Carpet Stain Solutions
It’s unavoidable. If you have carpet, you are going to have spills. But fear not. Help is out there. We turned to the DIY enthusiasts from the bookshelf who have a vareity of recommendations to remove stains from carpets.
Jump Ahead
- Carpet Cleaning Best Practices
- Blood Stains
- Chewing Gum
- Grease Stains
- Lipstick Stains
- Red Wine Stains
- References
Carpet Cleaning Best Practices
Regarding carpet cleaning, there are certain best practices to avoid damage and keep your carpet looking its best, regardless of the stain.
- Always test any cleaning method in an inconspicuous area to ensure that the cleaning method does not damage the carpet fibers or lift the carpet color.
- Use a clean, white, absorbent cloth or paper towels. Colored cloths could transfer dye to the carpet.
- Blot the stain. Do not rub or scrub it, as this could damage the fibers.
- Work any stain from the outside inward to avoid spreading the stain further.
Blood Stains
Jeff Bredenberg, author of 2001 Amazing Cleaning Secrets, advises that cold water may be all that is necessary if the stain is fresh. He recommends spraying the stain with cold water and blotting with a clean, white towel, repeating until it’s clean. [1]
2,001 Amazing Cleaning Secrets
Dried blood stains are much harder to remove. Gill Chilton, author of Cleaning and Stain Removal for Dummies, suggests putting glycerine on the spot as a “longshot.” Allowing it to sit and dry for an hour may soften the stain sufficiently to treat it with carpet shampoo. [2]
Cleaning and Stain Removal for Dummies
Removing Chewing Gum from the Carpet
Knowing how to remove gum from the carpet requires a two-step process. First, you need to deal with the sticky mess. Second, you need to address the artificial coloring. Bill Marken, author of How to Fix (just about) Everything, suggests the following steps to make the job easier. [3]
- First, scrape up as much gum as possible, vacuuming any loose pieces.
- Next, fill a small plastic bag with ice and rub over the remaining gum until it is frozen—Chip away the frozen gum with a spoon or spatula.
- Dabbing a small amount of dry cleaning fluid should dissolve any remaining gum.
- Finally, mix 1/4 teaspoon of mild dish detergent with one cup of warm water and blot on the area until clean. Rinse thoroughly.
How to Fix (Just About) Everything
Grease Stains
Mike and Kate Jones, authors of The Stain Book, remove grease from carpets by applying a small amount of dry cleaning solvent to the area, blotting it off, and then rinsing it. If residue is still present, they suggest applying baking soda, allowing it to absorb the stain, and then vacuuming it off. [4]
Lipstick Stains
Anne Marie Soto, author of Stain Rescue! The A-Z Guide to Removing Smudges, Spots & Other Spills, shares these tips for removing lipstick from carpeting. Using a clean, white cloth, sponge the stain with dry cleaning solvent and blot until absorbed. Continue until the stain disappears or no longer soaks into the cloth. If the stain remains, make a solution of one tablespoon of white vinegar, one tablespoon of liquid hand dishwashing detergent, and two cups of warm water. Sponge the stain with the solution and blot until it is absorbed. Sponge with cold water and blot dry. [5]
Good Housekeeping Stain Rescue!: The A-Z Guide to Removing Smudges, Spots & Spills
Red Wine Stains
Linda Cobb, author of How the Queen Cleans Everything, suggests using club soda for red wine stains. In fact, she recommends keeping it on hand for many carpet spills, such as coffee, tea, pop, Kool-Aid, and more. According to Cobb, pour the club soda liberally on the spill and blot it with an old rag until it is absorbed and the stain is gone. [6]
How the Queen Cleans Everything
References
- [1] Bredenberg, Jeff. 2,001 Amazing Cleaning Secrets. United States, Reader’s Digest, 2004.
- [2] Chilton, Gill. Cleaning and Stain Removal for Dummies. Germany, Wiley, 2004.
- [3] Marken, Bill. How to Fix (just About) Everything. United States, Free Press, 2002.
- [4] The Stain Book. N.p., Phoenix Internet Solutions.
- [5] Soto, Anne Marie. Stain Rescue! The A-Z Guide to Removing Smudges, Spots & Other Spills. United States, Hearst Books, 2007.
- [6] Cobb, Linda. How the Queen Cleans Everything: Handy Advice for a Clean House, Cleaner Laundry, a. United Kingdom, Atria Books, 2002.
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