How to Remove Carpet Stains

Best Way To Remove Stains From Carpets

Dealing with carpet stains and dirt can be frustrating. One minute your carpet looks clean and new, the next there’s a big ugly stain glaring up at you. But don’t panic! With the right methods and products, you can get your carpet clean and looking good as new again.

Diagnose the Stain

Before doing anything, you need to identify what kind of stain you’re working with. Different types of stains require different removal methods. Here are some of the most common carpet stains:

Once you’ve identified the type of stain, you can move onto the next step.

Act Quickly

It’s crucial you start treating carpet stains as soon as possible after they occur. The quicker you can get to work, the better your chances of removal. Many of them become near impossible to remove if left to set in overnight.

Aim to start cleaning within the first 1-2 hours after a spill happens. Have your stain removal products ready to go so you can act fast!

Blot, Don’t Rub

When you start treating a wet spill on the carpet, avoid the instinct to immediately start rubbing it. Rubbing will just push the stain further down into the carpet fibers.

Instead, gently blot the stain using a clean, absorbent cloth or plain white paper towels. Press down and lift straight up in a blotting motion to draw the stain and excess liquid out of the fibers up into the cloth.

Replace cloths or towels often so you are always blotting with a clean section.

Use Stain Removers

For most household stains, a dedicated carpet stain remover offers the best chance for success. But not all removers work equally well on all types of stains. Here are some top tried and true products for common stains:

For Food and Drink Stains:

• Dish soap: The degreasing agents tackle pigments and sugars. Mix with warm water and blot.
• White vinegar: Helpful for red wine, coffee, chocolate, and juice stains. Blot with a 50/50 vinegar and water mix.
• Club soda: The carbonation helps lift staining. Blot spilled soda drinks immediately with club soda.
• Baking soda: Helps absorb and lift stains. Sprinkle baking soda on the stain, let sit, then vacuum.

For Oil and Grease Stains:

• Dish soap: Dawn and other grease-cutting formulas excel here. Use a brush to work the soap into the stain.
• Dry cleaning solvent: Found with laundry products. Use per label instructions.

For Ink and Makeup Stains:

• Hairspray: The alcohol helps break down stain particles. Spritz and blot.
• Rubbing alcohol: Another alcohol-based option perfect for inks. Use a spray bottle to apply directly to the stain.

For Biological Stains:

• Enzyme cleaner: Designed specially to break down organic matter in stains like blood, pet accidents, and vomit.

No matter what product you use, always read and follow usage directions carefully to avoid damage. Test on a small, hidden area of carpet first if unsure.

Extract Residuals

Once you’ve worked a stain remover through the fibers and blotted up all you can, there will still be leftover residue deep down. This needs to be rinsed out.

For best extraction, use a carpet cleaning machine or a wet/dry vacuum. They inject cleaning solution deep into the pile and then suck it all back out along with remnants.

If you don’t have an extraction cleaner, mix up a detergent solution of one tablespoon of dish soap, one tablespoon of white vinegar, and two cups of warm water. Sponge the mixture over the stain. Blot with towels again and repeat the rinsing until water runs clear. Let the carpet fully dry before vacuuming up residual moisture.

Call the Pros for Stubborn Stains

DIY carpet stain removal techniques don’t always work, especially for chocolate stains or other set-in stains, or if they cover a large area. If you’ve tried every trick with no success, call professional carpet cleaners. Their industrial-grade equipment and high-powered spot treatments give them the best shot at eradicating even the toughest stains. Some things are best left to the professionals.

Professional carpet cleaners can remove stains on carpets and rugs throughout your house.

With some elbow grease and the right products, you can knock out most fresh carpet stains at home. These tips can help you get started. Just remember to always start cleaning ASAP before stains have a chance to really set in. Acting quickly is the best way for stain-fighting success! Being proactive is part of the process.

This blog post was written by Cameron Marcs from Eco Carpet Cleaning in Brisbane. 

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