Spills on your carpet are an everyday occurrence. But they can cause lasting damage and permanent discoloration if you don’t handle them properly and on time.
To prevent this, our experts in Dallas have discussed some of the best ways to remove common carpet stains. It will help you effectively remove the stains from your carpet and make it look spotless.
Ways to Remove Common Carpet Stains
⇒ Coffee Stains
Coffee stains are amongst the most common carpet stains. But they can leave long-lasting spots and cause discoloration if you don’t treat them on time, especially if you spill them hot.
So start by blotting the stain immediately with some rags and absorb all the excessive liquid. You can use your body weight and stand on the rag for maximum absorption, but be careful and avoid scrubbing.
Make a cleaning solution by mixing 2-3 drops of dishwashing detergent in 2 cups of warm water and spray it on the stained area. Wait a few minutes, then spray cold water and blot the stain again. Let the area dry undisturbed, and repeat if the stain resurfaces.
⇒ Wine Spills
Wine is another common item people spill on their carpets during parties and get-togethers. Like coffee stains, wine spills are also easy to tackle if you handle them quickly.
For fresh wine spills, pour some club soda over them and blot them with a dry microfiber cloth till you get all the wine out. But for more mature stains, make a mixture of water and isopropyl alcohol and spray it on the stained area.
Blot the solution using paper towels to get wine out of the carpet. Repeat with cold water and blot dry.
⇒ Pet Urine
Pet urine stains are a bit trickier to handle, as along with stains, they also leave a distinct musty odor that makes your carpet smell unpleasant. To remove fresh urine stains, you can use a solution of water and vinegar in equal parts.
But for old and dried urine stains, make a solution of 1 part hydrogen peroxide and 4 part water. Spray it on the carpet areas soiled by urine. Wait for a while and blot it with a clean cloth. Dry the area thoroughly to prevent lingering odor.
If the odor persists, sprinkle baking soda over the stained area, let it sit for a few hours, and vacuum it after that. You can use specialized enzymatic cleaners to remove musty odor from your carpet.
⇒ Oil and Grease Stains
Eating on the carpet or near it can leave lots of greasy stains on the carpet that can be hard to get rid of. However, you can remove the oil stains by spraying an absorbent powder like baking soda, cornstarch, or talcum powder.
They will absorb the grease from the carpet and make it easier to remove. Then, spray a mixture of water and dishwashing liquid to loosen the oil particles from the carpet fibers, and after a while, blot the area with cold water to remove excess solution and grease.
⇒ Ink Stains
Ink spots are a common sight on both residential and commercial carpets. So, when dealing with ink stains, you have to use different methods for different ink styles.
→ Ballpoint ink
Get two bottles of hairspray and spray some over the stain. After some time, blot the hair spray with paper towels and let it dry.
→ Permanent Ink
Saturate the stain with rubbing alcohol. Then, blot with a clean, dry cloth to transfer the ink to the towel. Continue to blot till the stain disappears, and finally, dab with a cloth moistened with lukewarm water.
→ Water-based Ink Stains
Make a cleaning solution by mixing one teaspoon of dishwashing liquid and lukewarm water. Dab a cloth into the solution and moisten it a bit. Then, blot the ink stain with a paper towel until the ink stain disappears.
These tips and tricks will help you tackle the common carpet stains that every household experiences. But before using any type of cleaning solution on your carpet, homemade or otherwise, test it on a hidden area of carpet for any signs of damage and discoloration, and avoid using cleaners that harm your carpet.
