It’s almost inevitable that carpets and rugs will attract stains. Each manufacturer has its own recommendations on how to remove stains from their carpets and rugs. You should follow your manufacturer’s recommendation to achieve best results and maximize your warranty coverage.
Mohawk Industries, one of the world’s largest carpet manufacturers, has a “home remedy” guide for removing stains from their carpets in their warranty brochure. Below is an excerpt from pages 18 and 19 of that brochure. Of course, you’re taking on some risk by trying these procedures. You can avoid that risk by contacting us instead. But for small or hidden areas, the risk you take on may be worth the time and cost savings.
Common Stains
Most Common Water-Based Stains
For these stains, start with Procedure A. If stain remains, complete Procedure B and Procedure C.
- Alcohol
- Baby formula
- Beer
- Blood
- Candy
- Chocolate milk
- Clay
- Cola
- Cologne
- Cranberry juice
- Feces
- Felt-tip marker
- Food stains (general)
- Fruit juice
- Fruit punch
- Furniture polish (water-based)
- Grape juice
- Graphite
- Ice cream
- Jelly
- Ketchup
- Latex paint
- Liquor
- Milk
- Soft drinks
- Soil spots
- Syrup
- Tomato juice
- Vomit
- Water colors
- Watermelon
- Whiskey
- Wine
Special Water-Based Stains
For these stains, start with Procedure A. If stain remains, complete Procedure C. Omit Procedure B.
- Coffee
- Tea
- Urine
Greasy, Oil-Based Stains
For these stains, use Goo Gone®. Follow directions on package, then complete Procedure A, Procedure B and Procedure C.
- Butter
- Chocolate
- Cooking oil
- Cosmetics
- Crayon
- Furniture dye
- Furniture polish (oil-based)
- Glue *
- Gravy
- Grease (black)
- Gum *
- Ink
- Hand cream
- Lipstick
- Margarine
- Mascara
- Mayonnaise
- Nail polish
- Oil
- Oil paint
- Ointment
- Peanut butter
- Rouge
- Salad dressing
- Spaghetti
- Varnish
- Wax *
* Freeze and remove solid materials before cleaning.
Important: Do not use any cleaner with a pH of 10 or higher.
Before using, always test cleaners on a small, non-visible area for any discoloration of the pile.
Abnormally large or excessive stains may require hot water extraction method. Professional cleaning is recommended.
Cleaning Procedures
Procedure A
(for water-based, special water-based and greasy, oil-based stains)
- Mix a solution of 1 teaspoon of clear hand dishwashing detergent with 1 cup of water. Stir gently.
- Apply detergent solution directly to a white cloth. Dampen the carpet fibres in the stained area with the cloth. Avoid saturating the carpet.
- Wipe gently. Turn cloth frequently.
- Never rub, scrub or use a brush. This may damage carpet fibres. If necessary, use your fingertips to work the solution to the base of the stain. Do not saturate carpet; use small amounts of solution and blot frequently.
- Wet the stained carpet fibres with clear, lukewarm water to rinse.
- Cover the spot with an absorbent white towel or paper towel and apply pressure to blot.
- Repeat the rinsing and blotting procedures until you are sure all traces of the detergent have been removed.
- If the stain is gone, place an absorbent white towel or paper towel over the area cleaned, and weigh towels down with a heavy colourfast object, such as a weighted plastic wastebasket.
- Change towels or paper towels until carpet dries.
- If stain remains, perform Procedure B (for coffee, tea or urine, skip Procedure B and perform Procedure C).
Procedure B
(Do NOT use on coffee, tea or urine stains)
- Mix 2 tablespoons of non-bleaching, non-sudsing household ammonia with 1 cup of lukewarm water.
- Apply ammonia solution, rinse and blot as outlined in Procedure A.
- Do not dry with paper towels. Follow Procedure C to neutralize the ammonia solution.
Procedure C
- Mix 1/2 cup of white vinegar with 1 cup of lukewarm water.
- Apply vinegar solution, rinse and blot as outlined in Procedure A.
Most carpet manufacturers recommend professional hot water extraction/steam cleaning if the “home remedies” fail to get out stains. They also recommend professional cleaning of carpets and rugs every 12-18 months. If you’ve got a stubborn stain or need an annual cleaning, contact us today!