Getting Stains out of Carpet
All household carpets are susceptible to those coffee stains, juice spills, and even shoe stains. As a homeowner, you never know when this can happen, so it is important to be ready. How you deal with the stain after is actually the crucial part of it all. Ignoring such stains can permanently damage or leave a mark on your rug. Thankfully, there are ways on how you can tackle various stains on your carpet. But how do you do it? Below are some tips on how you can clean your carpet and get rid of those common stains that can potentially damage it:
How To Do It
If you suddenly spill something on your carpet, the first thing to do is to scrape off any excess solids. This is to prevent it from becoming a permanent stain. After this, get rid of the liquid with a cloth, and gently blot it. You can begin from the outside part of the spill, going to the center. Make sure that you blot it! Rubbing will result to a damaged carpet.
After blotting the liquid, the next step is to use a carpet stain remover. If you have a commercial stain remover, you simply need to follow the instructions on how to use it. You can also use some homemade solutions to help you. Below are some examples:
If your carpet is made from synthetic materials, use these solutions. Make sure that don’t apply these directly on your carpet though, use a cloth to get rid of the stain:
- Detergent-type solution – Use a dishwashing detergent and mix it in cup of warm water. Use about a one fourth teaspoon of dishwashing detergent into a cup of water.
- Vinegar – Mix vinegar and water and a 1:2 ratio. For example, use one cup of vinegar if you are using two cups of water.
- Solvents – For solvent solutions, you make sure that you use an oil solvent.
If your carpet is made from natural fibers, use these solutions. You can use a spray bottle when applying it:
- Detergent-type solution – Use a dishwashing detergent and mix it in cup of warm water. Use about a one fourth teaspoon of dishwashing detergent into a cup of water.
- Vinegar – Mix vinegar and water and a 1:1 ratio. For example, use one cup of vinegar if you are a cup of water.
- Solvents – For solvent solutions, you make sure that you use an oil solvent.
Make sure that you don’t apply too much solution on your carpet, because it can damage it. Leave it on for approximately 10 minutes before cleaning. Again, make sure that you blot the stain from the outside going inside. Do this until you’ve completely removed the stain. If you want, you can pile or stack some paper towels on the stained part overnight, so that it can absorb any remaining stains on your carpet. You can allow your carpet to dry naturally after.
Stains can be hard to handle, but there are solutions for them, and these solutions work. Make sure you treat these stains fast and use the right products to make sure that you keep your carpet clean and well-maintained.