How to Get Washing Machine Detergent Out of Carpet

An accidental spill of washing machine detergent in the carpeting produces a thick, gooey stain. The thick liquid slowly seeps into carpet fibers, making the carpet feel like an oil slick. The wrong removal techniques can turn the mess into a disaster. Water and other liquids added to the detergent stain produce bubbles and foam, spreading the spill to surrounding carpet fibers. Careful and appropriate removal techniques and supplies allow you to clean up a detergent spill without making a bigger mess.

Things You'll Need

• Spoon
• Bowl
• Vacuum cleaner
• Table salt
• Carpet shampooer

Instructions

1. Scoop up washing machine detergent with a spoon and pour it into a bowl. If the detergent is a powder, vacuum up the rest.

2. Pour table salt over the remaining liquid detergent spill to absorb the remnants of the liquid. Use enough salt to make a mound over the stain. Allow the salt to remain on the carpet for one hour.

3. Remove the salt with a large spoon and discard. Repeat if needed, to absorb as much of the detergent as possible.

4. Fill the water reservoir of a carpet shampooer with warm water only. Run the shampooer back and forth over the stain as you normally would when shampooing the carpet. Repeat this process until the water extracted from the carpet is free of soap.

5. Allow the carpet to dry completely.

Tips & Warnings

• Substitute cat litter or sawdust to absorb spilled liquid laundry detergent.

References

• Good Housekeeping; Can Vinegar Dissolve a Laundry Detergent Spill?; Heloise
• Reader's Digest: 9 Common Items to Remove Carpet and Rug Stains