How to Remove a Jam Stain from Upholstery

Ells asked, “I got jam on the cream armchair; someone help! How do I remove a stain in a matter of seconds?”

Table of Contents:

Removing Fresh Jam Stains
Removing an Old Jam Stain or Stubborn Fresh Stain
Additional Tips and Advice
Sources

Jam and light-colored furniture go together like oil and water. Act quickly and you can save yourself from a permanent stain. If you discover an old stain, as those of us with children often do, there might still be hope. Always test a cleaning solution for furniture on a small out-of-the-way area before attempting to clean the spill.

Removing Fresh Jam Stains

You Will Need:

Water
Dishwashing liquid

Steps to Remove the Fresh Jam Stain:

Working toward the middle of the spill, scrape off as much of the jam as you can.¹
Rinse with cold water by sponging thoroughly.
Rub the stain with dishwashing liquid and let sit for approximately 5 minutes.¹
Rinse with cold water by sponging thoroughly until the stain is gone.
If the stain persists, continue with the steps in the next section for old or stubborn stains.

Removing an Old Jam Stain or Stubborn Fresh Stain

Select a cleaning solution from the list below and use the steps to remove the stain. If one solution does not work, select another and continue working through the steps until the stain is removed.

You Will Need:

Old toothbrush
Clean sponge
White vinegar
Foam shaving cream
3% hydrogen peroxide
Vegetable glycerin

Steps to Remove the Old Jam Stain:

Working toward the middle of the spill scrape off as much of the spilled jam as you can.¹
Rinse with cold water by sponging thoroughly.
Mix equal amounts of vinegar and water together and sponge on stain.¹
Let dry in sun, if possible.¹
Rinse with cold water by sponging thoroughly.
Using an old toothbrush, rub in a small amount of shaving cream from the outside toward the middle.¹
Wipe the shaving cream foam off with a dry cloth.¹
Rinse stain with cold water thoroughly.
Bleach stain with 3% hydrogen peroxide by feathering stain toward the middle with an old toothbrush.²
Rinse stain with cold water by sponging thoroughly.
Apply glycerin (in liquid form) and let sit for 30 minutes.³
Rinse stain with water thoroughly.³

Additional Tips and Advice

Do not use soap on a jam stain as it will set the stain, making it impossible to remove.¹
Do not use hot air or an iron to dry the spot as that will set the stain.³
For microfiber upholstery, there may be a water stain left after cleaning. If so, follow the information in the guide How to Remove Watermarks on Microfiber Upholstery.
Caution should be used when storing and using hydrogen peroxide, see Wikipedia for more information.