How to Remove Carpet Stains
Ketchup drips. Chocolate drops. Wine spills. If the party's at your place, expect a festive, colorful carpet after your last guest has gone home. If you act fast, you'll keep common carpet visitors from taking up permanent residence in your home. First things first: Blot (don't soak) or spoon up the excess, then try the remedies below. Use a plastic bucket or old plastic container to create the solutions described.
Instructions
1. Step 1
Blot the excess. This is the overarching rule of carpet-stain cleaning. Don't soak or wipe it, otherwise you're stuck with the stain for life.
2. Step 2
Know your stain. Figure out what kind of stain you have on your hands. Unlike clothing, carpet stains can often be difficult to discern after a few moments. Smell it if you have to. Seriously.
3. Step 3
For grease stains, dab with a small amount of dry-cleaning fluid. Then, blot with a small amount of dishwashing liquid and warm water. Blot from the outside in, and let stand for five minutes.
4. Step 4
For juices and wines, mix a small amount of laundry detergent with lukewarm water (or ammonia) and blot the stain. Then, sponge lightly with club soda and blot on the detergent-water solution again.
5. Step 5
For eggs and dairy products, blot with ammonia and sponge with warm water. Then, blot with white vinegar and warm-water mixture.
6. Step 6
For ink, blot with dry-cleaning fluid, and then repeat the steps for step 3:
7. Step 7
Place paper towels over the stain and let dry, overnight if you have to. This is a universal step that should be performed after steps 3-6 (depending on stain type).
8. Step 8
Brush clean and vacuum once the stain is dry. The flat brush should pick up and dried particles that are lingering, and the vacuum will do the rest.
