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DIY Tips for Removing Carpet Stains

READ ALL THE TEXT BEFORE STARTING THE REMOVAL PROCEDURE.

Ionic Fresh provides Carpet Steam Cleaning, stain and Pet Odor removal, done right, safe and Affordable, South Bend, Mishawaka, Granger, Elkhart, Niles.

We offer these only as helpful guidelines. Ionic Fresh assumes no liability for the outcome. It’s important first to give priority to the manufacturer's carpet stain removal guideline if it is available. It's a good idea to test carpet cleaning agents in an inconspicuous area. After applying, blot the damp area with a white terry cloth and look for color loss transferred to the cloth. Also, watch for color distortion in the yarn.

The majority of carpets in the U.S. have stable dyes. The same is true for high quality, machine made rugs. Some yarns are unfortunately not colorfast. Handmade rugs and inexpensive machine made rugs have a higher occurrence of bleeding dyes. These home remedies are for carpets and rugs with colorfast dyes.

Factors

The following factors affect the success of stain removal:

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the type of carpet stain

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the length of time the carpet stain has set

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the type of yarn used to construct your carpet

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the presence of stain-resistance properties in the carpet yarn

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the types of removal procedures that have been unsuccessfully used thus far

Spills that come from animal products and plant products respond differently. Some carpet stains are water soluble or solvent soluble; while, other products are not soluble. Some spots alter the pH of the carpet significantly and need to be neutralized. Timing is also important in successful carpet stain removal. Generally, the sooner a stain is dealt with, the more likely the stain can be removed. Furthermore, different types of carpet yarns (nylon, olefin, wool, etc.) differ in their ability to resist stains. For example, olefin has a built in dye and can even resist bleach. Carpet yarns with stain-resistance properties improve the likelihood that stains can be successfully removed. However, no carpet is stain proof, including the name brand, stain-resistant products. Finally, we warn you that unsuccessful attempts to remove a carpet stain with some cleaning agents can set the stain thereby hindering future efforts. If you are in any doubt, feel free to contact us.

Techniques

Please use the following techniques when removing the stain:

Work from the outside of the carpet stain to the center.

Never scrub the carpet. A back and forth motion can distort the carpet tufts very quickly. Attempt to remove all the stain by blotting. If you need to rub the carpet, gently brush or stroke the carpet pile in one direction about 10 times and then brush the opposite direction 10 times. Alternate the direction a few times. The less brushing the better.

Make the application of water and carpet cleaning agents with a clean spray bottle if possible. A great alternative is to apply the cleaning solutions to a clean white towel, and blot with the towel. Do not pour cleaning agents directly on the stain. Do not soak the carpet when using cleaning agents. If solvent cleaning agents get to the carpet backing, they may cause delamination (i.e., the separation of the primary and secondary backing).

Repeat steps that are the most effective at removing the stain. It is not necessary to exercise every step. In fact, the less steps, the better. You should always end with the rinsing step.

Neutralizing or counterbalancing chemicals can create offense odors and irritating fumes. Avoid breathing such fumes if they occur.

Never use bleach or similar products to remove stains. (There are rare exceptions to this guideline.) Read the instructions carefully for any product you decide to use.

Cleaning Tools that May Be Needed

A wet and dry vacuum cleaner is ideal for stain removal work. Use a clean, dry white towel as an alternative. If your vacuum cleaner is designed for dry carpet cleaning only, do not vacuum the stained area until the removal procedure is finished and the carpet is dry. Spoon, a large one usually works best. White towels, should be clean and colorfast. Paper towels can be used as an alternative. Warm clean water, will be used for the rinsing.

Most carpet stains can be removed with the following common household products.

Shaving Cream

Regular shaving cream is the most versatile and the best of all these wannabe carpet stain removers. Essentially, shaving cream is a form of whipped soap. The foam lathers up, penetrating and moisturizing almost any stain. All you need to do with a spill is wet the spot with warm water, squirt on and rub in some shaving cream, then rinse the area clean with cool water. If you catch the stain quickly enough, this will often be all you need to do. Even if you don’t, using shaving cream will not set the stain any worse. The spot can still be treated later with other carpet cleaning methods.

Dish or Laundry detergent

If you’re in a pinch and don’t have shaving cream handy, detergent is a good alternative to carpet stain removers. The brand doesn’t matter to stains so it shouldn’t to you. A cheap detergent is just as good as an expensive one. Avoid dish detergent that might contain bleach, lanolin and optical brighteners because it can permanently discolor the carpet. Mix 1/4 teaspoon of clear detergent to 1 cup of warm water.

Club Soda

Club soda is one of the great carpet stain removers for coffee and any other dark liquid (except for anything with alcohol in it). It is the ultimate stain prevention. The way club soda works is that the carbonation in the soda causes the stain to bubble upward from the carpet, and the salts keep the coffee from staining. If a stain is caught early enough, you may not even need the shaving cream.

Rubbing Alcohol

Rubbing alcohol is perfect for removing ink, marker or grass stains. Remember to spray the area first then blot it out. Never rub or brush it in. This will only allow the stain to set and prevent household carpet stain removers from doing their job.

Ammonia

Ammonia should be one of the carpet stain removers to turn to if the stain is organic in nature. If there is any urine, feces, or vomit stains, ammonia breaks down the organic matter to make it easier to clean. Always mix ammonia with some portion of water, as undiluted ammonia has the ability to damage carpet areas. Ammonia is also a useful tool in combating wine stains and any stain you don’t recognize. Mix 1 tablespoon of household ammonia with 1 cup water.

Hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is one of the most perfect carpet stain removers for cleaning fresh bloodstains. However, be sure you to use 3% hydrogen peroxide and no stronger as it could bleach your carpet. Rinse the whole area clean with water.

White Vinegar

Equal parts white vinegar and water will create a solution for carpet stain removing that can be used for any other kind of stain. From grass stains to pet stains and everything in between, this is the all purpose carpet stain remover. It may not take out stronger stains, but it should take care of the smaller ones. Mix 1 cup white vinegar with 1 cup water.

These are but a few substitute carpet cleaning stain removers that can be found around the average household. There are better heavy-duty stain removers out there but when reaction speed is the determining factor between a fresh stain and a permanent stain, sometimes it’s best to grab what’s closest to home.

Ionic Fresh is available to meet your carpet cleaning service needs for those hard to remove stains, that may need a trained technician, right tools, equipment and cleaning agents. Ionic Fresh offers Carpet Cleaning, Furniture Cleaning, Tile and Grout cleaning, Granite and Natural Stone cleaning, 24 hour Emergency Water Extraction, Rug cleaning, within South Bend, Granger, Mishawaka, Elkhart of Indiana and Niles Michigan. Feel free to contact us, Monday through Friday, 6am to 6pm, Saturday, 9am to 2pm. We are closed on Sundays, except for 24 hour emergency water extraction.