We’ve all been there, your brand-new carpet and you spill something on it. Which fills you with dread as you contemplate whether or not it might leave a stain.
Well worry not, as if you’re worried about your carpet, here are 3 of the most common stains you’re likely to encounter on your carpet and how you can remove them:
1. Coffee Stain Removal
It might be known as the nectar of the gods but, when you get it on your carpets, coffee can become a nightmare. That is, unless you know how the best carpet cleaning method to prevent stains:
Step 1 – Blot the Area
As soon as your coffee is spilled, get some clean paper towels or a cloth and blot up the area. Here you want to remove as much of the moisture as you can before it soaks into your carpet.
Step 2 – Clean the Stain
To really get the coffee out of your carpet, make a solution up with two cups of warm water, a tablespoon of dish soap and a tablespoon of white vinegar. You should add this solution in small parts and blot away the moisture with a dry cloth. This should be repeated until the stain has disappeared.
To finish off the area use some cold water to rinse and blot until dry for the final time.
2. Red Wine Stain Removal
Regardless of whether you’re enjoying a relaxing glass of wine after a tough week or you’re having a party – red wine can often be top of our tipple list. The problem is, as delicious as red wine is, if you happen to spill some on your carpet, it can be an absolute nightmare to remove and may end up staining that carpet.
So, if the worst happens, how do you go about red wine carpet stain removal:
Step 1 – Blotting
The key to carpet cleaning a red wine stain is time. So, as soon as the wine is spilled, you need to start blotting up any excess wine using a clean cloth. It is very important here that you do not rub the stain, as this will embed the red wine into the fibres of your carpet making it harder to remove.
You can also add a little water to the stain and continue blotting it with clean sections of a cloth. This will dilute any wine residue down and remove it. You should keep adding little dribbles of water until there is no more wine getting removed from this method. Remember, if your cloth is getting too stained, you should swap it out for another clean and dry cloth for best results.
Step 2 – Make a Baking Soda Paste
Your next course of action is to make a paste in a bowl that is three parts baking soda and one-part water. Stir this up until it’s thick and smooth. You should then apply your paste in a nice and even coating over the stain – you may wish to use brush here or spatula.
This paste should then be left to completely dry and can then be hoovered up to hopefully show a stain free carpet.
Step 3 – If the Stain Persists
If you remove your baking soda paste and there’s still a stain left, it’s time to try out a chemical carpet cleaning solution. You will find all sorts of different brands available in your local shops, so just pick stain remover that you like and follow the instructions on the packet.
Generally, you will likely apply the spray and leave for a certain amount of time and then clean the area. Once dry, give it a good vacuum and inspect the results.
If you regularly drink red wine and you’re worried about your carpets, it can be worth buying a few cheap rugs to put down – even if these rugs only come out when you’re drinking. Then, if there are any spillages, you won’t be so bothered if the rug gets stained.
3. Pet Stain Removal
Our pets are part of the family, which is why they often have the run of our homes. The only problem is, when accidents occur, pet stains and the odour from these stains can really ruin our carpets. Indeed, if carpet cleaning doesn’t work, many of us consider replacing our carpets entirely.
However, if you deal with these pet stains quickly, carpet stain removal can actually be very easy. Just follow these steps as soon as the accident occurs:
Step 1 – Soak Up the Moisture
When it comes to urine or vomit, you should get some paper towels and try to soak up any moisture as soon as possible – particularly before any smell seeps into your carpet. You should keep repeating the motion of pressing paper towels down and removing them until the area is no longer soaking wet.
Step 2 – Repeat!
Once you’ve completed step 1, we often wrongly assume that all the moisture is gone. However, to really get rid of everything, put on some heavy boots, place another paper towel down and stand on the area for at least a minute. You might be surprised at how much more moisture gets picked up.
Step 3 – Rinse the Area
The next step is to get some clean, cold water and really rinse out the area. You’ll want to ensure that you really get the water deep into the fibres of your carpet, especially if you have a long pile. You should then repeat Steps 1 and 2, removing the moisture with paper towels. Once dry your carpet should be looking as good as new.
Unfortunately, we don’t always catch pet stains as soon as they occur, which is when you might to try carpet stain removal. Try to keep away from chemical carpet cleaning solutions, though, as the strong smell can actually exacerbate the urine smell and encourage your pets to re-stain the area.
Instead, try adding a solution that is half white vinegar and half water and really scrub it into the area. This will neutralise the smell of urine and help stop your pet using the area again.
If your carpets have had a lot of spills over the years, or you’re just looking for a really good deep clean, contact us here at Insta Clean NW and we can give you a free quote to get your carpets professionally cleaned.