It’s a fact of life that if you have carpet, it’s only a matter of time before spills and everyday wear begin to take their toll on your floors. Carpets seem to get dirty more quickly when the carpet is a light color, or when household has pets or children roam freely. Here are some tips for removing common stains from carpets:
Red Wine
If you’ve ever entertained guests at a dinner party or gathering, you understand how terrifying it can be to serve your guests red wine. Alas, using these easy tricks you don’t have to fear the occasional red wine spill any more.
When you see the wine stain on the carpet, first blot the area carefully with a damp towel to soak up the excess wine. Be careful not to push too much into the carpet as you don’t want to the wine stain to seep in any more.
You can then use a variety of household items to lift the stain out of the carpet, including club soda, hydrogen peroxide followed by a coating of baking soda, or even white wine. Yes, you can take some white wine and pour over the red wine stain as it will help neutralize the red wine stain and make it easier to come out of the carpet. Gently blot the area with a thick towel to soak up the excess wine, and if the stain is still visible, add salt or club soda to continue lifting the stain away.
Pet Stains
As much joy as pets bring us, there are also the frustrations that arise from our four-legged friends, especially during the potty training stage. If you come home to discover a pet has had an accident inside your home, first, remove the mess as best as possible and dispose of it properly. If there is already a stain forming on the carpet, moisten the stain with a stain fighting product made especially for pet stains.
To remove odor from the stain, spray the area with a mixture that is part white wine vinegar and water. Allow the vinegar solutions to soak several minutes on the stain and then blot the affected area. You can also use a mixture of water and stain-fighting laundry detergent into a spray bottle and spritz the affected area with the solution, allowing it to soak for a few minutes. Blot the area and mix with warm water, repeating as needed to remove the stain.
Blood Stains
In the event of blood stains on carpets, make sure to use cold water on the stain to prevent the blood from coagulating and permeating into carpet fibers. Create a solution of 2 teaspoons of grease-fighting dish detergent and cold water and spray thoroughly on the stain, soaking the carpet completely. Use a dry towel or paper towel to blot the stain gently and rinse the area with cold water, repeating as necessary. You can also use hydrogen peroxide to clean the affected area and some homeowners use bleach on blood stains, but that could potentially bleach the color out of the carpet so use with caution.
Pasta Sauce
Just like the dreaded wine spill at your dinner parties, you don’t need to have only white sauce to prevent spaghetti sauce stains from ruining your carpet. In the event you have a messy eater over for dinner, create a mixture of one tablespoon liquid detergent and two cups of cold water to spray on the stained carpet. Use a clean cloth to blot the area and absorb all the liquid. If there is still stain residue, mix one tablespoon of ammonia with half a cup of cool water and blot the stain with the solution. Dip a sponge in cold water and blot the area dry to remove the ammonia from you carpet.
About the author: Amy Moczynski manages the digital marketing for Accident Cleaners, a Florida crime scene decontamination company that also restores wet carpet.