Tausi Insider

Photo : gpointstudio ( Shutterstock ) If you’ve ever been furniture shopping, you might know that you can take samples of upholstery fabric you’re considering home with you before you make a final decision on whether to buy. Much like you would with paint samples from a hardware store, these swatches can better help you envision how your new chair or couch might look in your space. B ut they have another use, too: They can help you tackle future stains. Here’s why you should stock up on samples before you buy that new couch. You can test stain-removal capabilities Photo : TausiInsider Next time you’re shopping for a new couch—especially one that is marketed as being “stain-resistant”—request some fabric samples from the retailer, take them home, and stain them on purpose to see which ones would be easiest to clean. Soil them on purpose with chocolate, fruit juice, dirt, or red wine. Next, try to get those stains out. ( Here’s a guide for removing chocolate , here’s a tip...

Photo : Jeff Zhou ( Shutterstock ) As convenient as buying couches online can be, there are still some advantages to shopping at brick-and-mortar retailers. First and foremost, going to stores in person means you get to try them out before making a purchase. And then, there’s the delivery situation. Yes, your online purchases will be shipped to your home, but it’ll be up to you to get them inside and up (or down) any stairs and to its final destination—where you’ll then assemble it yourself, and figure out what to do with your old couch. Though it’s not a given, some brick-and-mortar stores will not only deliver your new couch, but they’ll also haul the old one away (if you want them to). And while that may not seem like the biggest perk, if you’ve ever had to dispose of a large piece of furniture and don’t own a large vehicle, then you know that it can be a huge pain. Here are a few options, should you ever find yourself in that situation. How to get rid of your old couch To c...