Carpet stains are no joke. Imagine the nightmare of having a splash of a coffee stain on your brand-new soft carpets. The longer they sit, the harder it is to get rid of them. In this blog, we cover how to deal with carpet stains in the best way possible, including what not to do. We discuss the most common and difficult stains that you may come across and share our tips and tricks to deal with these carpet stains.
Carpet stains are usually easy to clean as long as they are dealt with at the right time and the right way. But sometimes you'll find yourself in tougher situations and in this blog let us have a look at some easy ways to deal with the situation.
The first step to follow is to remove the excess spill. Blot the liquid spill immediately before it becomes a permanent stain, and in case of a solid spill, a knife can be used to scrape off the stain. Try to clean from the outer edge to the inside, as this prevents the spill from spreading and allows the stain to soak up moisture. Be careful not to rub the carpet fibres harshly as it may lead to permanent damage to the fine fibres. Repeat the process until no excess spills are present.
After removing the excess spill, a carpet stain remover can be applied. This helps to neutralize the chemical reaction. A few drops (say, 1 teaspoon) of dish soap mixed with warm water (1/4 cup) and white vinegar (1/4 teaspoon) will work well for most spills like wine spills, grease, mustard, ketchup, or even blood. If the stain is not coming off, try mixing baking soda with hot water and rubbing it onto the affected area. Baking soda absorbs odours and helps lift dirt and grime. And hot water softens the fibres of the carpet and makes it easier to scrub away the stubborn spots. Care should be taken not to over-wet the stain. You can also mix equal parts of hydrogen peroxide and vinegar onto the stain. Wait for 10 minutes and then vacuum. Another option is to make a solution with half portion of lemon juice and half a portion of water. Spray it on the stain, let it sit for 15 minutes, and rinse it thoroughly. We will look at these homemade carpet cleaners in much detail in a while.
To ensure the stains are removed properly, use a clean, white cloth (cotton) that is absorbent in nature to gently blot away the stain. Blotting is carried out from outside to inside. Change out the wet cloth with another one, once the stains start to transfer. Steps can be repeated till no stains appear on the cloth. Blotting prefers cold water over hot water, and then dry. To carry out thorough drying, place a cotton white cloth over the damp area, and cover it properly. Place them overnight in a warm, well-ventilated place or weigh them with a heavy object, until it's dry.
Using very few ingredients, you can make your own homemade carpet stain removers a.k.a DIY carpet cleaners, to make your carpet stain-free. Some of the most common solutions to remove carpet stains that you can prepare by yourself without much effort are:
Take a spray bottle. Add one part of vinegar to two parts of water and mix well. Then add one teaspoon of salt into the mixture. You can add any essential oil to give it a scented odour (lavender oil is the most commonly used one). Shake the mixture, spray it over the stained region, leave it for drying, and then vacuum.
Apply the paste you obtain by mixing equal parts of vinegar, water, and borax to the tough stains on the carpet. Wait till it dries and blot it up. The mixture is commonly used for the removal of urine from the carpet.
Note: Remember to wear gloves during the process, to reduce the chemical reaction caused by borax and also to remove the microbial spread.
One of the best DIY to follow for a stain-free carpet. First, sprinkle some baking soda over the carpet stains. Spray water and vinegar solution (taken in equal parts) to the baking soda. Let it foam and remove the stain.
Water is the cheapest and easiest carpet stain remover you can get! It removes the stain and kills the mites present in the carpet. High-temperature steam vapours can be used to sanitize and deodorize the carpet fibre along with cleaning.
Now that you are familiar with the household methods to get rid of carpet stains, let us look at the top culprits when it comes to carpet stains.
Accidental spilling of tea or coffee onto the carpet could have happened to any of us. If not dealt with properly, your luxurious carpet might lose its beauty. For removing tea and coffee stains, 2 parts of hydrogen peroxide mixed with 1 part of dishwashing soap would do the magic. First, use a clean cotton absorbent dry cloth to blot the spill, and then apply the mixture. Rinse it properly with water, and repeat the process until the stains are removed.
Have you ever cut your finger in the middle of your kitchen activities? Has that blood become a stain over your clean carpet? Blood stains are among the toughest stains. Extra care needs to be taken to remove it. Bloodstain should ideally be cleaned using cold water, blot it dry using a soft white cloth. Blood stains are not to treat with warm water, as it would make the stain stick to the carpet.
If you have children or pets at your home, there is a very high chance that they bring dirt on your carpet. Scrape off the dirt with a knife. Apply the mixture of dish soap, water, and white vinegar to the stain. Wait for 10 minutes and dry it with a white towel or cotton cloth.
Solidified chocolate from the carpet can be removed with a knife. In case chocolate is melted, try filling ice cubes in a plastic bag and keep on top of the melted chocolate. It helps the chocolate to harden, which would be easier to scrape off. Pieces of chocolate can be cleaned using a vacuum cleaner.
Candle wax is one of the most common household stains. To remove the candle wax, an ice pack has to be applied over the wax. When it hardens, break the wax and take up the flakes from the carpet using a vacuum. A damp cloth with the addition of a small amount of alcohol would also serve the purpose. Wait and blot dry the area.
In addition to the five most common carpet stains, other common stains include:
Urine
For urine stains, its better to go with a commercial enzymatic carpet cleaner. Bad odour and stains are removed through the chemical reaction by enzymes.
Fat stains
Fat stains like gravy, oil stains, butter, etc. are generally not removed easily. If you spill fat stains on a carpet fibre, spray it with baking soda, wait for few hours, then apply a small amount of alcohol over a damp cloth and blot the stain away. A dry-solvent carpet cleaner can also be used for the removal of fat stains.
Juice & Drinks
Beverage stains can be removed with a club soda and then blot it with a clean dry towel. Repeat the steps until the stains are removed.
Chewing Gum
Harden the gum using a plastic bag with ice cubes. Peel off the gum with a knife. Vacuum the pieces. You can also use a dry-solvent carpet cleaner to clean gum stains from the carpet.
The old stains would be harder to remove. So you have to be patient enough to remove these stubborn stains from the carpet. Some of the methods to remove old stains include:
Let us have a look at five toughest carpet stains and the steps to remove them.
Here are some of the dos and do-not to follow to keep your carpet stain-free.
2. How to remove red wine stains from the carpet?
To remove stains on the carpet caused by beverages such as red wine, juice, white wine, or any other beverages, dab the carpet repeatedly with a detergent solution. Wait for 15 minutes. Blot the excess liquid with a clean cloth or white towel. You can also use lukewarm water or vinegar as a cleaning solution and repeat the process.
3. How to prevent stains before they happen?
Keep the carpet protected. It is the best way to eliminate stains from carpets before they actually occur. Safeguard your carpet with a carpet protection film. It is the most cost-effective way to protect your carpets from staining. Carpet protection films are self-adhesive in nature and resist stains and dust from appearing on the carpet.
Though most of the carpet stains can be removed using the steps we discussed, you may have to consult a professional carpet cleaning team if the stains from carpet are really hard to remove, like dried paint stains or blood stain that have left a permanent mark.
A well-cleaned carpet not only removes the stains, but it helps keeps your home look great!!!
Contact us for more advice.
