Getting Stains Out of Carpets.

How To Remove Berry Stains

What is a fruit stain? There are plenty of stains that fall into the fruit category. If you find that you have any of these stains on your carpet, follow the recommended procedures below.

• Food products that contain fruit products including candies, cookies and pastries.
• Fruit juices of all types including apple, orange, cranberry, cherry and other types of fruit juices.
• Fresh fruit that has been dropped onto the carpeting that is either smashed or has left a mark on the carpet.

Berry and Fruit Stain Removal

The first thing to do is get your supplies together. You may need a variety of items depending on the stain:

• clean towels
• spoon
• club soda
• white vinegar
• detergent
• hydrogen peroxide

Step One – Clean up the Debris and Liquids

If there is any fruit pulp, carefully pick this up with a spoon before moving on. Then use a clean cloth to blot up the liquid from the carpeting. Do not rub as this will cause the stain to get larger and set even farther into the carpet, making it harder to get out. Blot until all of the liquid has been absorbed.

Step Two – Make a Cleaning Solution and Apply to Carpet

Mix one teaspoon of non bleach liquid dish detergent with one cup of warm water (not hot water). Do not use anything that has bleach in the product as this will cause additional staining. Apply to the stained are (wet the area but do not over saturate the area). Let this sit for at least five minutes.

When it’s time carefully blot up the detergent cleaning solution, carefully get down into the carpet fiber to blot any remaining color. Again, do not rub. Working from the outside of the stain in towards the middle can help not spread the stain.

Step Three – Rinse With Clean Water and Let Dry

With clean water, apply a little to the area to remove any detergent solution and blot as dry as you can. Place a clean towel over the area until dry.

If the Berry Stain is Gone

If the steps above for cleaning and removing the berry stain has worked and it’s gone, then yeah, that’s awesome. Vacuum the area and enjoy the rest of your day.

If There is Still Staining After Cleaning

If there is still some staining left, you can try using hydrogen peroxide. Test in inconspicuous spot on the carpet first to see how it reacts. If all is good, apply the hydrogen peroxide to the remaining stain. Work it carefully in to the stained area. Cover with a clean towel for at least 30 minutes then check the progress. Repeat this step if necessary. There is no need to rinse the hydrogen peroxide, just cover until dry then vacuum.

You can also try white vinegar to remove remaining stain. Just mix together 1/4 cup white vinegar with one cup warm water (not hot water). Use same steps as hydrogen peroxide above.

Wine: We Love To Drink It, Hate To Clean It

Wine can instantly cause a stain on your carpet and is generally spilled from a higher level which means it can make a larger, more noticeable stain. If you have a wine stain on your carpet, you need to work quickly. Here are some tips to think about:

• Carefully blot up as much of the stain as you can.
• Pour club soda over the stain (do not over saturate).
• Pour salt over the club soda as this will work to stop the stain from setting.
• Let sit for about 15 to 20 minutes.
• Use the hose attachment to vacuum up the salty solution.
• Rinse with clean water and blot again.
• Cover with clean towel until dry.

In the End

There are many stains that come out slowly and that may require multiple attempts before the stain is gone. Don’t give up. That being said, not all stains will be successfully removed and you may need to call in a professional who can match and dye a permanent stain.