Removing Stains From Carpets

Don't you dread this moment?

Professional carpet cleaning can be expensive, and should be done at least once a year; more often if budget permits. However, you can maintain your carpets fairly clean vacuuming regularly and removing stains.

Most carpet stains are food, grease, dirt, sugary drinks or pets urine. Organic stains (pets, body fluids, etc.) can be removed using ammonia or a white vinegar watered down mixture, oil-base stains with a degreaser and hot water, and sugary stains with dish soap diluted in hot water. 

Whatever method you chose, remember to dry carpet as much as possible with a dry towel after cleaning and, if area is still damp, set a portable fan on it to avoid humidity stains.

To remove red wine spills, pat dry with paper towel, pour salt to absorb remaining liquid, let it dry. When it is completely dry vacuum salt. If there are still traces of color, apply carpet spot remover of choice and brush briskly, pat dry with clean towel, using water to remove soap. Let it dry and vacuum, stain will be gone.

Pat dry with paper towel

Pour salt on stain 

A lot of salt

Vacuum salt when dry

And stain will be gone

For dry stains of unknown origin, use fabric or carpet spot remover and brush briskly to penetrate spot, if stain persists, damp further with cleaning mixture letting it set-in longer to soften, scrubbing with brush until spot disappears. Here are Some suggested cleaning mixtures:

• Equal parts of white vinegar and hot water and a couple spoons of dishwashing soap. Apply liberally letting it soak for 5-10 minutes. Apply more hot water and blot with a clean, dry towel until stain is removed. If stain persists, apply extra solution on spots and brush briskly. Dry with clean towel
• For red wine spills, spat spill dry with paper towel and cover area with regular kitchen salt, let dry and vacuum thoroughly
• For all organic steins, use mixture of ammoniac and water, scrub area with brush. Spat dry and vacuum
• Ink on carpets and clothing? Soak with regular milk, then use soap and water to remove milk.
• Dirt spots? Mix baking powder and hot water, apply to area, brush, dry with clean towel, apply more hot water if needed, drying with towel. Let it dry completely and vacuum
• Coke or pop sodas? Dry with towel picking as much liquid as possible. What stains carpets is the sugar oxygenation process. Apply a mixture of warm water and dishwashing soap with rag, dry as much as possible with clean towel. Mix equal parts of white vinegar and water, soak mixture and apply on affected areas. Let it soak 10-15 minutes, dry with clean towel. Repeat process if needed, until stain is gone.
• For stubborn spots use oxy clean and water mixture, apply to stain rubbing it with wet towel. After spot is removed, extract as much as possible with wet towel and dry with clean towel

I can’t overemphasize the convenience of having a wet vacuum cleaner at home, it can take care of emergency situations and help you maintain your carpets, water stains’ free; prices range from $45.00 to $150.00

Am I missing something?  Do you know a better way of doing this?  Please share with the group.  Your thoughts, ideas, comments and suggestions are welcome and greatly appreciated.