No matter how hard we try, carpet stains seem like an unavoidable evil that all homeowners will deal with at some point. Whether it is a child spilling some dark red juice on the carpet or a pet leaving a "special surprise", it is bound to happen. So when it comes to carpet stain removal, what can we do? Let The Carpet Guys teach you how to properly perform carpet stain removal and keep your carpet installation looking good.
Some carpet stain removal can be taken care of without paying for professional carpet cleaning. At least having the right carpet pad will keep these stains from hitting the floor below, but that does not remove the stain. It all depends on the method you use. To touch on every kind of stain that can occur, we have included them below with a proper stain removal technique for each one.
These kinds of stains are known to do the most visual damage to newly installed flooring. Water soluble stains typically consist of items such as:
If you are experiencing any of these carpet stains, try making your own cleaning solution using 1/4 teaspoon of a non bleach detergent (like white vinegar) and mix that with about thirty two ounces of water. Bleaching carpet can ruin the color of the material, so it is good to avoid this chemical as a carpet stain removal method as much as possible.
There are certain water soluble stains that need a little more attention and cleaning such as mustard, blood, or vomit. For these super tough stains, try a teaspoon of ammonia and mix that with a cup of water. Make sure you do not use this carpet stain removal method on wool blend carpet. Try using some water and a mild detergent for this material. If this does not help at all, you may need to try some chlorine bleach with a good amount of water. Make sure to use this stain removal method only on solution dyed carpeting, for the color can once again be ruined by bleach.
For wax and oil stains from items like candles, try putting a paper bag or some paper towel on top of it. Grab an iron and put it on a warm setting and place on top of the bag or towel. This should cause the wax or oil to stick on the bag or towel. You can also place a bag of ice on top of the stain and freeze it. Take a dull knife and gently rub the carpeting to break it and vacuum it up.
To remove stains from nail polish, take a rag with some nail polish remover on it and lightly dab at the affected area until the stain begins to disappear. For any kind of cigarette burns, simply take a dull knife and lightly rub the material to break it apart and vacuum it up.
If you happen to spill glue onto the carpeting, this can be taken care of with a moist cotton ball or a rag with a little bit of rubbing alcohol on it. Once the glue has moistened up, gently wipe it off and continue this process until it is clean.
If your home does not experience any kind of stain situations, it is still recommended by manufacturer and retailer to have professional carpet cleaning done every twelve to eighteen months. This is to help maintain a quality look and feel in the material and to also lengthen the life it comes with. There are some extremely tough stains that are hard to remove on your own, so the best stain removal technique may be carpet cleaning. If the carpet stain removal methods listed above are not working, this is something you might want to consider.