How to Remove Cream Cheese Stains from Clothes, Carpet, and Upholstery

Soft cheeses are delicious but unfortunately, not all of them land in our mouths and end up on our clothes, carpet, and upholstery. Whether it is your favorite cream cheese smear or another soft cheese like cottage cheese, goat cheese or Brie, the steps for removing the stains are just the same.

Cheeses are a combination stain of protein and fat. First, use a dull knife or spoon or the edge of a credit card to lift off any excess solids from the fabric. If the cheese has dried, scrape it away gently with a soft-bristled brush. Do not rub the stain with a cloth or paper towel because that will push the cheese particles deeper into the fabric making them much harder to remove..

Treat the stained area with a solvent-based stain remover spray or gel such as Zout, Shout or Spray 'n Wash. If you don't have a stain remover, use a bit of heavy-duty liquid laundry detergent (Tide or Persil) to treat the stain. These detergents contain enough enzymes to break down the oil and protein components of the cheese. Less expensive brands may not work as well.

Allow the stain remover to sit on the fabric at least fifteen minutes so it can begin to dissolve the proteins and oils in the stain. Next, wash the garment or table linen as recommended for the fabric on the care label. Check the stained area before drying. If the stain is not gone, repeat the process. Drying the item on high heat if it is still stained especially on synthetic fabrics like polyester and acrylics.ill make the oil even harder to remove.

If the garment is labeled as dry clean only, the first step is to lift away as much of the cheese as possible with a dull knife or spoon. Do not wipe with a cloth because it will push the stain deeper into the fibers. For small stains, you can spot clean with a dry cleaning solvent. Always test the solvent on an inside seam to be sure it will not fade the fabric and always follow product directions carefully. 

The best choice for most cheese-stained dry clean only garments is to point out and identify the stain to your professional cleaner as soon as possible. If you are using a home dry cleaning kit, be sure to treat the stain with the provided stain remover before putting the garment in the dryer bag.

If your open-faced bagel lands cream cheese side down on the carpet, the first step is to react as quickly as possible. Again, use a dull knife or the edge of a spoon to lift away as much of the solids as possible. Never wipe or rub the area with a paper towel because that will push the cheese into the carpet fibers more deeply.

After you have removed as much of the soft cheese as possible, mix a solution of two cups warm water, one tablespoon liquid dishwashing detergent and two tablespoons distilled white vinegar. Dip a clean white cloth, paper towel or sponge in the solution and wring out any excess moisture. Working from the outside edge of the stain toward the center, wipe away the stain. Starting at the outside edge helps prevent the stain from becoming larger. Keep moving to a clean area of the cloth as the stain is lifted from the carpet.

To rinse, use another clean cloth dipped in plain water to wipe down the area. It is important to do this step because if you leave any soapy residue in the carpet it will actually attract more soil.

Allow the area to air dry with no direct heat. Vacuum to lift and restore carpet fibers.

The same cleaning solution that you use for carpet can be used to remove soft cheeses from upholstery. Be particularly careful not to oversaturate the fabric and cushion filling. Rinse with a cloth dipped in plain water and allow to air dry away from direct heat and sunlight.

If the upholstery is silk or vintage, consult a professional upholstery cleaner or if you need more stain removal tips.