Cleaning Carpet Stain and Removal Tips Using Household Products
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Self Help Carpet Cleaning Tips & Stain Removal
• If spot is wet, blot it, don't rub. Rubbing spreads the soil.
• If spot is dry, loosen soil and vacuum away prior to moistening it.
• Always rinse cleaned area thoroughly. If not removed, cleaning products may cause the cleaned area to attract soil.
• When taking out stains, always use a white cloth.
• Clean spots and stains immediately. You will have much better chance of removing them..
To use the chart below provides instructions on how to treat common stains (please follow preceding instructions first - if applicable):
Types of Carpet Stains |
Solution |
Ball pen (ink) |
Apply Isopropyl rubbing alcohol (grocery store) by pouring some onto a clean, white towel or other cloth. Paper towels can be used as long as they are white. Blot until as much as possible until stain is removed. Be careful. If the stain is small, blot in one direction only so that you do not spread the stain. |
| Beer | Blot with a white paper towel to remove as much of the stain as possible then neutralize with the white vinegar solution. Saturate spot, using a spray bottle and blot to remove excess moisture. After neutralizing, mix one-third cup of white household vinegar with two-thirds cup of water and apply to stain. Blot with white towels. |
| Blood | Blot with white paper towel to remove as much of the stain as possible then neutralize with an ammonia solution. Saturate spot using spray bottle. Do not wet backing. Blot with a white paper towel to remove excess moisture. After neutralizing, mix one-third cup of white household vinegar with two-thirds cup of water and apply to stain. Blot with white towels. All solutions for removing blood must be cool. |
| Candle wax or other types of wax. | Spread brown paper (such as grocery bag) or a terry cloth towel over the area and iron with the setting on "warm." The wax will be absorbed into the paper or towel. Remove any traces with alcohol or dry cleaning fluid. |
| Catsup | Blot with white paper towel to remove as much of the stain as possible then neutralize with an ammonia solution. Saturate spot using spray bottle. Do not wet backing. Blot with a white paper towel to remove excess moisture. After neutralizing, mix one-third cup of white household vinegar with two-thirds cup of water and apply to stain. Blot with white towels. All solutions for removing blood must be cool. |
| Cheese | Blot with white paper towel to remove as much of the stain as possible then neutralize with an ammonia solution. Saturate spot using spray bottle. Do not wet backing. Blot with a white paper towel to remove excess moisture. After neutralizing, mix one-third cup of white household vinegar with two-thirds cup of water and apply to stain. Blot with white towels. All solutions for removing blood must be cool. |
| Chocolate | Blot with white paper towel to remove as much of the stain as possible then neutralize with an ammonia solution. Saturate spot using spray bottle. Do not wet backing. Blot with a white paper towel to remove excess moisture. After neutralizing, mix one-third cup of white household vinegar with two-thirds cup of water and apply to stain. Blot with white towels. All solutions for removing blood must be cool. |
| Chewing gum | Freeze the gum using an ice cube. Shatter the frozen gum with a knife handle and vacuum. Some citrus based products such as De-Solv-It* by Orange-Sol have been demonstrated to break down the sticki- ness of gum so that it can be removed. *De-Solv-It is a registered tredemark of Orange-Sol |
| Coffee | Blot with a white paper towel to remove as much of the stain as possible then neutralize with the white vinegar solution. Saturate spot, using a spray bottle and blot to remove excess moisture. After neutralizing, mix one-third cup of white household vinegar with two-thirds cup of water and apply to stain. Blot with white towels. |
Cooking Oil |
Apply Isopropyl rubbing alcohol (grocery store) by pouring some onto a clean, white towel or other cloth. Paper towels can be used as long as they are white. Blot until as much as possible until stain is removed. Be careful. If the stain is small, blot in one direction only so that you do not spread the stain. |
| Copier material | Vacuum using crevice tool of vacuum cleaner to remove the soot. If all, or most, of the soot has not been removed, call a professional cleaner. If vacuuming has removed all particles remove any trace by applying small amount of dry cleaning solvent or alcohol (available at grocery, drug and hardware stores). Use small amounts to prevent possible damage to sizing, backings or stuffing materials. Do not use gasoline, lighter fluid or other flammables. |
| Cough syrup | Blot with white paper towel to remove as much of the stain as possible then neutralize with an ammonia solution. Saturate spot using spray bottle. Do not wet backing. Blot with a white paper towel to remove excess moisture. After neutralizing, mix one-third cup of white household vinegar with two-thirds cup of water and apply to stain. Blot with white towels. All solutions for removing blood must be cool. |
| Egg, excrement | Remove as much of the stain as possible by using a spoon or dull knife. Blot up as much of the stain as possible, then neutralize by spraying the affected area with the ammonia solution. Care should be taken to remove all protein matter. Blot to remove excess moisture, mix one-third cup of white household vinegar with two-thirds cup of water and apply to stain. Blot with white towels. . |
| Graphite | Vacuum using crevice tool of vacuum cleaner to remove the soot. If all, or most, of the soot has not been removed, call a professional cleaner. If vacuuming has removed all particles remove any trace by applying small amount of dry cleaning solvent or alcohol (available at grocery, drug and hardware stores). Use small amounts to prevent possible damage to sizing, backings or stuffing materials. Do not use gasoline, lighter fluid or other flammables. |
Grease and Oil |
Remove as much as possible with knife AND through blotting. Then apply isopropyl rubbing alcohol (grocery store) by pouring some onto a clean, white towel or other cloth. Paper towels can be used as long as they are white. Blot until as much as possible until stain is removed. Be careful. If the stain is small, blot in one direction only so that you do not spread the stain. |
| Gum | Freeze gum with ice cubes and chip off what you can with the blunt side of a kitchen knife. DeSolveit removes the rest. |
| Ink | Most janitorial companies or department stores carry a product called DeSolvit. WD40 or Orange Clean also work wonders at removing these stubborn stains. Rubbing alcohol removes ink. Blot on, allow to set 30 minutes and blot to remove. Rinse with sudsy water. Magic marker is generally permanent and you may not be able to remove it. |
Lipstick |
Remove as much as possible with blotting then apply isopropyl rubbing alcohol (grocery store) by pouring some onto a clean, white towel or other cloth. Paper towels can be used as long as they are white. Blot until as much as possible until stain is removed. Be careful. If the stain is small, blot in one direction only so that you do not spread the stain. |
| Magic marker | Most janitorial companies or department stores carry a product called DeSolvit. WD40 or Orange Clean also work wonders at removing these stubborn stains. Rubbing alcohol removes ink. Blot on, allow to set 30 minutes and blot to remove. Rinse with sudsy water. Magic marker is generally permanent and you may not be able to remove it. |
Milk |
Remove as much as possible with blotting then apply isopropyl rubbing alcohol (grocery store) by pouring some onto a clean, white towel or other cloth. Paper towels can be used as long as they are white. Blot until as much as possible until stain is removed. Be careful. If the stain is small, blot in one direction only so that you do not spread the stain. |
| Mixed drinks | Blot with white paper towel to remove as much of the stain as possible then neutralize with an ammonia solution. Saturate spot using spray bottle. Do not wet backing. Blot with a white paper towel to remove excess moisture. After neutralizing, mix one-third cup of white household vinegar with two-thirds cup of water and apply to stain. Blot with white towels. All solutions for removing blood must be cool. |
| Mud | Allow mud to dry completely. Shatter the dried mud with the handle of a knife and vacuum. Mix one-third cup of white household vinegar with two-thirds cup of water and apply to stain. Blot with white towels. |
| Nail Polish | Remove as much of the nail polish as possible using a spoon or dull knife. Apply a non oily nail polish remover to a clean white cloth and gently rub (in only one direction at a time) or blot the spot. Continue until spot is removed. Do not allow nail polish remover to get to the latex backing. Mix one-third cup of white household vinegar with two-thirds cup of water and apply to stain. Blot with white towels. |
| Oil | Most janitorial companies or department stores carry a product called DeSolvit. WD40 or Orange Clean also work wonders at removing these stubborn stains. Rubbing alcohol removes ink. Blot on, allow to set 30 minutes and blot to remove. Rinse with sudsy water. |
Paint Stains |
Remove as much as possible with blotting. DO NOT RUB. Then apply isopropyl rubbing alcohol (grocery store) by pouring some onto a clean, white towel or other cloth. Paper towels can be used as long as they are white. Blot until as much as possible until stain is removed. Be careful. If the stain is small, blot in one direction only so that you do not spread the stain. |
| Perfume | Blot with a white paper towel to remove as much of the stain as possible then neutralize with the white vinegar solution. Saturate spot, using a spray bottle and blot to remove excess moisture. After neutralizing, mix one-third cup of white household vinegar with two-thirds cup of water and apply to stain. Blot with white towels. |
Play Doh |
Allow play doh to dry completely if it has been rubbed in. Remove as much as possible with knife. Apply isopropyl rubbing alcohol ( grocery store) by pouring some onto a clean, white towel or other cloth. Paper towels can be used as long as they are white. Blot until as much as possible until stain is removed. Be careful. If the stain is small, blot in one direction only so that you do not spread the stain. |
Red Wine |
Club soda generally removes red wine stains. |
| Red Dye Stains (found in drink mixes, popsicles, dog and cat food) | Remove red dye stains with a 30/70 solution of peroxide to water. Remember, peroxide is bleach, so test an inconspicuous spot first for color fastness. Apply the mixture, wait 30 minutes, then remove as much moisture as possible and rinse with a vinegar/water solution. If the stain remains, add a bit more peroxide to the mixture and retreat. |
| Rust | To remove rust from carpets or other like material, use rubbing alcohol and a clean paper towel. Mix 1 part alcohol with 3 parts water. Put in a spray bottle. Spray the area and blot with paper towels. Repeat until the rust is gone. If no rubbing alcohol is available, you can saturate the spot with lemon juice, using a spray bottle, allow to remain for 5 minutes. To remove the lemon juice, mix one-third cup of white household vinegar with two-thirds cup of water and apply to stain. Blot with white towels. If this does not work, and it may not, call a professional. Most rust removers contain a very strong acid and are, therefore, not recommended for use by homeowners. |
Salad Dressing |
Remove as much as possible with blotting, then apply Isopropyl rubbing alcohol (grocery store) by pouring some onto a clean, white towel or other cloth. Paper towels can be used as long as they are white. Blot until as much as possible until stain is removed. Be careful. If the stain is small, blot in one direction only so that you do not spread the stain. |
| Soft drinks | Blot with white paper towel to remove as much of the stain as possible then neutralize with an ammonia solution. Saturate spot using spray bottle. Do not wet backing. Blot with a white paper towel to remove excess moisture. After neutralizing, mix one-third cup of white household vinegar with two-thirds cup of water and apply to stain. Blot with white towels. All solutions for removing blood must be cool. |
| Soot | Vacuum using crevice tool of vacuum cleaner to remove the soot. If all, or most, of the soot has not been removed, call a professional cleaner. If vacuuming has removed all particles remove any trace by applying small amount of dry cleaning solvent or alcohol (available at grocery, drug and hardware stores). Use small amounts to prevent possible damage to sizing, backings or stuffing materials. Do not use gasoline, lighter fluid or other flammables. |
| Soy sauce | Blot with white paper towel to remove as much of the stain as possible then neutralize with an ammonia solution. Saturate spot using spray bottle. Do not wet backing. Blot with a white paper towel to remove excess moisture. After neutralizing, mix one-third cup of white household vinegar with two-thirds cup of water and apply to stain. Blot with white towels. All solutions for removing blood must be cool. |
Spaghetti Sauce Stain |
Remove as much as possible with blotting. Make a solution of one part of white vinegar with one part of water. Apply to the stain using a spray bottle to saturate. Allow the stain to sit about ten to fifteen minutes. Use a sponge to clean in a rubbing motion. Rinse with warm water. Brush the pile back into the natural direction is has. Using layers of white paper towels, place paper towel on top of area, place a book on top of that. Allow to sit like this until it has dried. |
| Starch | Blot with white paper towel to remove as much of the stain as possible then neutralize with an ammonia solution. Saturate spot using spray bottle. Do not wet backing. Blot with a white paper towel to remove excess moisture. After neutralizing, mix one-third cup of white household vinegar with two-thirds cup of water and apply to stain. Blot with white towels. All solutions for removing blood must be cool. |
| Tea | Blot with a white paper towel to remove as much of the stain as possible then neutralize with the white vinegar solution. Saturate spot, using a spray bottle and blot to remove excess moisture. After neutralizing, mix one-third cup of white household vinegar with two-thirds cup of water and apply to stain. Blot with white towels. |
| Toothpaste | Blot with white paper towel to remove as much of the stain as possible then neutralize with an ammonia solution. Saturate spot using spray bottle. Do not wet backing. Blot with a white paper towel to remove excess moisture. After neutralizing, mix one-third cup of white household vinegar with two-thirds cup of water and apply to stain. Blot with white towels. All solutions for removing blood must be cool. |
| Urine | Remove as much of the stain as possible by using a spoon or dull knife. Blot up as much of the stain as possible, then neutralize by spraying the affected area with the ammonia solution. Care should be taken to remove all protein matter. Blot to remove excess moisture, mix one-third cup of white household vinegar with two-thirds cup of water and apply to stain. Blot with white towels. If you have an enzyme product available, follow these steps. Pour on enough to saturate to the pad and treat an area twice as large as the stain. Urine hits the pad and spreads. Let it set a couple of hours. You'll find enzyme products at pet stores, RV or marine stores. They are used in the holding tanks to dissolve solid material. |
| Water color | Blot with white paper towel to remove as much of the stain as possible then neutralize with an ammonia solution. Saturate spot using spray bottle. Do not wet backing. Blot with a white paper towel to remove excess moisture. After neutralizing, mix one-third cup of white household vinegar with two-thirds cup of water and apply to stain. Blot with white towels. All solutions for removing blood must be cool. |
Wax Stains |
For wax dropped on carpet or upholstery, set a clean, absorbent cloth over the wax stain and hold a hot iron on it. Lift cloth away and the wax should be removed with the cloth. |
| Wine | Blot with a white paper towel to remove as much of the stain as possible then neutralize with the white vinegar solution. Saturate spot, using a spray bottle and blot to remove excess moisture. After neutralizing, mix one-third cup of white household vinegar with two-thirds cup of water and apply to stain. Blot with white towels. Club soda removes red wine stains. |
| White glue | Blot with white paper towel to remove as much of the stain as possible then neutralize with an ammonia solution. Saturate spot using spray bottle. Do not wet backing. Blot with a white paper towel to remove excess moisture. After neutralizing, mix one-third cup of white household vinegar with two-thirds cup of water and apply to stain. Blot with white towels. All solutions for removing blood must be cool. |
Stains that can't be removed |
Acid toilet bowl cleaners, acne medication, alkaline drain cleaners, chlorinated bleaches, hair dyes, iodine, insecticides, mustard with tumeric, plant fer- tilizers and stains of this nature cannot be removed as they have permanently altered the carpet's color. Call a professional. Most likely the only solution is to insert carpet from a closet, or some other area into the area where the spot was cut out. |
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