Spills happen more often than not, but what are you going to do if a party guest just spilled something on your brand new carpet? Don’t panic, as this is perhaps the worst thing that you can do. Instead, take a deep breath, grab this guide and get busy.
Common Stain Remedies
Blotting up a stain the right way is your first step, and that doesn’t involve scrubbing or pushing materials down into the weave of the carpet. Instead, gently blot the stain with a clean paper towel or towels. Always blot from the outside of the stain to the inside, because stains tend to spread. This technique will help contain the size of the stain and get up the worst of the spill. Gently scoop up any dried bits or any food with a spoon, this way you have access to start spot cleaning. Here are some basic stains and how to remove them:
- Coffee: Coffee stains due to the oils in the liquid, as well as the cream, sugar and everything else you’ve added to it. For mild coffee stains, a mild detergent gently applied to the stain with a damp sponge is your best option. Detergent failing? Try a mild mixture of vinegar and warm water.
- Red Wine: Acting fast is incredibly important with wine stains, as the tannins in the wine will quickly cause a long-term color shift in your carpet. Once you’ve blotted as much of the stain as possible, then try to dilute the stain with cool water. Next, create a paste with one part water and three parts baking soda. Rub this mixture into the stain, allow it to dry and vacuum it up.
- Ketchup: Aside from being in the majority of kitchen pantries in America, ketchup is one of the most-likely-to-stain substances. Whatever you do, don’t rub the stain! Remove as much ketchup as possible with a spatula or other flat object. Next, spray the spot with laundry stain lifter, and allow it to dry. If this doesn’t work, mix four teaspoons of ammonia with several cups of warm water in a spray bottle and apply it to the stain. Scrub the stain with a toothbrush, then allow it to dry before vacuuming.
- Blood: Use cold water if the spot recently occurred, but if the spot is older and dried the best option is to use a steel brush to gently remove the blood stain. Mix a one-half cup of warm water with one tablespoon of ammonia. Apply this mixture directly to the blood and blot gently until the stain disappears.
Don’t wait until your stain gets ground into your carpet. Instead, contact Chet’s Cleaning to learn more about cleaning your carpet and getting the stain out. Our friendly team will walk you through either emergency cleaning options or a standard deep-clean for your home.