How to Get Stains Out of Carpet for Good

Tips On Carpet Stain Removal

Has your carpet ever gotten some nasty stains that refuse to come out? Accidents happen – a spilled glass of red wine, the kids tracking mud all over, or the new puppy peeing where he shouldn’t. Carpet stains are sneaky too. At first, you might not notice them, but give it a few months, and soon you have permanent faded discolorations and mysterious smells emerging. Not a good appearance!

But don’t freak out. While set-in stains may seem impossible to conquer, the truth is that practically any carpet stain can be erased if you use the right products and techniques. With a little elbow grease and cleaning know-how, whatever stain types don’t stand a chance.

A Simple Process For Removing Carpet Stains

Before grabbing every chemical cleaner under your sink, start with the basics on how to get stains from carpets:

Step 1: Blot Excess Liquid

As soon as a spill happens, quickly blot the wet area with a clean cloth to soak up excess moisture. Avoid rubbing the spot, which can spread the stain deeper or damage fibers.

Step 2: Apply a Targeted Carpet Cleaning Solution

Choose a cleaner that targets your type of stain – wine, pet mishaps, oil, and more. Spray or pour directly onto the stain as directed. See the list below for the best solutions per stain type.

Step 3: Blot & Rinse

After letting the carpet cleaners sit, use dry towels to blot away the stain. No more transfers? Rinse the area with cool water and blot it dry with a paper towel. Repeat as needed for stubborn stains.

Now let’s get into more detail on how to remove some of the most pesky carpet stains out there…

Removing Common Carpet Stains

Here are some ways to eliminate types of stains:

Food & Drink Spills

Soda, wine, and sauce spills often leave behind sugary, acidic residuals that can permanently discolor carpets or set them deep below the surface. But they don’t stand a chance against this mixture.

Wine Stains

Clean with: Equal amount of white vinegar + clean water OR club soda

Club soda contains carbonation to remove it easily. Blot, spray club soda, let sit 5 minutes, and blot again with paper towels. Then, rinse. For dried stains, use the vinegar solution instead.

Coffee & Tea Stains

Clean With: Liquid dish soap + hydrogen peroxide

Mix a couple tablespoons hydrogen peroxide with 1 tablespoon dish soap. Let sit 5 mins then blot. It helps lift stains while peroxide deodorizes.

Chocolate

Clean With: Detergent + Warm Water

Gently scrape off any solid chocolate after hardening. Make a cleaning solution of 1/4 teaspoon dish detergent per 1 cup warm water. Apply, let it sit, then blot repeatedly to remove chocolate.

Chewing Gum

Clean With: Ice cubes + dull knife/spoon

First, harden the gum by holding ice wrapped in a small white cloth or scrape bag against the deposit. Next, gently pry at the gum to chip off pieces once frozen and hardened.

Alternate between freezing and picking until all traces are gone. Then use a solvent carpet cleaner to remove any leftover sticky residue that could re-attract dirt. The cold makes gum brittle so it breaks off instead of smearing deeper into carpet fibers when trying to remove it.

Pet Stains: Urine, Feces, and Vomit

When an accident inevitably happens indoors, you need a detergent solution strong enough to eliminate odors and visible remnants.

Urine Stains

Clean With: Enzyme cleaner

Enzyme cleaners like The Pet Lab break down urine into components in removing stains and odor. Avoid heat during cleanup, since warmth can seal in urine. Thoroughly soak the area, blot with a paper towel, and let sit for 5-10 mins before rinsing and drying.

Feces

Clean With: Enzyme cleaner + drops of dish soap

Cover the mess with an absorbent towel to soak up moisture. Gently scrape off solids with cardboard or another dull tool. Apply your enzyme cleaner and let sit 10 minutes before blotting and repeating until stain is removed. No pets in the house? An enzymatic toothpaste works too!

Vomit

Clean With: Vinegar solution

Gently remove any solids with a dull utensil. Make a cleaning solution of 1 tablespoon white vinegar per 1 cup of water. Spray in the center of the stain, let sit for 2 minutes, and blot well. The acid in vinegar removes traces and odor. Repeat as needed.

Grease, Oil or Wax Spills

What about pesky oily spills from food or candles? Or random grease stains that appear as mysteriously as dorm room pizza boxes? Here’s your battle plan:

Candle Wax

Clean With: Ice cubes + dry solvent cleaner

First freeze remaining wax with an ice pack. Then gently scrape away solidified wax pieces. Once all removable wax is gone, apply a solvent cleaner like Bridgepoint Solvent Clean to melt what’s left.

Oil

Clean With: Baking soda or dry solvent

Sprinkle greasy areas heavily with baking soda. Let sit for at least 6 hours to absorb the oil, then vacuum. For faster action, use a dry solvent spot cleaner instead. Apply, let it sit, and blot stain repeatedly until it’s gone.

Blood Stains Happen

Nosebleeds, injuries, or that occasional vigorous guitar solo mishap – bloodstains happen. Blood’s bold pigment can quickly seep into carpet to leave lasting discoloration and even rusty brown oxidation stains if not treated promptly.

Follow these first aid steps for getting blood out of carpet:

Clean with: Oxygen bleach OR cold water

Cold water is best for fresh stains since heat makes blood set. Blot, spray with cold liquid, then repeat. Oxygen bleach also works to break up blood’s darker pigments.

No matter which method you use, heavily blot the area to get stains out rather than doing a scrub, which pushes blood further down into the carpet pad.

The Power of Prevention

While even the toughest carpet stains can be conquered, prevention is the best treatment when it comes to carpeted flooring. Protect yours by following these instructions:

• Keeping food and drinks far away from carpeted areas
• Cleaning up spills ASAP before they set
• Blot immediately after pet accidents
• Applying stain protection treatments like Scotchgard periodically

The quicker you act when spills happen and use the right tough stain fighter for the substance, the better your chances of removal. Some extra elbow grease for blotting and rinsing is essential too.

If you try multiple methods and still see staining or odor, don’t DIY any further – it’s time to call in professional carpet cleaning. Their experience, powerful machines, truck mounted steam cleaners and commercial solvents do what homemade carpet stain remover cannot.

Follow these steps and guides, and you’ll have pristine, lasting clean carpets for years of feet treading across their soft surface.