How To Get Rid Of Stubborn Carpet Stains
You take every possible action to protect your carpet from accidents that may lead to stains and compromise its appearance. Unfortunately, as long as there are humans or pets in the house, carpet stains are bound to occur!
When accidents happen, many people frantically reach for the closes rag to try and remove the stain before it settles, but this may not necessarily be the best stain removal procedure for that particular stain. There are many types of stains and specific cleaning strategies to help get rid of them. Here are some of the most common stain removal techniques:
Coffee
Immediately use paper towels to blot up the excess spill, and then scrub with diluted carpet shampoo. Finally, cover the spot with paper towels and place a weight for 2-3 hours.
If carpet shampoo is not available, use a mixture of vinegar, a non-bleach detergent, and water to rinse repeatedly until the stain disappears.
Fruit juices
Start by blotting up the excess. Prepare a solution of containing one teaspoon of white vinegar and one teaspoon of powdered laundry detergent in one litter (one quart) of warm water, and then use a sponge to clean the stain.
Blood
For fresh stains, blot it up with cold water (warm or hot water causes the stain to permeate into the carpet fibres). If the stain has dried, prepare equal parts of meat tenderizer and cold water, and cover the stain. Allow it to stand for 30 minutes before sponging off with cold water. You can also use a solution of grease-fighting, liquid dish detergent with water to clean the stain.
- Oil, grease, butter, lipstick
Start by blotting up the excess with paper towels, and then sponge with dry-cleaning fluid. It is best to work your stain from the edge-to-centre.
Chewing gum
First, use ice cubes in a plastic bag to freeze the stain. When it hardens, scrape it off with a butter knife and blot using trichloroethylene or dry cleaning fluid.
Pet urine
Start by blotting up the excess. Soak the stain with club soda or vinegar and blot again, and then scrub using diluted carpet shampoo.
Final thoughts
Most carpet stain removal techniques use household cleaners, chemicals, and supplies, though there are numerous carpet cleaning solutions that are specially formulated for certain types of carpet stains. So, if a home remedy does not seem to be effective, check out your local retail store to see if they carry a stain removal product for your type of stain.