How to Get Orange Cheese Puff Stains Out of Upholstery
If you’ve ever snacked on cheese puffs or spicy chips then brushed your fingers against the couch, you know the struggle: neon orange fingerprints or smudges that don’t exactly blend in with your upholstery.
But you don’t have to live with permanent evidence of your snack attack, so long as you set about cleaning it correctly. With the right technique, a little patience, and a few key cleaning tools – including a portable deep cleaner and OXY cleaning formula – you can lift that orange snack dust right out of fabric-covered furniture.
What makes cheese powder so challenging to clean?
Orange snack stains are made of a combination of grease, artificial dyes, and fine powder. So, while it may look like the cheese dust is sitting on the surface of upholstery fabric, there’s a good chance it’s also doing damage below. The oil can draw the orange color deep into upholstery fibers, making it harder to fully lift the stain.
Understanding the stain
To get out orange, cheesy or spicy snack dust for good, you need a cleaning method that breaks down both the grease and the color.
One common mistake to avoid
Whatever you do, don’t rub the stain. Doing so can spread the dust and push it deeper into the fabric. This makes it harder to remove and can damage the texture of the upholstery.
Pre-treatment steps
Depending the on the cleaning method you choose, you may want to pre-clean the area, blotting the stain to remove excess oil and vacuuming away loose cheese powder dust. This is especially true if you do not have a portable upholstery cleaner, which is the best way to get orange fingerprints out of furniture upholstery.
Blot the stain
If the stain is fresh, gently blot the area with a clean, dry cloth or paper towel. The material will absorb some of the oil without spreading the dust around.
Be sure not to press too hard or rub – just use light pressure to lift what you can. The goal is to contain the mess before applying moisture.
Vacuum the area
Use a handheld vacuum or the hose attachment on your main vacuum to remove loose snack dust and particles. Make slow, overlapping passes to capture as much of the dust as possible but don’t press down – you don’t want to smear the stain. (Shop our vacuums, stick vacs, and hand vacs. )
Choose your cleaning method
For removing a tough stain like bright orange cheese powder prints, a portable deep cleaner such as the Little Green® Max Pet Portable Carpet Cleaner paired with an Oxy-based cleaning formula works best. The formula (we like PET PRO OXY Spot & Stain Urine Eliminator Formula ) can be sprayed onto the stain as many times as necessary, and because the machine suctions up the liquid, you won’t be stuck with a soaking wet piece of furniture.
If you do not have a portable upholstery cleaner, a manual Oxy-based formula is your next best choice. Some products, such as PET PRO OXY Stain Destroyer, which comes in a ready-to-use spray bottle, are designed to work at stains without causing them to set deeper.
Your last resort should be a DIY cleaner. These do not have the stain-lifting power of Oxy, and some may actually damage your upholstery, so proceed with caution.
Best: Use a portable carpet cleaner with an oxy-based formula
Step 1: Fill machine with cold water and cleaning formula
Start by filling the clean water tank of your portable carpet cleaner with cold water then add an oxygen-based cleaning solution up to the fill line. For this specific stain, we like the Little Green® Max Pet Portable Carpet Cleaner paired with PRO OXY Spot & Stain formula with Urine Eliminator and StainProtect® Technology.
Step 2: Coat the stain with cleaning formula
Press the spray trigger, fully covering the stained area. This sends the cleaning solution deep into the fabric fibers to begin to break up the stain.
Step 3: Scrub and suction away the mess
Use the tool to gently scrub the upholstery, using the bristles to agitate and loosen the stain and the suction to extract the stain and excess moisture. Repeat steps 2 and 3 as needed, spraying and scrubbing until the surface looks clean.
Step 4: Air dry the upholstery
Let the area air dry fully before sitting on it or placing the cushions back in place. To speed up the drying time, you can open window, turn on a fan, or turn on your air conditioning, all of which increase air circulation.
Often works: Use a handheld Oxy-based formula
Step 1: Blot and vacuum
If you aren’t using a portable upholstery cleaner, pre-treat the area using the steps outlined above. Use a clean cloth to blot away oil and a vacuum to remove loose cheese dust.
Step 2: Apply Oxy formula
Spray an oxygen-based stain remover directly onto the stain, making sure to cover it completely. We recommend PET PRO OXY Stain Destroyer for Carpet and Upholstery, which helps lifts stains in real time. Although you may start to see the stain disappear upon contact, let the solution sit for 5 to 10 minutes so the cleaning formula has time to fully break down and remove the stain.
Step 3: Blot again
Try gently blotting the area again. At first, use a clean, damp cloth, which will help dilute any residual cleaning solution. Then, switch to a clean, dry towel, aiming to remove any extra moisture.
Step 4: Allow to air dry
Once the area looks clean, let it air dry completely. Avoid using heat to speed up the drying process, as it can cause any remaining stain to set.
Proceed with caution: Use a homemade solution
Note: Although some influencers say dish soap can cleaning anything, our chemists do not recommend cleaning carpet or fabric with it. Dish soap is meant to be fully rinsed; if it remains on a surface, it can become sticky, leaving a residue and attracting messes.
Mix the DIY solution
Combine 1 tablespoon of mild dish soap with 2 cups of cold water in a bowl. Stir gently to create a soapy mixture without too many bubbles.
Apply the solution
Dip a clean cloth into the mixture and gently blot it onto the stained area. Make sure to wet the fabric just enough to treat the stain – don’t soak it.
Blot and rinse
Use another clean cloth dampened with plain cold water to blot and rinse away the soap. Repeat until all residue is gone.
Allow to air dry
Let the upholstery dry naturally. If possible, open windows or turn on a fan to speed up the process.
Post-stain removal
Drying the upholstery
Proper drying is key to preventing mildew or musty odors. Always let the area air dry completely before using the furniture again.
If you’re in a hurry, use a fan pointed at the spot, but skip heat-based appliances like hairdryers, which can set any missed stains.
Maintaining upholstery to prevent future stains
Regular vacuuming can help remove snack crumbs before they settle into fabric. It’s also a good idea to keep stain removers or portable deep cleaners on hand for quick cleanups. If you know you’ll be snacking, consider using a throw blanket or slipcover to protect your favorite seat from cheese dust mishaps. If nothing else, try to keep a napkin handy.
Conclusion
Recap of effective methods
Cheesy, spicy snack powder and dust is tricky to remove, but it’s not impossible. Whether you use a store-bought stain remover, a portable carpet cleaner, or a DIY solution, the key is to act fast and be gentle.
For best results, we recommend using a portable carpet cleaner with a spray or other bottle-based stain remover coming in as a second-place option.
Final tips for upholstery care
Routine maintenance is your best defense against future stains. Keep your upholstery clean with regular vacuuming, and always address spills and stains right away.
Having a reliable stain removal plan makes all the difference – especially when snack time doesn’t go quite as planned.
Frequently asked questions about cleaning cheese snack powder from upholstery
Q: What household products are effective for treating cheese powder stains on fabric?
A: Some people believe that dish soap and cold water are simple but effective tools. It makes sense that this DIY formula could help lift both grease and color from upholstery. However, our chemists caution that dish soap leave a sticky residue on fabric, causing it to hold onto more messes.
Q: Are there any professional cleaning solutions recommended for cheese snack stains?
A: Yes, oxygen-based cleaning formulas are designed to fully remove colorful stains, including oily cheese powder. BISSELL makes Oxy-based cleaning formulas that can be used in portable upholstery cleaners as well as stand-alone sprays and squeeze-bottle solutions.
Q: Can orange snack stains cause permanent damage to upholstery if left untreated?
A: Yes, orange snack dust can cause permanent damage if ignored. The oils and artificial coloring can seep deep into the fabric, leading to lasting discoloration or even fabric breakdown over time.