The 5 Most Difficult Carpet Stains (and How to Remove Them)
We’ve all seen it. The glass of red wine falling in slow motion towards someone’s pristine carpet. If you’re a carpet owner, then stains are your worst enemy. Unfortunately, they’re also apart of everyday life, especially if you have children or pets. But there’s good news! Even the most difficult carpet stains can be removed! Here’s how.
Wine/Juice
By far the most dreaded stain is red wine. Because of the rich color and watery consistency of wines and juices, they are able to easily soak into your carpet. Chances are, it’s permeating even deeper than you think it is, even all the way to the carpet pad. This could lead to more problems down the road, like lingering odors or even mold growth underneath the carpet.
First, you’ll want to blot the stain. Blotting will soak up any of the excess liquid. Never rub the stain. This can embed the wine further into the fibers and make it more difficult to remove later. Different ways to get red wine out of your carpet include:
- A paste with a three-to-one ratio of baking soda and water
- Club soda
- Two-parts hydrogen peroxide to one-part dishwashing soap
- A mixture of white vinegar and water
Whatever you use, make sure to allow your cleaning solution to fully saturate the wine stain before blotting with a clean piece of paper towel or rag.
Coffee
Coffee is one of those stains that you’ll find aplenty in both residential and commercial spaces. Similar to wine, coffee is another dark liquid that is able to easily soak into your carpet. Because of this, you’re going to start the cleaning process in the same way you would for spilled red wine. Blot the surface liquid away, making sure not to rub it in. Next, you’ll want to use a mixture of water and white vinegar to remove the stain. Work from the outside towards the center of the stain. It is recommended that you change your cleaning cloth frequently to ensure you aren’t spreading the stain further.
Blood
Chances are, if you’re dealing with a blood stain, there’s a larger emergency than your stained carpet! However, because blood penetrates, make sure to clean the affected area while it’s still fresh. The longer blood sits, the harder it is to remove from soft surfaces such as your carpet. Always use cold water to clean blood! Warm or hot water will only cause the stain to set. A mixture of liquid dish detergent and cold water will help to lift the stain from the carpet. Like with wine and coffee, make sure you are blotting to transfer the stain instead of rubbing it in.
Pet Stains
Whether it’s urine from a new puppy or vomit from an upset stomach, all pet stains have something in common. They tend to leave a lingering odor. Removing pet stains is often a race against the clock. Your best bet is to clean up the mess as soon after it happens as possible. If it is allowed to dry, you’ll need to re-wet it. Applying baking soda to the wet or damp spot can draw out both moisture and any odors. There are also carpet cleaners that are formulated specifically for pet stains.
Cooking Oil
It’s been a long time since anyone has had carpet in the kitchen. However, a spilled oil cruet on your table could potentially lead to disaster for your dining room carpet. Because oil is hydrophobic- meaning it repels water- you’ll need a specialty cleaner to remove the stain.
Stains won’t come out?
Even if you got to the stain as soon as possible and blotted instead of rubbed, there still might be something let behind. If you’ve tried everything to get it out, but the stain still won’t budge, it may be time to call in the professionals. With their experience and the right tools, they’ll be able to get that stubborn stain out of your carpet and have it looking like new once more. Need your carpet professionally cleaned? Contact Thomas’ Carpet Cleaning and Restoration Services today!
