How to Clean Spills on Carpet
The carpets in your home probably take a lot of abuse. From children to pets and household guests, carpets succumb to a variety of messy situations including muddy shoes, spilled drinks, pet hair and crayons. To keep your carpets looking new as long as possible, it is important to attack potential stains quickly before they become absorbed in the carpet. Once set, stains are much harder to remove without a professional carpet extractor. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- White towels
- Dish detergent
- Ammonia
- Rubbing alcohol
- Hydrogen peroxide
- White vinegar
- Brick
Instructions
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Removing Carpet Stains
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1
Attend to the spill immediately by blotting excess moisture with a clean, white towel or vacuuming dry spills. Using a white towel is important to prevent the dye from a colored towel from bleeding into the rug and creating a larger stain.
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2
Determine the best method of removing the stain based on the type of carpet and the substance that has spilled. If you are cleaning an expensive area rug or a carpet made from natural fibers, refer to the carpet's care instructions or contact a professional before applying a stain removal treatment. For general wall-to-wall carpeting, refer to a spot removal cleaning guide such as the online resource FabricLink, which gives step-by-step directions for cleaning dozens of tough stains. Common homemade stain removers for carpeting include dish detergent, ammonia, rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide and white vinegar.
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3
Test the cleaning solution on an inconspicuous area of the carpet to ensure that it won't damage the carpet fibers prior to cleaning the spill.
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4
Apply the appropriate cleaning solution to the spill, making sure to blot the solution into the stain--never rub it in using a circular motion. This will damage the carpet fibers and could increase the size of the stain by spreading the spill.
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5
Use clean water to remove the cleaning solution and stain. Put a thick white towel over the wet area and cover with a brick to absorb excess moisture and pull the spill up from the carpet backing. Once the area is dry, remove the towel and brush the carpet so that the fibers don't appear matted.
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