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Carpet Stain Removal It’s inevitable, and everyone faces it sooner or later. A stain mysteriously (or not so mysteriously) appears on your carpeting, and it seems as if the entire room is focused on the spot. But with prompt action and some simple steps, most spots can be removed, and your carpeting returned to its original beauty.
If a stain occurs, quick action is essential. No carpeting is completely stain proof, although many are stain resistant. The stain resistant carpets allow more time for you to act, but the sooner you address the stain problem, the better your results will be.
First, remove as much of the staining material (food, wine, oil, etc.) as possible by very gently scraping the spill with a teaspoon or a dull knife. Don’t rub hard; you may damage the fibers, or force more of the stain into the carpet. If the spill is wet, absorb as much of it as possible by blotting the wet spot with clean white paper or cloth towels. Avoid using towels with synthetic fibers, as they are not as absorbent, and again may push the staining substance deeper in the carpet.
When blotting, work from the outside of the edge in toward the center. This will prevent the stain from spreading. And be careful not to rub, scour or scrape with the cloth; blotting will collect more moisture than scrubbing, and the vigorous action of rubbing may result in a fuzzy or worn looking surface.
When as much as possible of the stain has been lifted or blotted away, you can remove the rest of the stain with simple household solutions. A mild solution of a liquid detergent (no more than one half tablespoon to one gallon of water) is recommended by most carpet manufacturers. Always test any cleaning solution on a discreet section of the carpet before treating the stain to make sure it will not discolor the fibers. Clear detergents are preferred over creamy or oily appearing ones, as they leave less residue. Using a clean white cloth again, dab the stain with the detergent solution, penetrating the stained carpet, and again blot the wet area with a clean dry cloth. Repeat this process until all the stain is removed. A solution of one tablespoon of ammonia in one cup of water can also be used, but should never be used on wool or wool blend carpets. Do not use any other household cleaners on the stain, especially ones containing bleach, since many contain chemicals that may permanently damage your carpet.
After the stain is removed, clean the spot area again with clear water. This will remove any of the detergent residue that may remain on the carpet. If it is not removed, the residue may become sticky and cause a new spot in the same place.
When all that is left of the stain is a wet spot, place several layers of white paper or cloth towels over the spot, and weight the towels with something heavy that will not transfer color, such as a plastic water jug. This will help absorb all the moisture left in the fibers. Wool fibers will hold more moisture (and hold it longer) than synthetic fibers, so be patient with the process to get all the moisture out.
If the stain does not respond to the mild detergent, you can use any number of commercial spot removers for specific offenders, such a chewing gum remover, non-oily nail polish remover, or spot removers designed specifically for grease, oil or tar. These are available in most hardware and home improvement stores; be sure to follow their specific directions carefully. If the stain persists, check with your carpeting retailer, who can advise you on professional cleaners who may be able to rescue your carpet.
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