How to Take Gatorade Fruit Punch Stains Off of Carpet

Gatorade can leaves a bright red stain in carpeting.

In 1965, Gatorade beverages were developed by a team of physicians enlisted to help football players suffering adverse reactions to heat. Gatorade replaces lost liquids and electrolytes in the body, according to Gatorade.com. Over the years, Gatorade has branched out into more than the original citrus flavor and is enjoyed not only by sports lovers. The dye in fruit punch-flavored Gatorade requires careful and quick removal when it stains your carpet.

Things You'll Need

• Paper towels
• Bowl
• 1 tbsp. dishwashing detergent
• 1 tbsp. white vinegar
• Clean cloths
• Rubbing alcohol
• Clothing iron

Instructions

1. 

   Absorb excess Gatorade with paper towels.

   Press two or three layers of paper towels into the stained carpet to absorb the Gatorade fruit punch. Discard the towels as they absorb the stain and repeat the process to remove as much liquid as possible.

2. Mix 1 tbsp. each of mild liquid dishwashing detergent and white vinegar with 2 cups of warm water in a bowl. Wet a clean cloth with the detergent and vinegar solution, then squeeze out excess moisture. Blot the stain to wet it. Leave the detergent and vinegar solution on the stain for 30 minutes, blotting with a clean cloth at five-minute intervals.

3. Rinse the carpet by blotting with a water-dampened cloth. Wet a clean cloth with rubbing alcohol and sponge the stain to remove as much red stain as possible.

4. Treat any remaining stain by transferring it to a clean cloth with heat. Rinse out the bowl with the vinegar and detergent solution. Pour 2 cups of warm water into the bowl and add 5 drops of dishwashing detergent. Mix thoroughly.

5. 

   Heat from an iron transfers red stains from carpeting.

   Dampen a clean cloth with the diluted detergent solution and lay it over the remaining red Gatorade stain. Press the cloth with a clothing iron heated to the "Low" heat setting for five seconds at a time to wick out the stain. Move to a clean portion of the cloth and repeat this step until the last remnants of red stain have been removed.

6. Allow the carpet to air-dry completely.

Tips & Warnings

• Cover a fresh Gatorade fruit punch stain immediately with table salt, powder or cornstarch to absorb the liquid before it can soak into the carpet.

• Combine 1 tbsp. of ammonia with 1 cup of warm water to remove color from a fruit punch stain.

References

• Gatorade: History
• Good Housekeeping: Stain Buster--Fruit Punch
• Re-Nest; How to Clean Every Type of Carpet Stain; Rachel Wray Thompson; May 10, 2010
• How to Remove Carpet Stains: Kool Aid and Other Red Stains