Stained carpets are an eyesore. Sure, you could rearrange your living room to hide the set-in carpet stains. But wouldn’t it be better just to remove them forever?
You don’t need a degree in chemistry to become a pro at
removing stains and carpet cleaning. You can do clean up many types of stains with products you have lying around the house.
Keep reading to find our tips on how to remove stains and
extend the lifespan of your carpets.
Act Fast
When it comes to how to remove stains from carpet, the faster you take action, the better. Set-in stains are notoriously difficult to remove, though not impossible.
If there’s any debris on the carpet fibers, remove it carefully with a fork or spoon. Be gentle when doing so as you don’t want to embed debris deeper into your carpet fibers.
Use a damp cloth to dab the stain working from the outside in. Treat the area with a stain removing solution. Use cool water and a clean cloth to pat the area again.
Resist the urge to scrub your carpet as you’ll run the risk of ruining its fibers.
Use Vinegar
Is there
anything white vinegar can’t do? It’s useful for culinary, health, and household cleaning purposes. As it turns out, it’s also great for removing certain types of carpet stains.
If you’re dealing with a
coffee spill, vinegar is the secret ingredient you need. Use this recipe to tackle a fresh coffee stain:
- 1 tablespoon liquid dish soap
- 1/4 cup white vinegar
- 2 cups warm water
Mix the ingredients and dab the stain gently. After every few dabs, revisit with a new cloth and blot dry. You can use this mixture for cleaning
juice stains, too.
Vinegar is excellent for cleaning up set-in
urine stains, as well. It works to neutralize the ammonia in urine, removing the strong scent. We do not recommend using vinegar on fresh urine, as it may encourage your pet to urinate there again.
Absorb as much as you can with a clean towel and then blot the area with a cool cloth. Make a solution of 1:1 vinegar and white to spray onto the stain. Allow the solution to penetrate deep into the carpet fibers to neutralize the scent.
Use paper towels to soak up the leftover solution. Sprinkle the other magic ingredient —
baking soda — onto the area to further absorb any remaining odors.
Use Shaving Cream
One of our favorite stain removal hacks is using foaming shaving cream. It’s made with active ingredients that are very similar to what you’ll find in your household soaps.
Apply the cream onto the stain and let sit for at least 30 minutes. You can leave it on a little longer for more stubborn stains.
Blot the remaining cream with a dry white cloth when it’s done. Use the 1:1 vinegar and water solution from above to spray onto the area. Wipe away the with a clean cloth.
How to Remove Stains Made Easy
Now that you know how to remove stains, it’s time to put your knowledge into action.
Don’t be discouraged if our hacks didn’t work for every stain on your carpet, though. Stubborn stains may call for professional help. We can help deep clean your soiled and spotty carpets so you can reclaim your living spaces.
Check out our
carpet cleaning options for your home.
