Spot and Stain Removal

Stain solutions for your carpet

No carpet is stain proof, but since many are stain resistant, you have time to act. Remove as much of food spills as possible by scraping the carpet gently with a spoon or a dull knife. Absorb wet spills quickly by blotting repeatedly with white paper or white cloth towels. Always blot; never rub or scrub abrasively, as a fuzzy area may result. When blotting, work from the outer edge in toward the center of the spot to avoid spreading the spill. Remove the stain using one of the cleaning items from the checklist below. Rinse the cleaned carpet area with water to remove detergent residue that may become sticky and cause rapid re-soiling. Absorb any remaining moisture by placing several layers of white towels over the spot and weighing them down with a heavy object. This step is necessary even when the carpet doesn’t seem particularly damp.

Be prepared for any spill with the following checklist:

1. White cloths or white paper towels

2 Detergent solution: Mix mild liquid detergent with water (no more than 1/4 teaspoon of detergent to 32 ounces of water). A clear, non-bleach liquid dishwashing detergent such as Dawn, Joy, or clear Ivory is recommended. Do not use detergents that are cloudy or creamy because they may leave a sticky residue.

3. Vinegar solution: Mix 1 part white vinegar to 1 part water.

4. Ammonia solution: Mix one tablespoon of ammonia to one cup of water. (Do not use on wool or wool-blend carpets.)

5. Non-oily nail polish remover

6. Chewing gum remover (freeze or solid type)

7. Spot Remover: Use spot removers designed specifically for grease, oil, or tar, such as Carbona or Energine.

8. Specialty Spot Removers

Common Stain Removal

1. Water Soluble Stains:

(Alcoholic Beverages, Beer, Berries, Cola Drinks, Calcium Chloride, Excrement, Food Dyes, White Glue, Gravy, Ice Cream, Washable Ink, Jelly, Milk, Wet Paint, Wet Latex Paint)

What you will need: Clear dish washing detergent- mix 1/4 teaspoon of detergent with 1 cup warm water. Hydrogen Peroxide/Ammonia solution- mix 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide (3% solution available in drug stores) with one teaspoon undiluted, unscented clear, non sudsy, household ammonia. Mixture must be used within two hours of mixing.

White vinegar Clean dry cloths Paper towels Plastic Wrap Scrape or blot up excess spill. Apply detergent solution to carpet using a damp cloth. Blot- do not rub or scrub If stain is removed, follow with step 5 and stop. If spot is not removed, continue with step 6. Using a fresh cloth, apply clean water to rinse, insuring that you remove all detergent residue. If spot remains, apply ammonia using a damp cloth. Blot, do not rub or scrub. Apply hydrogen peroxide/ammonia solution, let stand for 2-3 hours under a weighted sheet of plastic wrap. (for weight use a water bottle or glass baking dish) Repeat application of hydrogen peroxide/ammonia solution and allow to dry until removal is complete. Apply undiluted white vinegar using a clean dry cloth only after stain is removed. Apply water with a damp towel to rinse. Blot. Apply a thick stack of paper towels to the area and weight them with a heavy object such as a jug of water or glass baking dish and leave for several hours.

2. Oil Based Stains:

(Asphalt, Butter, Crayons, Auto Grease, Food Grease, Ball Point Pen Ink, Lip Stick, Dry Paint, Latex Paint, Oil Base Paint, Shoe Polish)

Blot as much as possible with white paper towels. Apply the special oil and grease spot remover (Spot remover specifically for grease, oil, or tar, such as Carbona or Afta.) to a paper towel and repeat blotting. (Protective gloves should be worn, as the solvent will quickly remove oils from the skin and could result in irritation.) Do not pour or spray directly on the carpet pile, as damage to the backing or adhesive underneath could result; use the towels to transport the solvent to the carpet. Repeat as often as necessary.
Provide adequate ventilation. Do not use flammable solvents.
If necessary, continue to: Blot the stained area with white towels dampened with cool water until there is no more transfer of the stain onto the towels.
Then use the detergent solution. Spray lightly onto the spot and blot repeatedly with white towels, working from the outer edge in toward the center of the spot to avoid spreading.
Rinse thoroughly by spraying with clean water, and then blot or extract. Do not use too much detergent because the residue will contribute to rapid re-soiling.

3. Betadine:

These stains should be removed only by a professional cleaner.

4. Spacial Water Soluble Stains:

(Dry Blood, Wet Blood, Chocolate,Coffee, Mustard, Tea, Vomit, Wine)

5. Freeze

(Gum)

What you will need: Ice Cubes Butter Knife Solvent- Liquid, non oily, non caustic type sold for spot removal from garments.Use products for grease, oil and tar removal such as Carbona and Afta. Do not apply directly to the carpet to prevent damage. Clear dish washing detergent- mix 1/4 teaspoon of detergent with 1 cup warm water. Clean dry cloths Paper towels.

Scrape or blot excess spill. Freeze with ice cubes. Shatter with a butter knife or other blunt object. Remove chips from carpet. If color remains, follow with solvent. Apply solvent to dry towel/cloth. Blot- don t rub or scrub. Repeat steps 1 & 2 until there is no longer transfer Apply detergent solution to carpet using a damp cloth. Blot- do not rub or scrub Using a fresh cloth, apply clean water to rinse, insuring that you remove all detergent residue. Apply a thick stack of paper towels to the area and weight them with a heavy object such as a jug of water or glass baking dish and leave for several hours. If any stain remains after the wicking process, repeat steps 9-12.

6. Soluble Stains

(Cosmetics, Mud)

What you will need: Solvent- Liquid, non oily, non caustic type sold for spot removal from garments. Use products for grease, oil and tar removal such as Carbona and Afta. Do not apply directly to the carpet to prevent damage. Clear dish washing detergent- mix 1/4 teaspoon of detergent with 1 cup warm water. Clean dry cloths Paper towels.

Apply solvent to dry towel/cloth. Blot- don’t rub or scrub. Repeat steps 1 & 2 until there is no longer transfer Apply detergent solution to carpet using a damp cloth. Blot- do not rub or scrub Using a fresh cloth, apply clean water to rinse, insuring that you remove all detergent residue. Apply a thick stack of paper towels to the area and weight them with a heavy object such as a jug of water or glass baking dish and leave for several hours. If any stain remains after the wicking process, repeat steps 4-8.

7. Furniture Polish

8. Special Oil Based Stains:

(Permanent Ink)

9. Nail Polish

What you will need: Non oily nail polish remover (Acetone type) Clear dish washing detergent- mix 1/4 teaspoon of detergent with 1 cup warm water. Paper towels.

Apply the polish remover to a white, cotton towel and apply to the spill, blotting, being careful not to spread the polish. Do not saturate the carpet. Pick up softened material using a clean, white paper towel, push toward the center of the spot (to avoid spreading the material). Repeat above to soften and carefully remove a layer of the material each time. Once the polish is removed, follow with the following: Apply detergent solution to carpet using a damp cloth. Blot- do not rub or scrub Using a fresh cloth, apply clean water to rinse, insuring that you remove all detergent residue. If spot remains, apply ammonia using a damp cloth. Blot, do not rub or scrub. Apply undiluted white vinegar to the area, ONLY after the stain is removed. Apply a thick stack of paper towels to the area and weight them with a heavy object such as a jug of water or glass baking dish and leave for several hours.

10. Rust

These stains should be removed only by a professional cleaner.

11. Urine

What you will need: Clear dish washing detergent- mix 1/4 teaspoon of detergent with 1 cup warm water. Ammonia White vinegar Clean dry cloths Paper towels.

Scrape or blot up excess spill. Apply detergent solution to carpet using a damp cloth. Blot- do not rub or scrub Using a fresh cloth, apply clean water to rinse, insuring that you remove all detergent residue. If spot remains, apply ammonia using a damp cloth. Blot, do not rub or scrub. Apply undiluted white vinegar to the area, ONLY after the stain is removed. Apply a thick stack of paper towels to the area and weight them with a heavy object such as a jug of water or glass baking dish and leave for several hours.
Or try a professional cleaner.

12. Wax

Part 1 What you will need: White cotton towel or brown paper.

Scrape off excess material. Cover with white cotton towel or brown paper. Lightly apply warm iron to towel or paper until material absorbed. Be sure towel is large enough to cover stained area. Never touch the iron directly onto the carpet as the fiber may melt.! Change towel or rotate same towel to a clean area until all the material is absorbed.

Part 2 What you will need: Solvent-liquid, non-oily, non-caustic type sold for spot removal from garments. Use products for grease, oil and tar removal such as Carbona and Afta. Do not apply directly to the carpet to prevent dammage. Clear dish-washing detergent mix – 1/4 tsp of detergent with 1 cup warm water. Clean dry cloths. paper Towels.

Apply solvent to dry towel/cloth. Blot – don’t rub or scrub. Repeat steps 1 & 2 until there is no longer transfer. Apply detergent solution to carpet using a damp dry cloth. Blot- do not rub or scrub. Using a fresh cloth, apply clean water to rinse, insuring that you remove all of the detergent residue. Apply a thick stack of paper towels to the area and weigh them down with a heavy object such as a jug of water or glass baking dish and leave for several hours. if any stain remains after the wicking process, repeat detergent to water solution steps.