Tips For Cleaning Carpet Stains

Earlier this month, we talked about the importance of acting fast when a spill makes a stain on the carpet. Here are some more tips for getting your carpets back to looking their absolute best.

Acidic Spills

Acid-based carpet stains are fairly common. They result from condiment spills like mustard or ketchup.  Watercolour paints will also leave an acid based stain. Cough syrup spills, and cocktail drink messes are also considered acidic spills.First, an alkaline cleaner like ammonia is needed to neutralize acids. Keep in mind that ammonia is a poison. Make sure that the room you are in is well ventilated and always wear rubber gloves. Never use ammonia on wool. If you have a wool carpet, just use water. Otherwise, you can dilute one tablespoon of ammonia with ½ cup of water and dab the mixture on to the stain with a cloth. Rinse the spot thoroughly and dry the excess moisture with a towel. If you can still see a mark, use a few drops of dish soap in some warm water to blot it. If that doesn’t work, you can try the method below.

Organic & Food Based Stains

For most everyday food stains - things like berries, wine, chocolate, or coffee – hydrogen peroxide will often do the trick. After blotting up the excess moisture dab on some hydrogen peroxide, a 3% solution should be available at any drugstore. Wait for an hour, and apply it again if you need to.Hydrogen peroxide is completely safe, and environmentally sound as well.

Pet Accidents

Urine is alkaline, so an acid is needed to neutralize this carpet stain. White vinegar is good for this. After soaking up everything you can with an old rag, dilute one cup of vinegar with the same amount of water and apply it to the stain. Dry it with a towel and repeat this until the carpet stain is completely gone.

Wax or Oil Spots

Wax from an unchecked dripping candle can seem like a lost cause. One ingenious solution is to set a piece of brown paper towel over the mess, and iron over it on a warm setting. This should melt the wax enough to transfer it onto the paper towel.  Keep repeating the procedure with fresh sheets until the wax is gone.For the oil residue that is left behind - or for other oil stains like those caused by lotions, makeups, or even tar – blot the mark with rubbing alcohol.We hope these tips will assist you in continuing to keep your home as spotless as you please. Of course, if you have a particularly stubborn stain, you should never hesitate to call in a carpet care professional. You would be amazed at what we can do for your carpets.