Tips to Remove Carpet Stains
With today’s new stain-resistant treatments, and the ability clean them with a bigger variety of cleaners- Carpet stains are becoming a thing of the past. But what do you do when the stains just won’t come out? Or what if your carpet is older or untreated?
The first and most important tip to remember when removing stains from carpet is to blot, not rub at spills or stains. Rubbing them helps ensure that they stay, and also contributes to a break-down of carpet fibers- which kills a carpet’s longevity.
When you get a spill, first blot it with a clean cloth to remove any excess wetness and as much of the stain as possible. Once you’ve done this, you can rinse the area again with water, and repeat the process. This will get out as much of the stain as possible, without using chemical or other types of products on your carpeting.
A word of warning- When dealing with bloodstains or other bodily fluids, use caution. You can usually use peroxide on blood stains, but keep in mind that you should spot-test a hidden area first, to ensure that the peroxide won’t damage your carpet.
When dealing with pudding, jelly, peanut butter, and other types of semi-solids, scrape as much off the surface of the carpet with a putty knife or spoon, and then rinse the stain and blot dry. Repeat the process as many times as necessary to remove the stain. BLOT, do NOT rub!
If you are dealing with a semi-solid or solid that has already dried, break it up as well as possible, then using your regular vacuum cleaner, vacuum up the pieces. After you’ve done this, you can then rinse with water and blot at the stain. Don’t put water on dried solids on carpet, this will cause them to become even more embedded in your carpet.
Anytime you have a stain that you aren’t sure what to use to get out, it’s always a good idea to start out with just water to remove it. If you wish to try a carpet-cleaning solvent or other type of cleaner, make sure you follow all directions on the container. When using a cleaner or solvent to remove stains from carpet, start blotting on the outer edges of the stain and work your way inward- this will help prevent any spreading of the stain.
Remember that not all stains will come out of carpet, there are some stains that will remain permanent. Likewise, know what is safe to use on your carpet and what isn’t, some carpeting that is made from natural fibers should not be cleaned in certain ways. Carpets with special or unusual dyes can present a challenge. If you are unsure about your carpet, find an area on the carpet that is out of site to test any cleaning methods on prior to using on stains.
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November 4th, 2009 at 3:05 am
Thanks for providing this very informative information. It’s a great hints to some carpet users on how to remove some carpet stain by their own!