Accidents happen, life gets messy, and children have too much bound up energy to bother worrying about staining your new carpet. That’s why it’s important to know how to remove the most popular kind of household stains: ink, blood, coffee, and juice.
Ink
Anyone with carpet in their home knows how much of a problem ink stains can be- they are resistant to many cleaning methods and stain almost instantly. Luckily, ink can still be removed by using the following method:
- Dampen a while cloth using isopropyl alcohol and dab the stain with the dampened cloth. Keep in mind that the higher percentage of alcohol, you use, the better it will work.
- Do not rub or scrub the stain, and repeat the treatment if the stain hasn’t gone away.
- Once the stain is gone, dry the area with a vacuum cleaner.
Tips:
- To ensure that the type of carpet you have will not be damaged further by the alcohol, perform a spot test on an area of the carpet that is hidden from view.
- Alternatively, you can use products like nail polish remover, some hair sprays, and white vinegar as long as they contain a high alcohol content.
Blood
Blood is a stain that many home owner dread. However, the actual occurrence of said stain isn’t as bad it appears, as it can be handled relatively easy, returning the carpet to its former state.
- To remove a blood stain, fill a spray bottle with cold water and add 2 teaspoons of dish detergent. Spray the mixture onto the stain so that the blood spot is entirely soaked.
- Use a paper towel or white cloth to lift the spot from the carpet using a blotting motion.
- Rinse the spot with cold water and repeat if the stain persists.
Tips:
- Never use hot water on blood stains: heat causes blood to coagulate and penetrate further into the carpet fibers.
Coffee
Coffee stains can leave your carpet looking dirty and unsanitary even it has been washed and the stain has been cleaned up.
- Blot the coffee stain with a white towel. If the stain is large, be sure to switch to another clean towel once your original has become saturated with coffee.
- Mix together water, vinegar, and non-bleaching detergent and use a sprayer to saturate the area.
- Rinse the area with clean water and repeat the process if necessary.
Juice
If you have kids in your home, your carpet has probably fallen victim to juice spills. If so, don’t worry. Even the toughest of juice spilled (kool-aid, in particular!) can be removed.
- Blot the stain with a white towel.
- In a spray bottle, combine one tablespoon dish soap, water, and ¼ cup of white vinegar and spray the mixture onto the stain. Allow it to soak for 5-10 minutes.
- Blot with another clean, dry towel until the stain has lifted.
Tips:
- On tough stains, using a product such as RESOLVE or Oxiclean and the vinegar mixture alternatively, can be beneficial.
