clean surfaces subjected to heavy wear, such as arm and neck rests, as required. Water-soluble stains are easily removed by soaking and blotting with kitchen paper.

Never attempt to remove problem stains with strong solvents or chemical products. You could end up with a bigger problem that requires repairs. Instead, contact the shop that sold you the furniture and ask for assistance. If the shop staff can´t help you, ask them to contact the manufacturer for expert advice.

Cleaning and protection

To provide the best possible care for your leather furniture, Elmo has developed a waterbased leather care programme including a cleansing product (Leather Cleaner) and a protective product (Leather Protection).

Leather Cleaner

Our Leather Cleaner cleans the leather gently and delicately, which means it can be used frequently without risk of drying out the leather. Areas subjected to heavy wear, such as armrests, benefit from frequent cleaning. Leather Cleaner is suitable for all Elmo leather, except Nubuck.

Leather Protection

This product impregnates the leather, protects it from spills and stains and keeps it soft and supple. We recommend you treat your leather upholstery with Leather Protection after cleaning, ideallly twice a year. Suitable for all Elmo leather, except Nubuck.