You’ve Got Stains on Your Carpet: How To Fix Them

A blog about removing stains from rugs and carpets.

So you spilled something on your carpet, or maybe your dog had an accident. Now you have a stain in the middle of your beautiful carpet. What do you do?

First, don’t panic! Accidents happen all the time, and every day new products are invented to help remove stains from rugs and carpets. So don’t worry about it. You will get out of this one way or another. But what if the stain is already there and you need to get it out?

What Type of Stain Is It?

Different kinds of stains require different kinds of treatment. The first thing you need to know is what kind of stain you’re dealing with. This can be tricky because sometimes a spill will look like one kind of thing but really be another – such as when a red soda looks like blood or when tomato sauce looks like blood or dirt or mustard. Here’s a quick guide to common types of stains:

– Pet accidents (urine, feces)

– Blood

– Mold / mildew

– Dirt / mud / grease / oil / tar / asphalt

– Food (including sauces)

It happens to everyone: you’re working around the house, maybe doing some painting or maybe it’s just a hectic day. You’re not paying close attention and suddenly you see it: a big blob of wet cement right on your new carpet. You might think that the stain is permanent, but there are ways to get your carpet looking like new again.

Cleaning Up the Stain

First things first: you need to remove as much of the stain as possible. Use a knife or spoon to remove any dried chunks that may have fallen on the surface of your carpet. Next, apply a dry cleaning solvent to a clean white cloth and blot at the area until you can’t get up any more of the stain.

If some of the stain still remains after you’ve used dry cleaning solvent, you can use ammonia in warm water to finish removing it from your carpet. Blot at the area with a sponge dipped in the water/ammonia solution until you’ve gotten all that you can out of it. Finish by rinsing with cold water and blotting with a clean cloth until dry.

Carpet stains are a fact of life, but you can minimize their appearance with some fast cleaning. Be careful to only use approved carpet stain remover products and follow the directions carefully to prevent further damage.

How to Clean Carpet Stains

Spot cleaning: To spot clean, blot up as much of the stain as possible with a white cloth. If you don’t have a white cloth, use a rag that is light in color so that it won’t transfer dye to the carpet. Use cold water, or club soda if water won’t work on the stain.

Deep cleaning: Mix a solution of one part white vinegar to one part warm water. Blot the stain with this solution and let it sit for 5-10 minutes; then scrub with a brush or damp cloth before blotting again with plain cold water. Repeat until the stain is gone and allow it to dry completely before walking on it.

Carpet Stain Removal Products

There are many commercial carpet stain removal products available in stores and online. Some popular brands include Scotchgard, Resolve, Clorox 2, Woolite Oxy Deep Power Shot Carpet Stain & Odor Remover, Bissell Pet Urine Eliminator Carpet Shampoo, and Carbona Stain Devils

Carpet stains are a part of life. Whether you’ve got children, pets, or a reckless party animal living in your house, your carpet will eventually become the victim of a stain. Don’t fret. You can get rid of most carpet stains with a few household items.

Start by blotting the area with a dry washcloth to remove any excess liquid. Next, mix 1 teaspoon of dishwashing liquid into 1 cup of cold water, and pour this solution onto the stain. Then, using a clean cloth, apply pressure from the outside edges of the stain to the center. Continue until no more color lifts from the carpet onto the cloth.

If this method doesn’t work, use a mixture of one-third white vinegar and two-thirds water. If that still doesn’t work, use rubbing alcohol instead of vinegar, but add an equal amount of water.

While you are busy enjoying the company of friends and family in your home, accidents happen. Wine is spilled on the carpet, the dog piddles on the floor, or your two-year old gets an upset stomach and can’t make it to the toilet. These are all common accidents that every homeowner has experienced at least once. While there are many cleaning solutions out there that could remove these stains, it is important to know which ones work best for each type of stain.

Remember: the sooner you clean a stain, the better chance you have of removing it completely. Always blot a spill up immediately with a paper towel before applying a cleaning solution. Never rub a spill; this may cause damage to your carpet fibres.

Wine Stain Removal

If a glass of red wine is spilled on your carpet, act fast! Blot up as much of the spill as possible before pouring a small amount of white wine on top of the red wine stain. The white wine will help dilute and lift away some of the colour from the red wine. Next, mix one teaspoon of mild dish detergent with one cup of warm water. Pour this mixture directly onto the stain and let sit for about five minutes before blotting dry with a clean towel. Repeat as necessary until

Getting stains out of a carpet can be tough, but it isn’t impossible. In fact, the sooner you act on a stain and treat the fibers, the better your chance of getting it out completely.

What You Will Need:

1. Clean cloth or white paper towels

2. Cleaner (See Below)

3. Water

4. Vacuum cleaner

5. Towel

6. Soft scrub brush (optional)

(if necessary) Ammonia (household ammonia, not automotive window washer fluid)**Baking soda**Bleach**Dishwashing detergent**Hydrogen peroxide**Rubbing alcohol**Shaving cream**White vinegar