Keeping your carpets clean and stain-free is impossible. That’s because occasional spills are inevitable while foot traffic can’t be stopped altogether. This is especially true in households with more members or kids and pets running all over the place!
Fortunately, it is fairly simple to remove stains from your carpet if you know the right methods to follow. For that, you’ve certainly come to the right place! Today, we are sharing tried and tested, easy-to-follow methods to remove different types of carpet stains. Read on!
How to Remove Natural Carpet Stains
(Dust, mud, dirt, etc)
These natural stains are typically mild in nature, and occur regularly. Unless they are severe or have had time to set, most of the dried stain can be vacuumed up while the rest, removed with mild soap and water.
Here is a quick step-by-step guide to remove natural stains from carpet:
Blot the stain with paper towels (if it is wet or damp). Allow the dirt/mud to dry up completely, and then vacuum the spot.
Make a carpet stain remover consisting of liquid dish soap (1 teaspoon) and cool water (2 cups).
Take a clean, white cloth, dip a part of it into the solution, and squeeze out excess water. Use the dampened cloth to gently wipe and lift the stain.
Finish off by blotting the area with paper towels, and allow it to air dry.
No carpet stain causes more panic among homeowners than one caused by food or drink! Perhaps it is the vibrant colours of the stains that scare people, or simply the misconception that beverage/food stains on carpet are impossible to remove. Well, we are here to tell you otherwise!
Use the method below to remove different kinds of carpet stains left by an accidental beverage or food spill:
Pick off chunks or bits (if any) so that you are only left with a liquid stain.
Absorb as much of the stain as possible with paper towels (blot, don’t scrub).
If you don’t have a carpet cleaning product, mix 2 tablespoons of fabric detergent in 2-3 cups of water; adjust the strength of the stain remover according to the severity of the stain.
A white hand towel or absorbent cloth should be used to clean the carpet stain as it needs to be lifted as opposed to dissolved. Dampen the cloth with the solution and wipe the stain gently in circular motions; be sure not to use the same side of the cloth when the stain begins to transfer onto the cloth.
Soak up moisture from the carpet with paper towels.
Repeat steps 4 and 5 until the stain is removed.
If needed, allow the carpet to dry completely before repeating the steps.
How to Remove Oil/Grease Stains from Carpet
(Oils, grease, butter, body lotion, lipstick, salad dressing, etc)
A lot of homeowners believe carpets with grease or oil-based stains are a lost cause and therefore, do not even attempt to remove them. While old carpet stains caused by oil or grease may require professional cleaning techniques, if you act sooner than later, you just might be able to remove the stains yourself.
Take a look at our stain removal method for oil and grease carpet stains:
Dampen a clean, white cloth with a dry cleaning solvent such as glycol ethers or perchloroethylene, otherwise known as ‘perc’.
Blot the stain and observe how much of it is getting removed before using another side of the cloth (or a fresh one altogether).
Continue cleaning the carpet stain using more of the solvent if needed.
After 5 minutes of removing the stain, gently wipe over the area with a clean, damp cloth to rinse off the solvent.
After the carpet dries, check if any discolouration remains and repeat the stain removal process one more time.
Be sure to allow the carpet to dry before repeating the steps.
Bear in mind that removing different types of stains from your carpet requires patience and, oftentimes, the need to repeat steps or the entire method depending on how old the stains are, and the severity of them. Nevertheless, these are tried and tested carpet stain removal methods so the next time you see ugly marks on your favourite carpet, use the cleaning guides above to get rid of them!
