How to Remove Carpet Stains
It happens! And with kids in the house, it can happen a lot. From simple dirt stains to stubborn Kool-Aid carpet spills, you need to be prepared to remove most any carpet stain fast. How to remove a carpet stain depends upon what has caused the stain. I recommend keeping a few cleaners and a good Wet Vac handy, in order to remove the stain quickly. The best Wet Vac will be a small portable high horsepower (5hp works great) unit.
Thanks to Melissa (a professional carpet cleaner) I have received some great advice on getting stains out, from red Kool-Aid messes to stubborn grease stains. Here are some simple steps for a basic stain (if you are looking to remove a more specific stain check the bottom the article):
Removing Carpet Stains
1. If the stain is fresh, blot the area dry. Avoid scrubbing the area, so you don’t spread the stain around.
2. After removing as much of the liquid as possible, flush the stain out with water. Then blot dry.
3. If your stain is still there, add a mixture of white distilled vinegar and water to the spot (one part vinegar to one part water), and blot dry.
Vinegar makes a good carpet cleaner; it does not have the chemicals that can break down the fibers in your carpet and does not leave a soapy film. Many carpet shampoos will leave a residue on your carpet; this residue will work as a magnet to any dirt that it comes in contact with. If you do turn to a stronger cleaner, make sure you rinse out the soap when you are finished.
One thing to keep in mind is that some stains should be handled differently from others and the faster you try to get the stain out the easier it will be.
Other Stain Removers
Vinegar not strong enough? Here are some other cleaners you might have luck with:
- Borax (1/2 cup) and Vinegar or Water (1 cup)
- Hydrogen Peroxide (1 cup) and Dish Detergent (1 tablespoon)
- Ammonia (1 cup), Vinegar (1 cup) and Water (1 cup)
- OxiClean
More Specific Stains
Red Dye Stains (from Kool-Aid, strawberry pop, Gatorade, etc.)
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