One of the biggest pains of having carpet in the house is dealing with stains. Sometimes it seems no matter what you do, those stains are there to stay. So today we are talking about some common yet stubborn carpet stains and how to get rid of them.
Getting Started
Before we begin, just a quick reminder that you should always test any stain remover in an inconspicuous area first to ensure that it does not damage your carpet. Carpet fibers come in a variety of different shapes, sizes, weaves, colors, and materials, so there is no one size fits all solution when it comes to carpet cleaning. That said, there are some general guidelines to follow to help you get those stains out. Just remember more product does not mean more cleaning. Often it just means more buildup. Also, do not scrub or rub the stain as that will only drive it deeper into the carpet. Instead you want to blot the stain. Lastly, when the stain proves to be too stubborn, call a professional carpet cleaning service. They have cleaning equipment and products that you as a consumer do not have access to.
Pet Stains
As with any stain, you will want to clean these messes up as quickly as possible. Blotting is key to getting any excess moisture out of the carpet fibers. In this case, do not be shy with the paper towels. You want to really get every bit of moisture out that you can. After that is done, mix equal parts water and cleaning vinegar in a spray bottle and spray the area. Once it is re-saturated, blot again with more clean paper towels. This will not only pull the stain out; the vinegar will also remove the odor. If the stain has already set, follow the steps above, then sprinkle on some baking soda. Let it sit overnight, then vacuum it up in the morning. You may need to repeat these steps a few times for older stains to really get it all out.
Coffee
For coffee stains, you will need some 3% hydrogen peroxide, some old towels (preferably white to avoid dye transfer), a steam iron, and a bowl of water. Fill your spray bottle with peroxide, then spray the whole area with it. Dunk your towel into the water, wring it out, then lay it on top of the stain. With your iron’s steam setting cranked all the way up, set your iron directly onto the towel. Let it sit for about 15-20 seconds, then remove the towel. Repeat this process with a clean towel for each repetition until the stain in gone.
Red Wine
No, do not reach for your bottle of white wine. That will not do anything but drain your stash of white wine. Simply blot the stain, then spray some club soda onto the stain. You do not need a lot, just enough to cover the stain. Then blot again and repeat until the stain is removed.