Whether your carpet has been stained by coffee, ink, or juice, it’s best to attack the spill as quickly as possible. Left unattended, stains can penetrate the carpet pad, leading to mildew and mold growth. Removing stains from your carpet right away will extend its life, ensuring that you’re able to continue to enjoy your beautiful floors for years to come.
Before You Begin
For most types of carpet, the following instructions will work wonders. However, if you have specialty carpeting – such as wool – check the manufacturer’s care instructions prior to cleaning. Try to clean the spill up quickly, before the liquid has a chance to soak all the way through to the pad. Be sure not to scrub the stain – it can ruin the carpet fibers.
Dirt
Use your vacuum to capture as much of the dirt as you can, then soak a white cloth in a solution of ¼ teaspoon liquid dishwashing detergent per 1 cup of lukewarm water, and dab the stain repeatedly. Once the stain has lifted, absorb the excess liquid with a dry white cloth. Soak another white cloth in lukewarm water and dab repeatedly to rinse.
Chewing Gum
Gently rub the gum with ice until the stain hardens, then shatter it with a blunt object, such as a spatula, and vacuum up the chips. Soak a white cloth in detergent solution, and blot repeatedly until any remaining stain disappears. Rinse by blotting with a cloth soaked in lukewarm water.
Coffee Stains
Use a cloth to soak up as much of the coffee as possible. Then, combine one tablespoon of liquid dish soap, one tablespoon of white vinegar, and two cups of warm water. Use a clean, white cloth to dab the stain with the mixture, applying a little bit at a time, and blotting repeatedly with a dry cloth until the stain disappears. Finally, dab with cold water and blot dry.
Pet Urine
Soak a white cloth in detergent solution and blot repeatedly, pressing the cloth on the spot for a few seconds. Wait 15 minutes, then soak up the excess liquid with a dry white cloth. Soak a cloth in a solution of one part white vinegar to three parts water, and dab repeatedly – pressing the cloth on the stain for a few seconds. Once the carpet has dried completely, if the stain is still present, repeat the previous steps until it disappears.
Oil And Wax
Place a paper towel over the carpet, and iron on warm setting. The oil or wax will loosen and adhere to the paper towel.
Ballpoint Pen Ink
Use a clean white cloth to blot the stain with a mixture of one tablespoon of liquid dish soap, one tablespoon of white vinegar, and two cups of warm water. Repeat as needed until the stain disappears. Rinse by blotting with a cloth soaked in lukewarm water.
Grape Juice
Blot the stain with a clean, dry cloth to remove as much of the juice as possible. Then, dampen a clean cloth with club soda, and blot the stain, working from the outside in until it disappears. Cover any remaining stain with a sprinkling of table salt, and vacuum it up when dry.
Cigarette Burns
Gently scrape the pile with the edge of a hard, flat surface, such as a butter knife.
Even if you’ve taken every precaution by mats on both sides of each entry door, banning permanent markers, and keeping shoes outside. Yet inevitably, it happens. Sippy cups filled with grape juice slip away from little hands, your dinner guest drops the gravy bowl, or poor Fido just can’t wait any longer. Before you panic and start scrubbing that carpet, use these simple tips to keep your carpets clean.