What's the best way to get pet stains off upholstered furniture?

Use a mild cleaner. If you use an over-the-counter product, make sure it's specifically for upholstery. Both Woolite and Resolve make upholstery cleaners, but that doesn't mean they're safe for all fabrics, so test them first in an area you can't see.

It's always good to remove any excess stain as soon as possible. Don't rub the stain, dab it; rubbing can be abrasive and damage the fabric. Work your way from the outside in so you don't spread the stain more.

If that doesn't work, call a professional. Before any cleaning, it's best to remove pet hair and dander by thoroughly vacuuming. The most common pet stain is vomit, not urine.

We also see a lot of stains from where pets have rubbed food from their mouths against the upholstery, and areas they've used to scratch themselves, which can accumulate oil and hair, discoloring the fabric. The furniture in the family room and dining room is what we clean most often.

The most common "people" stains are drink spills like Kool-Aid, wine or coffee.

About 95 percent of all upholstery fabrics can be successfully steam cleaned. For specialty fabrics like silk, certain types of cotton, and velvet, we use a low-moisture solvent or dry foam method. With those methods, it usually takes 30 minutes or less to dry. With the steam or hot water extraction method, it can take two hours to dry. Be sure to keep pets off the furniture overnight.

Upholstery should cleaned every 18 months or more frequently if you start seeing soiled areas. A good way to extend the life of your furniture's upholstery is to vacuum often, at least once a month, or more frequently if you have pets. The best way to prevent pet stains is keeping them off the upholstery.

Upholstery cleaning is priced by the linear foot using the length of the sofa's back. The price starts at $12 a linear foot and can go up to $20 a linear foot, depending on the fabric's condition, the method required and the level of soil. Upholstered recliners usually cost around $45 to $50; they're much more durable and have easier-to-clean fabrics.