 A Quick Guide to
Dealing with Carpet Stains
We have provided these tips to aid you in keeping your carpets in good condition.
Whenever possible, blot up spills immediately using a clean white, absorbent material to avoid the possibility
of dye transfer and to
facilitate visualization of the stain removal process, since stains
transfer to the towel. With some spilled substances you have only
minutes before the stain sets permanently.
If a spot has remained on the carpet for a long time and has become a dry mass, scrape off as much as possible using the
side of a spoon or a blunt spatula before attempting to remove the
remainder. For chewing gum or wax, freeze with an ice cube
before scraping.
Before attempting any stain removal, always pre-test with any cleaning agents that you may be using. To do this, dampen an
inconspicuous area of the carpet. Then leave it on for about 10
minutes, and then blot with a clean white towel. Inspect the towel
for dye transfer and the carpet for damage. If bleeding, color
change, or other damage occurs, consult a cleaning expert.
Have on hand an oil solvent for greasy, oily stains. But be careful about using a solvent-based cleaner on a rug that has a plastic or
rubber foam backing or separate padding. The solvent could soften
such materials and ruin them. Be careful, too, about inhaling
vapors from these solvents. Use them in a well-ventilated
room.
Stain removal often requires several steps. Proceed through the
following series of cleaning steps (one at a time) until the
stain is completely removed.
When using an absorbent powder (cornstarch or a commercial
product), sprinkle a thick layer of it over the stain. Brush in
the resulting "mud," let it dry completely, then
vacuum. Use a detergent solution (one teaspoon dishwashing
liquid to one cup of water) for water-soluble spills. Follow, if
necessary, with one tablespoon of ammonia to half a cup of
water. As a last effort, use one part white vinegar to two parts
water. Apply these solutions directly on the carpet. Do not over
wet.
For spills that are both greasy and water-soluble, apply small
amounts of a dry-cleaning solvent with a clean white absorbent
towel and blot or tap (do not scrub). Work from the outer edge
of the stain to the center to avoid spreading it. Then use the
detergent solution. Do the same for unidentified spills. Reapply
each agent until the stain is no longer transferred to the
towel. Rinse lightly.
Blot (don't rub) or scrape up as much as possible. Then cover
the spill with a pad of several paper towels and stand on the
towels for a minute or so. When the stain has been removed,
lightly rinse the area with water (do not soak). Cover the wet
spot with several (layers of clean white toweling or a half inch
pad of paper towels,
weight it down, and allow to dry for at least six hours.
For stains with an offensive odor such as pet urine, use the
vinegar solution first. Then use the detergent solution. For
acidic stains such as vomit or fruit drinks, use the ammonia
mixture to neutralize the acid (but don't use ammonia on wool it
sets stains on that material).
Soda water can be effective on water-soluble stains, especially
if the stains, are fresh.
Copious spills that penetrate through the carpet to the backing
and even to the floor are a special problem. If the substance is
one that smells, you may have to get the carpet lifted and
cleaned professionally.
If none of the recommended steps work, you might wish to enlist
the services of an expert. Be aware that do-it-yourself cleaning
efforts might render the stain difficult for even an expert to
remove.
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