Getting Stains Out of Carpet

Removing stains from carpets may appear a daunting task. In some cases, it can indeed be difficult, but, a basic idea about the right methods may help you a lot in accomplishing this job. You may either go for store-bought carpet stain removal products or try home remedies for this purpose. In some cases, you may be provided with special cleaning products, by the manufacturer.

How to Get Stains Out of Carpet

Carpets are among one of the most common household surfaces that are prone to sustain stains. While it is always advisable to get the expensive carpets cleaned by professionals, in case of others, you may try home remedies or store-bought stain removal products. One of the golden rules about carpet stain removal is to act fast and blot out the stains with clean paper towels. You should not resort to wiping or washing.

Pet Stains

If you have pets at home, your carpet may be a victim of stains from vomit, urine and even mud from outside. Carpets may be the best places for your pet to relieve themselves. If they are fresh, you have to blot out the fluid with clean paper towels. If the stain is composed of solid materials, remove them as soon as possible. Once done, you may start with your stain removal methods. Baking soda is one of the home remedies for getting stains out of carpet. All you have to do is sprinkle some baking soda over the stained area and let it sit for a few hours. You can vacuum the area, as the baking soda gets dry. This is one of the best methods to effectively remove the stains as well as the offending odor. You may also use white vinegar or rubbing alcohol for this purpose. In such cases, apply white vinegar/rubbing alcohol and blot it. You may repeat with this process, if the stains are stubborn. For getting rid of carpet stains caused by mud, apply some shaving cream and blot them after some time.

Blood Stains

Apart from pet stains, a carpet may get stained from spilled coffee, wine, ink, gum, tea, blood, grease, wax, and a host of other household materials. The following are some of the easy solutions for dealing with blood stains on carpet. In case of blood stains, blot them out and spray the stained part with a solution made of one tablespoon of ammonia and half cup of cool water. Repeat blotting after a few minutes and follow it with spraying a solution of one quart water and ¼ teaspoon bleach-free dish detergent. Blot the stains once again and rinse with a spray of plain cool water, before blotting and drying. If the stain is still there, spray a small amount of 3% hydrogen peroxide and let it sit for a few hours, before blotting, rinsing and drying. In order to remove gum from carpet, application of peanut butter is found to be effective. Mix the peanut butter with the gum, using a spoon and remove it after some time. This is said to be one of the effective methods for getting stains out of carpet.

Coffee and Wine Stains

If you are worried about removing carpet stains caused by coffee or wine, then, the following methods may prove helpful. One of the easy methods for getting coffee stains out of carpet, is to spray soda water and blot them. Repeat with the blotting, if necessary. You may also blot the stain with a solution of water and dish detergent or with white vinegar. For ink stain removal, non aerosol hair sprays are used commonly for stain removal from carpets. Even milk may sometimes prove effective in removing ink stains. All you have to do is to spray some milk and blot them. You may prepare a carpet stain removal solution by mixing half cup of lukewarm water with a tablespoon of isopropyl rubbing alcohol and apply it on the stains. Blot and remove the stains. In case of wine stains, you may resort to 3% hydrogen peroxide or white vinegar.

In short, getting stains out of carpet may not sound an easy task, but it is not impossible, if you know the right methods. As stated above, don't try any of these remedies on expensive carpets. In such cases, it is better to seek the help of professionals. If the manufacturer of the carpet has provided any special cleaning solution, then also, you must not resort to other remedies, but use the one provided for the purpose. It may also happen that some carpets come with instructions about carpet cleaning and stain removal. So follow the necessary instructions, instead of trying any home remedies. As a precautionary measure, try the remedies on some inconspicuous spot on the carpet, before. If the solution is causing any damage, then, refrain from using it.