From Easy To Expert-mode: How To Get Stains From Your Carpet

Keeping your carpet clean means removing those pesky stains—like drink spills, pet messes, or mud. However, how do you remove the carpet stains without soaking or laundering the carpet? The answer is simple: acting fast, with patience, and using the methods you can read in this blog post!

Before cleaning your carpet: tips and precautions

Before bringing the cleaning supplies for your carpet or rug, there are a few things you should consider:

1. Check out the manufacturer’s instructions

Not all carpets are alike. Before treating a stain in your carpet, check out the manufacturer guidelines about the safest products to use. Also, if you have a carpet warranty, it might be time to read the details again!

2. Blot, don’t scrub!

As a general rule, always blot the liquids and soil from carpets with an absorbent cloth or paper towel. Scrubbing a stain might push the liquids deeper into the fibers and make the stain set. 

3. Start with gentle cleaners (and spot-test!)

You don’t need to start the cleaning with your most powerful products. Sometimes, dabbing a spill is enough to prevent the stain. Also, blotting water-soluble stains (like ink and mud) with a damp cloth might work just fine. 

Stain removers and harsh cleaning solutions can damage some types of carpets. Before using any chemical product, spot-test it in a hidden area of the carpet.

How to get stains out of carpets using only soap and water!

You can clean most stains using water and dish soap. However, if the stain is fresh, your best option is dabbing the liquids or removing the soil as soon as you detect it. Cleaning a fresh stain is easier than trying to clean it once it dries out.

If a spot remains after dabbing, use the following method to take stains out of your carpet:

1. Mix a cup of water and several drops of dish soap inside a spray bottle. Also, keep another spray bottle filled with cold water.
2. Spray the soapy water onto an absorbent cloth and dab it on the spot. Repeat the process until the stain dissolves!
3. Spray the cold water onto a clean cloth and blot the spot to rinse the cleaning solution. Then, blot again using a dry cloth or absorbent paper towels.
4. Fluff the carpet pile and let it air dry. 

As we mentioned before, you might be able to remove most stains following the process until this point. Unfortunately, some types of stains can hold on to the fibers of your carpet. 

We tell you how to deal with specific tough stains below!

How to remove common tough stains out of a carpet

If a stain refuses to go, it’s time to bring your cleaning supplies! Here we tell you how to get the toughest stains out of your carpet.

Note: 

The best cleaners for stains are white vinegar (for its acidic nature) and hydrogen peroxide (for its oxidizing power.) However, use them carefully! These natural products can decolor or damage some fabrics! Spot-test before using them!

Red wine

If the spill just happened, dab the liquid with a cloth. Then, use a clean cloth damped in club soda to blot the residue. 

You can use hydrogen peroxide for stubborn wine stains, but remember to spot-test before applying the cleaning solution!

1. In a spraying bottle, mix two parts hydrogen peroxide and one part dish soap.
2. Spray the mix onto a clean cloth and dab the stain gently until the stain disappears.
3. Rinse the stain by blotting the spot with a damped cloth.

Coffee stains

If you are a coffee drinker, your carpet will end up with a coffee stain sooner or later. Vinegar acidity works fine removing coffee stains, but remember to spot-test in a small area before using it. 

Here is the process:

1. Blot the spilled coffee away with clean cloths or paper towels. If you are removing a dried-out coffee stain, spray warm water into the spot before blotting.
2. Mix white vinegar and warm water in equal parts and a few drops of dish soap. 
3. Spray the mix into a clean cloth and dab the stain until it disappears.
4. Damp a clean cloth with cold water and blot the vinegar residue out of the carpet.

Pet stains

Owning a pet sometimes means finding unpleasant surprises on the carpet. The most common pet stain is urine, and you can use vinegar’s cleaning power to remove it. Also, baking soda will come in handy to remove odors!

1. Blot the urine out of the carpet.
2. Make a vinegar and water solution. Spot-test to make sure the solution is safe for your carpet, then spray it on the stain.
3. Let the solution sit for a few minutes, then blot it dry with a clean cloth. Repeat until the stain and odor are gone.
4. Sprinkle baking soda in the spot and let it sit for at least 15 minutes before vacuuming it.

Blood stains

You can get rid of a fresh blood stain by dabbing it with a cloth damped in cold water. However, once it dries out, removing it will be a challenge.  

First, try out cleaning the blood stain with cold soapy water:

1. Mix two cups of cold water and one tablespoon of dish soap. Spray it in the dry stain.
2. Blot the stain with a damp cloth, repeating the process until the stain disappears.
3. Damp a cloth with cold water and blot the residue. 
4. Dry the spot by dabbing the water with a dry cloth 

For tough blood stains, you can remove them using the oxidizing power of hydrogen peroxide:

1. Spot-test the hydrogen peroxide in a discrete area of your carpet to see if it’s safe to use it. This household product can discolor some types of fabrics.
2. Using a clean cloth, apply the hydrogen peroxide until the spot is slightly damped. Let it sit for an hour.
3. Rinse the area with a damp cloth until the stain is gone.

Absorb lingering odors with baking soda

Some stains (like coffee or pet stains) can leave a lingering odor. Baking soda can absorb odors! Use it to get rid of the foul smells—or to freshen your carpet! 

After removing the stain, give the whole carpet a generous sprinkle of baking soda. Let the powder rest for at least 30 minutes before vacuuming the carpet. If the odor still lingers, repeat the process. 

Also, you can try leaving the baking soda for the night. The more time you leave it, the more odors it absorbs! 

How often should I clean my carpet?

Carpets need constant cleaning, or they’ll become a paradise for microbes and allergens. Vacuuming the carpets should be part of your regular cleaning routine. Also, stains will appear, either due to accidental spills or normal traffic.

You need to deep-clean your carpet to get rid of the dirt hidden under the pile. Many manufacturers recommend (or require you for warranty purposes) to professionally clean their carpets roughly once a year. 

Carpets are perfect for interior design, but clean-wise, they are a hassle. The good news is that Kelly Green Club can help you!

Cleaning services in Baltimore

Leave your carpet cleaning to the professionals! Kelly Green Club delivers high-quality and affordable carpet cleaning services. The best part: we can clean the whole room as well. Check out our professional house cleaning services and get your quote within minutes!