04 Mar How to Remove Stains From Carpet
If you’re wondering how to remove stains from carpet, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve all been there — maybe you accidentally spilled wine on your new rug, or your pet decided to do their business on the carpet in your rental apartment. When you have debris or liquid spills, you’ll need to know the best way to take care of them without harming your carpet.
In our carpet stain removal guide, we’ll discuss ways to remove common stains and spills from your carpet and offer effective cleaners to help your carpet return to looking flawless.
How to Get Stains Out of Carpets
It’s essential to clean the stain from your carpet right away when it’s easiest to remove, so it doesn’t become permanent. Whether your carpet has natural or synthetic fibers, there are a few tried-and-true methods you can use to remove stains.
Step 1: Remove Excess Spill
Before removing a stain, clean up any excess spill by blotting the area with a clean, dry white towel. Refrain from rubbing or smearing, which can make the stain harder to remove and possibly saturate the carpet pad.
Step 2: Use a Natural Cleaner/Stain Remover
When you’ve got a mess on your carpet, don’t fret — there are natural carpet stain removers that work for most accidents that you can find in your home. When mixed with water, these can be an effective way to combat messes. These ingredients include:
- White vinegar
- Salt
- Lemon
- Baking soda
- Eco-friendly liquid dish soap
- Cornstarch
- Brown sugar
- Hydrogen peroxide
Test a small amount of your mixture in the corner of your carpet before proceeding. Spray the mixture, wait 20 minutes and call a carpet cleaning company if the spot changes color.
A few DIY carpet stain remover recipes that work for most stains include:
- One tablespoon of dish soap, ¼ cup of white vinegar and water.
- One cup of baking soda, ½ cup of hydrogen peroxide and 1 teaspoon of natural dish liquid.
- Seven tablespoons of brown sugar, 1 ½ cups of lemon and orange peels and 1 liter of water. Citrus is effective against pet stains, grease, yellowing and oxidation that dull your carpet.
When you have tougher stains, use natural products and solutions that aren’t too harsh. After all, you’ll want to get rid of spots without harming the life span and look of your carpet. Natural stain remover products include Puracy, Method and Mrs. Meyers cleaners. These cleaning products work wonders to combat stains while using biodegradable materials and non-toxic ingredients that won’t harm your carpet.
Step 3: Blot the Stain
After determining the method you’d like to use to remove your carpet stain, spray the mixture onto the surface and blot it with a cloth until the stain no longer transfers. Start from the sides of the stain and move to the center so the stain doesn’t spread, and change out your cloth when you have excess spillage so that the transfer doesn’t discolor your carpet further.
For adamant stains, place a heavy object on the damp cloth to hold it down and change out the cloth until the spot is dry. After blotting the stain, rinse the carpet with water to remove any ingredients or cleaner.
Common Stains and How to Remove Them
We’ve included recipes and methods here that target specific stains. Of course, you’ll want to act quickly for the best results and remove excess liquid or debris before applying your mixture.
Blood
Always use cold water instead of warm or hot when treating bloodstains. The cold temperature will prevent the blood from permeating into the fabric, while hot water can cause it to coagulate.
Use 2 teaspoons of natural liquid dish detergent mixed with water and spray it onto the stain. Blot the spot with a cloth to transfer it and rinse with cold water if needed.
Chocolate
There are a few different ways to remove chocolate from your carpet. Effective methods include freezing, heating or applying natural stain removers.
- Freeze method: To remove chocolate with an ice cube, you’ll want to make sure the chocolate is dry. Place a paper towel over the chocolate and put an ice cube on top to speed up the drying process. After this, use a butter knife to gently scrape the chocolate from the surface and vacuum up the particles.
- Heat method: Heat an iron at its lowest setting and place a paper towel over the stain. Gently run the iron over the paper towel without using steam. This method should lift the chocolate by making it stick to the paper towel. Replace the paper towel as many times as needed until residue no longer sticks to it.
- Household cleaners/DIY removal ingredients: Mix ¼ teaspoon of dish soap into a cup of room temperature water. Apply the mixture to the stain and blot from the outside to the center. If you prefer, use a natural cleaner on the stain for a few minutes and blot it with a clean, wet cloth.
Coffee
One DIY method to remove coffee stains involves dish soap, white vinegar and warm water.
- Use 1 tablespoon of liquid dish soap, 1 tablespoon of white vinegar and 2 cups of warm water.
- Combine these ingredients into a bowl and stir the solution.
- Placing the mixture into a spray bottle or apply it directly to your carpet’s surface.
- Blot from the edges of the stain and move inward for the most effective removal.
Dirt
There are multiple ways to remove dirt stains from a carpet, including baking soda, dish soap and water.
- Remove dirt with a vacuum or blot excess debris with a clean cloth.
- Sprinkle baking soda on the stain and scrape the dirt with a spoon or butter knife.
- Use a vacuum to remove the particles.
- Blot the area with water and a paper towel to remove the excess baking soda.
- Apply a mix of dish soap and water to a towel before blotting the area again.
- Rinse the spot with water.
Wine
It can be alarming when you accidentally spill a brightly colored liquid like red wine onto your carpet. Luckily, there’s an easy solution to get rid of wine stains on your carpet.
- Mix a cup of hydrogen peroxide with ½ teaspoon of dish soap.
- Use a light-colored towel to dab the solution onto the stain.
- Let the cloth sit on the stain for five to 10 minutes.
- Absorb the wine and cleaning solution with a clean towel and rinse with water.
Pet Stains
Even well-trained pets can cause accidents from time to time. There are multiple ways to remove these stains, so choose the one you think will work the best depending on the mess.
- Quickly blot urine as soon as you notice it or stand on a few layers of paper towels for deep absorption.
- Mix 2 cups of vinegar, 2 cups of warm water and 4 tablespoons of baking soda.
- Apply the mixture to your stain and blot to remove the stain.
If the stain has already dried, you’ll want to moisten the area to remove it effectively. For vomit, use 2 cups of warm water, 1 tablespoon of salt, 1 tablespoon of dish soap and a half cup of vinegar.
Nail Polish
Avoid acetone for nail polish stains since these chemicals can damage your carpet. Instead, mix liquid dish soap with warm water. Be careful not to scrub the stain or spread it, and blot it until it completely disappears.
