How To Remove Carpet Stains

Carpet Stain Removal Tips

Enjoy clean and beautiful looking carpets. No more stains, no more odor! Learn proven ways to remove carpet stains throughout the house.

Have you noticed that your carpet is looking a little drab? Does it look old and tired with too many stains? Unfortunately, this problem is very common. Carpet sales are big business for this very reason.

However, before you run out and spend a fortune to replace stained carpet, you might consider trying to remove the stains first. Many times, people will end up with stains caused by pet urine, coffee, lipstick, chocolate, grease, and other things that are believed impossible to remove.

In truth, some stains are difficult to get rid of but with the appropriate methods or products, you would be amazed at how you can transform and revitalize your carpeting.

This article will teach you a number of methods on how to remove carpet stains so you can once again have beautiful, new-looking carpet. Most stains like those mentioned and many more, can be removed and to the point where your carpeting will look amazing.

Removing Coffee Stains From Carpet

Coffee and other drink stains are common for carpets. People get in a hurry, bump into something, kids play, and soon, spills happen.

To remove carpet stains caused by coffee, as well as tea, wine, and grape juice, start by blotting up as much of the liquid as you possibly can, using a white towel or paper towels. In fact, if you have a wet or shop vacuum, that would be he perfect solution.

Once you have the excess liquid absorbed, sprinkle the stain with your choice of tonic water, 7-Up, or club soda. Make sure you use a liberal amount and then let the liquid stand for about five minutes.

Next, take a clean white towel or paper towel and again blot to remove the liquid. You might even consider standing on the towel to apply some weight, which will help. Repeat the cleaning process as many times as necessary to remove the moisture. Finally, rinse the area with clean water, using a fresh towel to go through the blotting process again to remove excess liquid.

Another great way to remove carpet stains caused by coffee is to create a mixture of one-quarter teaspoon dishwashing soap such as Dawn or Sunlight, with one quart of warm water. Using just a small amount of the solution, work it into the stain.

Go back to the towel procedure of blotting up the moisture and the stain will disappear. One other option is to sprinkle the coffee stain with 3% hydrogen peroxide, letting it stand for four to six hours. At that point, blot up as much of the peroxide as you can and then reapply more, letting it stand this time overnight. In the morning, blot off any excess peroxide, blotting one final time. You will be amazed at how great your carpet looks.

Removing Oil, Tar, and Crayon Stains From Carpet

If you have small children, chances are you have crayon marks somewhere on your carpeting. Perhaps you live in a construction zone where roads are being worked on and you notice tar or you might simply have areas where greasy food has dropped, leaving an unwanted stain. Regardless of the case, all three of these problems can be removed using the same techniques. These steps will show you how to remove carpet stains, giving your room a new appearance.

For starters, we suggest you apply a dry cleaning solvent onto a slightly damp, terrycloth or cotton towel (a white towel is best). Use the moisture on the towel to blot and to remove as much of the stain as possible. Many times, the stain will come right up but if not, you may need to repeat the cleaning process several times. Do not be discouraged if you do because oil, tar, and crayon can be stubborn.

After you notice the stain disappearing, rinse the area well with clean, warm water. By using a white towel, you will be able to see when the stain no longer appears on it, giving you a good indication that it is no longer in the carpet. You can also try rubbing alcohol, also applying it to a clean white towel. With this, if the spot is deep in the carpet pile, then blot until the stain is removed. The key with using alcohol is to avoid using too much. The reason is that if alcohol penetrates carpet backing, it can damage or destroy the latex bond. Now, to remove the carpet stain if it is on the surface only, rub going in just one direction and stop once the stain is gone.

Another great tip for removing carpet stains from oil, tar, or crayon is to use one-quarter teaspoon of dishwashing detergent (without lanolin or bleach) with one-quarter water. Using the blotting motion and a clean, white towel, the stain should come right up. When done, spray the area with clean water to rinse, again blotting to remove the excess liquid. When dry, vacuum as usual and enjoy a clean carpet.

Get Rid of Chocolate and Ice Cream Stains From Carpet

Two other common types of stains are chocolate and ice cream, especially in carpeted kitchens, dining rooms, and family rooms. To remove carpet stains such as these, start by scraping off any excess stain. Sometimes, chocolate and ice cream will dry, leaving behind a raised residue. You want to get this off first before working on the stain underneath. Next, make a mixture of one-teaspoon dishwashing soap and one cup of warm water.

Take a clean, white towel and moisten it with the detergent mixture. Apply to the stain and blot (do not rub) to remove as much of the stain as possible. More than likely, you will need to repeat the cleaning process several times to get the stain up so be patient. Once you find that no more chocolate or ice cream transfers to the cloth rinse the area with clean water, again blotting to get up any leftover moisture.

As mentioned, carpets will get dirty from everyday use. To replace carpeting is expensive and most often, you can remove carpet stains and make a huge difference in how your carpet looks and feels. Therefore, before you make a major investment, try it.