The world sees a brand new carpet as a blank canvas on which to spill juice, dirt, and many, many other things. It seems inevitable that a pristine floor becomes a minefield of stains. Well, that doesn’t have to be true! Removing stains from carpets and rugs is an easy job. Explore our carpet cleaning solutions and keep your floors spotless.
An Ounce of Prevention…
You know the saying! By far the easiest way to remove dirt smudges on carpet is to prevent them from existing in the first place. Place a mat outside your door for everyone to wipe their shoes on before stepping inside. You can also make your house a shoe-free zone and ask guests to remove their shoes in the foyer or near the entrance. These steps will diminish the amount of dirt that gets tracked in your home and reduce the amount of carpet cleaning you need to do.
Dirt Stains
So someone didn’t listen and stomped all over the carpet with muddy shoes. To remove these dirt stains, combine 1/2 teaspoon of dish washing detergent and 1 tablespoon of vinegar. Douse a scrubbing sponge or cloth with the mixture and scrub the stain until gone. Dab dry with a clean cloth.
Coffee Stains
Of course, the one thing you can’t prevent is the unexpected. No one plans on spilling their morning cup of joe. When it does happen, first blot up as much as you can. Use an absorbent cloth and don’t scrub! You can use a couple of things as a stain remover for coffee, but an all-natural solution is eggs. Whip 1 egg yolk in a small bowl for a few seconds. Dip a white cloth into the beaten egg yolk and work the yolk into the stain with a good amount of pressure. Rinse the carpet with clean water and a rag then pat dry. Repeat until the stain is gone. You can also use a tablespoon of dish soap, a tablespoon of white vinegar, and warm water, or water with a bit of lemon juice. Carpet cleaning or spot removal can be a bit messy sometimes.
Urine Spots
As with all stains, time is of the essence. The longer you let the urine sit, the more the carpet will absorb, and the harder it will be to remove the stain and the smell. Clean the urine spot with a solution of dish detergent and water. Scrub the spot with a scrub brush until the urine spot is gone.
Wine Stains
In a small bowl mix 2 cups of warm water, 1 tablespoon of white vinegar and 1 tablespoon of dish washing soap. Soak the sponge into the bowl and directly apply to the wine stain. Blot the stain until it has lifted.
Marker
Spray some oil-free hairspray onto a white cloth. Dab the marker stain using a generous amount of pressure. Continue until the marker stain is no longer visible.
Blood
You can use lots of things for blood stains, including plain old cold water and soap. Using a clean white cloth, blot the stain. If the stain has dried, you’ll have to brush it with a scrub brush to loosen it. Hydrogen peroxide can also be used to get blood out of your carpet. Apply directly to the stain, then dab the stain with a towel. The solution will foam, but don’t be alarmed as this is normal.
Repairing Cigarette Burns
Cigarette burns in carpeting can be repaired in a few easy steps.
1. Cut the blackened fibers from the cigarette hole.
2. Trim fibers from the carpet remnants.
3. Squeeze a small amount of liquid glue into the hole and fill with fibers trimmed from the carpet remnants.
Gum
Gum is easy to remove from carpets. First place ice on the gum. This hardens the gum and makes it easier to remove. Once the gum has hardened, use a dull knife to remove it from the carpet. Clean the area with water and a brush after removing the gum, then pat it dry.
Wax
One of the ways to remove wax is with your iron. Put a layer of paper towels over the wax and cover them with a fabric towel. Place the iron on the towel and rub gently back and forth. This will melt the wax and let the paper towels absorb it. Keep the iron moving constantly to prevent burning your towel.
Pet Odor and Carpet Smells
For pet odor, spray a thin layer of vinegar over the carpet and let it evaporate. The vinegar will neutralize the odor naturally. If the smell still persists, shampoo your carpets. Add vinegar to the carpet cleaner instead of carpet cleaning soap to naturally get rid of the odor.
For lighter cleaning and less offensive odors like mustiness, leave baking soda on the carpeting overnight. Vacuum in the morning to pick up the odor-soaked baking soda.
Carpet Cleaning Made Easy
With these tips, you never have to let stains or odors stop you from having clean carpet. Now when there’s a spill or a bit of gum, you can use these carpet cleaning tricks, move on, and leave your room looking pristine (or at least unstained).