Carpets are among some of the top essentials in any home, especially homes that are often cold. They can be quite expensive to replace, especially when they are stained so it’s important to know how to clean carpet stains the right way. Accidents that result in carpet stains are common in every home and this compromises the beautiful appearance. The good thing is that there are many ways that you can remove carpet stains as long as you know the techniques and methods to remove the stains. Below is a look at some of the stains and how to remove them to ensure that you maintain a clean well maintained carpet for longer.
Normal carpet stains
We do have the normal general stains that we encounter every once in a while in our homes such as fresh carpet stains from food, beverages, pets, and other substances. Usually, you can remove most of these stains using warm water and a small amount of liquid detergent.
For coffee stains, faeces, mud and latex paint, start by cleaning any remaining stain with a mixed solution of 1 part white vinegar to 3 parts hot water. Then spray the stained area and blot the stain away with a clean piece of soft cloth.
For chocolate, wine and ketchup, blot up as much of the spill as possible, then dab with club soda and a clean piece of cloth. If the stain doesn’t come out, mix 1 tablespoon of clear household ammonia in 1/2 cup of water and spray it on the stain. Then dab it with a clean piece of cloth, then clean the area with fresh water to remove the remaining ammonia. This can also be used for coffee stains that don’t come out using the first method.
Blood tends to coagulate with warm or hot water so cold water is mostly preferred to remove any blood carpet stains though several tries are required to make your carpet look like new again. The coldness will also prevent the blood from penetrating into the carpet fibers.
Pet Stains
Pet stains should first be removed by picking them up. If the stain is wet, soak it up first, apply a carpet stain cleaning product specifically formulated for pet stains and then blot repeatedly. Use a mixture of white vinegar and warm water to neutralize any odor. Repeat this as necessary as possible.
Ink Stains
Though ink stains are not that common they do also happen and can cause serious permanent stains on fabrics and carpets. To remove spilled ink stains, first, dampen a clean white cloth with isopropyl alcohol and then dab a wet cloth on the stain. But, avoid rubbing or scrubbing since this could cause the ink spot to spread. Afterward, let it stand for a few minutes and then use a liquid friendly vacuum to remove any excess moisture. For stubborn ink stains, you might have to treat the carpet stain with the alcohol again several times.
For all types of stains, you finally need to rinse the area with clean water and then blot it or vacuum until it’s dry to touch. This guarantees that the stain won’t spread. If you aren’t sure of the effect of removers, perform a test on an area of the carpet to make sure these cleaning solutions will provide the results you need instead of causing any damage. Get info here on the best carpet stain removers.