Carpet Cleaning Stain Removal Tips
No matter how diligent you are about taking off your shoes, cleaning your carpet regularly, and trying to avoid accidents, it’s bound to happen at some point: you stain your precious carpets.
Mishaps are just a fact of life, with common stains such as bloodstains, wine stains, and juice stains unavoidable aspects of owning a carpet. Don’t panic. There are several tried and true techniques you can use to remove stains from carpets. Read through these carpet cleaning stain removal tips and you’ll be feeling better in no time.
What You Must Know First
When you spot a carpet stain, don’t immediately start rubbing and scrubbing it to try to get it away. Scrubbing presents the risk of ruining the carpet fibers, as well as allowing the spill to soak through to the carpet pad.
Next, think carefully about the type of stain that has occurred, as well as the color and material of your carpet. You should tailor your stain removal efforts very closely to these factors to make sure you are being effective and not further damaging your carpet.
When you spot a carpet stain, don’t immediately start rubbing and scrubbing it to try to get it away. Scrubbing presents the risk of ruining the carpet fibers, as well as allowing the spill to soak through to the carpet pad.
Pre-Treat the Area
Depending on the type of stain, you will almost always need to pretreat the area first. First, blot the stain with a dry towel. Try not to rub it, as this can press liquid or materials deeper into the carpet fibers and all the way down into the pad. If it’s a larger mess, such as a pet accident, pick it up with gloves and dispose of it. Blot as you would other stains, and let it dry almost completely. If the stain has already completely dried on the carpet fibers, re-moisten it to help loosen the debris.
Treating the Carpet Stain
Next, apply a treatment. There are several methods you can use depending on the type of stain. A general all-purpose stain remover, such as Bissell Carpet Cleaning Formulas or OxiClean may work well. However, you may find that you have to get more creative than that.
A mixture of white vinegar and warm water can sometimes help lift set-in stains. Laundry detergent is another helpful additive. Just make sure you blot and rinse with warm water afterward. These combinations can also help to get rid of the nasty odor associated with stains caused by things such as pet accidents.
If it’s a larger mess, such as a pet accident, pick it up with gloves and dispose of it. Blot as you would other stains, and let it dry almost completely.
Depending on the color and type of carpet, you may also be able to use bleach. Polypropylene is a type of carpet that holds up well under bleach. If you’re having trouble removing the stain, try a mixture of bleach and water. Just test it on a concealed area of carpet first to make sure it won’t discolor the fibers.
What to Do About Difficult Stains
For blood stains, never use warm or hot water. Blood coagulates with heat, while cold will prevent the blood from permeating into the fibers. Instead, use one of the other methods listed above, but with cold water.
Ink stains are another type of stain that can be difficult to remove. Try dampening a cloth with isopropyl alcohol and then dab it on the ink stain. Don’t rub or scrub, as this can spread the ink further. Some hair sprays, nail polish removers, or white wines work well to help remove these stains.
What Do I Do If the Stain Is Still There?
Again, don’t panic! Consider consulting with a local retail store that carries stain removing products. Check with them to see what professional remedies they might recommend to remove the stain from your carpet.
You can also consider calling a professional carpet cleaning company. These services can remove almost any type of ground-in stain, odor, or dirt, and get it looking fresh in no time. With a little bit of experience and elbow grease, these professionals will have your carpet looking like new.