Clean carpet is important to keeping your home looking good. Here are some quick tips from Rainbow Restorationl on cleaning up some common carpet stains.
Wine
- Blot up as much excess as possible
- Apply detergent, vinegar, and ammonia solutions, blotting between each
- If necessary, bleach with 3-5% hydrogen peroxide
- Rinse with water and blot until dry
Coffee
- Apply detergent solution, blot
- Apply vinegar solution, blot
- Apply enzyme detergent, blot
- Rinse with water and blot until dry
Blood
- Apply cool detergent solution, blot.
- Apply cool ammonia solution, blot.
- Apply enzyme detergent, blot
- Rinse thoroughly with water, blot until dry.
- If stain remains, apply rust remover or oxalic acid solution.
- Bleaching with 3-5% hydrogen peroxide may be necessary.
Grass
- Apply amyl acetate, if available, to remove chlorophyll, blot.
- Apply enzyme detergent, blot.
- Rinse with water, blot.
- Apply ammonia solution, blot.
- Apply vinegar solution, blot.
- Rinse with water, blot until dry.
Ballpoint Pen Ink
- Apply alcohol and blot, or use wet/dry vacuum.
- Repeat as needed.
- Apply dry-cleaning solvent, blot.
- Apply amyl acetate, if available, or acetone (except on acetate fibers).
- If stain remains, apply rust remover or oxalic acid solution.
- Bleaching (or professional stripping) may be necessary.
Grease
- Apply dry-cleaning solvent.
- Apply POG sparingly, and blot.
- Alternate steps 1 and 2.
- If stain remains, apply detergent solution, blot.
- Apply ammonia solution, blot.
- Apply vinegar solution, blot.
- Rinse with water, blot until dry.
Mud
- Brush or scrape off as much as possible.
- Apply detergent solution, blot.
- Apply ammonia solution, blot.
- Rinse thoroughly with water, blot until dry.
- If stain remains, apply POG and dry-cleaning solvent alternately, blot until dry.
- Note: Some red clay and mud stains may be difficult to remove completely.
Fruit Juice
- Apply detergent solution, blot.
- Apply ammonia solution, blot.
- Apply vinegar solution, blot.
- Rinse with water, blot until dry.
- If stain remains, apply enzyme detergent, blot.
- Rinse with water, blot until dry.
Crayon
- Apply dry-cleaning solvent.
- Apply POG, blot.
- Apply dry-cleaning solvent, blot.
- Apply detergent solution, blot.
- Rinse with water, blot until dry.
Nail Polish
- Apply amyl acetate, if available, or nail polish remover. PRETEST FIRST. Repeat as needed, with blotting.
- Apply dry-cleaning solvent.
- Apply POG, blot; apply dry-cleaning solvent, blot.
- If stain remains, apply detergent solution, blot until dry.
- Apply ammonia solution, blot.
- Apply vinegar solution, blot.
- Rinse with water, blot until dry.
For Further Reading:
Why Would You Dump Ice Water in Your Living Room?
Is Your Carpet Making You Sick?