Without question, stubborn stains can rile you up, especially when they’re on your carpet. Turn that frown upside down, though, as there are plenty of ways to remove tough blemishes from your rug.
Also, Carpet Cleaning Pros offering carpet moth infestation can come in handy – helping get rid of keratin-loving larvae that turn wool carpets into an eyesore. All the same, let’s go over some everyday stains you probably assumed were irreversible and explore ways to make them disappear.
1. Coffee Stains
You’re kicking your feet up while getting your caffeine fix when suddenly your child bumps into you, and all your precious coffee spills out on the floor. Don’t stress – this is a particularly easy stain to remove.
First, absorb the excess liquid with a clean cloth or paper towel. Then create a paste by combining one teaspoon of dishwashing detergent with two tablespoons of vinegar and a tablespoon of baking soda. Rub the paste into the blemish and let it sit for about 10 minutes. Vacuum up the residue, and you’ll be golden.
2. Red Wine
This is a common culprit and can be surprisingly difficult to remove – especially if the stain sets in. You can go about this in various ways. For instance, you may use club soda to blot up the liquid. The fizzy liquid helps break up the red dye from the wine, making the stain easier to remove.
Alternatively, create a paste by mixing baking soda and water, then use a sponge to dab it onto the stain. Let it sit for a few minutes or overnight – in case of a set-in stain. After that, wipe away the mixture and remove the remaining residue with a clean cloth.
3. Pet Accidents
Oh no, your pooch decided to pop a squat on your new floor covering. The mental anguish and frustration are real. Luckily, you can mitigate the damage.
Grab some paper towels or a cloth and suck up as much of the liquid as possible first. The idea is to keep it from soaking in too deep. Then, use a pet stain remover, such as an enzyme cleaner and follow the application instructions. The smell and stain should be gone unless, of course, your pet feels the need to mark its territory again – then you’ll be back to square one.
Or, put a mixture of water and white vinegar (equal parts) in a spray bottle and spritz it on the stain. Let it linger for a few minutes, and then wipe it off with a regular cloth or paper towel. That should do the trick, although you’ll need some elbow grease. While at it, steer away from stain removal tools that use heat to remove stains, as they’ll only worsen the situation by setting the stain in deeper.
4. Blood
Unfortunately, accidents happen, and someone in the house can end up with a bloody nose or cut. Ok, so that stain isn’t going to wash off easily – or is it?
Start by rinsing the spot with cold water and blotting out excess liquid with a paper towel. Then dab it with a few drops of ammonia added to two cups of lukewarm water. You’ll need to repeat this a few times to get out every bit.
If this doesn’t do the trick, apply some hydrogen peroxide and let it sit for an hour before rinsing off. It will take several attempts – but you should get the stain out eventually.
But when using this method, always test it on a small, hidden spot first to ensure the fabric won’t be discoloured. An enzyme cleaner also works well in this situation, so feel free to give it a try.
5. Grease Stains
Thanksgiving dinner has come and gone, which can mean there’s a greasy stain on your otherwise pristine carpet. What should you do?
Cover the stain with baking soda and leave it on for about 30 minutes before vacuuming the debris – this should help absorb some of the grease.
If not, mix one tablespoon of liquid dishwashing detergent (not laundry soap) with two cups of cool water. Dab the mixture onto the grease stain with a clean cloth and wait for about 15 minutes. Then, use a damp cloth to soak up the liquid. And just like that, that pesky grease stain is no more.
Don’t let hard-to-remove stains ruin your carpet and day. Use these accessible ingredients to weave some carpet magic and get your floor sparkling clean. But remember to test your cleaning methods on a small patch first to avoid nasty surprises later.
