by Jane Wilson
Stepping barefoot on a fluffy carpet as you wake up in the morning is one of the best feelings on earth. However, coffee stains, wine spills and muddy footprints are things that can definitely ruin this magical experience. Keep reading to remove stain from your carpet and how to bring back the magic in your life.
How to remove most stains
Start by preparing two empty spray bottles. In one of them mix mild dishwashing liquid with 1 cup of warm water. Fill the other one with cold water.
It’s important to remember that you don’t want to wet the carpet too much. That’s why you need to spray the solution onto an absorbent cloth and dab the stain with it. As the stain dissolves your cloth will absorb the dirt. Move to a clean section of the cloth and continue blotting until the stain is gone.
Now it’s time to use the other bottle. Spray another clean cloth with the cold water to rinse off the detergent solution left on the carpet. After that, blot it again with a dry rag.
Finally, use paper towels to absorb the moisture. Pile them on the wet spot and place a heavy object on top. Let that stay overnight. This will not only extract the moisture but also will soak up any residual stain deep in the carpet padding.
In the morning, fluff the carpet fibres with your fingers and allow it to air dry.
Bonus tip: To freshen up your carpets, sprinkle baking soda liberally all over it and let it sit overnight. After that, thoroughly vacuum the carpet to remove the baking soda. Baking soda is a proven odour absorber, but it does have a saturation point where it has absorbed all of the odour it can. So, if you notice any bad smell after, just repeat the procedure.
Wine stains
Start by blotting the stain. If the spill is recent, always blot the stain first. Once that’s done, create a baking soda paste of three-to-one ratio of baking soda and water. Apply the paste on the stain and wait for it to dry completely. After that vacuum it. If the stain remains, saturate the stain with a carpet stain remover. To avoid damages on your carpet follow the manufacturer’s instructions closely.
Bonus tip: If you’re throwing a party and you don’t want to make a big deal about the red wine stain, take just two steps. One, blot it with paper towels and two, sprinkle salt on the stain. The salt will absorb some of the wine and can be vacuumed later. However, keep in mind that, once dried, it will be much harder to remove stains.
Coffee stains
Again, start by blotting the stain. After that, mix one tablespoon of white vinegar, one tablespoon of liquid dish soap and two cups of warm water. Vinegar works well on this type of stain because the mild acid breaks up the coffee stain. Dip a towel into the solution and use it to scrub the stain. Apply a little bit at a time and blot frequently with a dry cloth. Finally, sponge with cold water and blot dry.
Pet stains
Start by cleaning the initial mess. If the carpet is wet, as discussed, use the blot method. If there’s debris on the carpet pick it up with gloves and dispose of it. After that, apply a carpet solution with enzymes. They work best on pet stains and also destroy odour-causing bacteria. However, if the odour persists, you may try using vinegar. Mix ¼ cup of vinegar with a quart of warm water and spray the stain with the solution. Allow the vinegar to soak for a few minutes and again, blot until the stain is gone. Allow to air dry.
Blood stains
Тhe most important thing to remove stains is to act fast. If you do that, removing blood stains becomes much easier than you thought. Also, remember to ALWAYS use cold water instead of warm water, as it will prevent the blood from permeating into the carpet fibres.
Start by filling a spray bottle with 2 teaspoons of dishwashing liquid and cold water. Liberally spray the stain with the solution until it is soaked. After that, use a dry cloth to blot the stain. The blood will be transferred to the cloth. Repeat the process until the stain disappears and rinse with cold water.
If that trick doesn’t work, here’s an alternative: mix half a cup of water with one tablespoon of ammonia. Dip a soft cloth into the solution and use it to blot the stain. Once the stain is lifted, blot dry the area and allow to air dry.
Bonus tip: If the blood stain you’re trying to remove has already dried on the carpet, my fellow cleaning experts from Australia suggest using a steel brush to loosen the stain first, and then proceed with the usual steps.
Risk
These tips are general guidelines to be used at your own risk. If you have access to the carpet manufacturer’s specific stain removal instructions, use those instead. If you’re not comfortable with trying to remove stains yourself, and to minimize your risk, call in a carpet cleaning professional.
About the Author
Jane Wilson is a mum, a blogger and a marketing executive from Melbourne, Australia. She represents the local branch of Fantastic Cleaners, a licensed cleaning company, which provides a wide range of services. She also runs a small blog called Modern Housewives, where she shares all kinds of home improvement and parenting tips.