These kinds of spots can come from trying to spot clean with fabric that is dry clean only. As far as I know, there is no way to get them out.

I had a similar brown water spot, a huge one, on the white lining of one of my living room drapes. It got there from condensation on the sliding glass doors they covered, and it was there for over a year while I pondered the best way to get it out. I tried several concoctions, but the only one that worked was pure hydrogen peroxide. It came completely out and I just daubed it on with a clean white cloth.

I was going to suggest hydrogen peroxide too. You can get stronger concentrations at beauty supply stores.

Hydrogen peroxide is my answer also.
I keep a bottle in the laundry room, both baths
and a small container in my car.

If it's cream-colored, I would be afraid of the peroxide. Won't that turn it white? My first thought was that oxyclean stuff, but I also only use that for white...how about having it steam cleaned? The guy who cleans my rugs steam cleaned my upholstered chair for about $50.

I have a matelasse coverlet that I have just washed in cold water in the washer with no shrinkage. I would wonder if you couldn't just thoroughly clean the entire settee so that the entire fabric was wet thus leaving no circles. I cleaned my dining room chair seats that way. Of course, I had nothing to loose since red grape juice had been spilled all over a few of them, so it was either cleaning would work or reupholster all of them--much simpler than your settee. But if you've reached that point, then you might try it. I'm so sorry for your problem!

Thank you so much for the help, very appreciated!

I'm also not familar with hydrogen peroxide, it won't take out the color? Or do I sufficiently dilute it?

The fabric inside the brown rings did seem to darken very slightly, it's hard to tell at this point. Maybe I should try the HP on the brown areas and then immediately steam clean the whole piece?

My first question would be, what is under the matelasse? Is there fabric under it that is bleeding through? If that's the case, more water might only make it worse.

Can you pry up the fabric somewhere and find out? I think I'd test a spot somewhere on the back to see if it did the same thing, and if it did, I'd talk to an upholsterer about what to do next.

" I would wonder if you couldn't just thoroughly clean the entire settee so that the entire fabric was wet thus leaving no circles."

I did something similar last month, and it made a bigger mess. It just produced multiple rings and patterns of discoloration throughout. Oops :)

I've had great success mixing up a a half scoop of oxiclean in eight ounces of warm water. After applying it, wait five minutes and start dabbing with a terry towel. I just got hair dye out of a light tan rug with this technique. You may have to do it more than once. It took six times for my rug.

Try a product called Folex~you can get it at Home Depot or Lowe's. I've gotten lipstick out of carpeting as well as other hard-to-get stains out! It would be best to try it on an inconspicuous place first, such as underneath the cushion or the bottom underside. I don't think it's a bleaching product per se, but have been using it in my home as well as on clothing for years. Good luck! ;o)

Thanks once again for the assistance!

There's some fabric site that I found that recommends white vinegar mixed with peroxide - maybe I'll give that a try and if all else fails, steam clean the whole thing.

Be careful about steam cleaning - some fabrics are not meant to be steamed, and in the process you could leave more water spots, etc.

You have gotten some great suggestions. I hope you find success!

Another Folex lover here, I use it on any upholstery stain and have always had excellent results! I also use it on doggie stains on the carpet - it works miracles!

I just looked up Folex and it seems comparable with Spot Shot (another great product that removes carpet stains). What to do, what to do.

Has anyone tried Folex on water stains specifically, as it seems HP has been used successfully with water stains?

The stains you are talking about sound like the fabric is dry clean only. I had this issue on a sofa covered in a soft white fabric. I called a local upholstery cleaner and he used a dry cleaning product on it, which removed the water stains.
Diane

Hi all,

I wanted to report back on how I'm making out with the settee. The good news is the brown water stains are gone. The bad news is, just as Sameboat warned, the color from where I dabbed the hydrogen peroxide went from a cream to white.

I am now in the process of lightly spraying hp all over the settee. I'm doing it in stages, so I can hopefully get an even color throughout. I really don't mind the color change, if it's even.

Now, hopefully the fabric doesn't break apart.