How to Get Tough Stains Out of Carpet
Tough carpet stains such as wine, grease or hair dye are hard to remove with traditional cleaning methods. Rather than pick up the phone and call your local steam cleaning service, there are a few methods you can use at home to remove tough stains and save yourself a little extra money. Some stains, however, may require a professional cleaner or carpet replacement if the stains are too set in the fibers. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Salt
- Vacuum cleaner
- White rag
- Club soda
- Baking soda
- Dry-cleaning solvent
- Sponge
- Liquid dishwashing soap
- Distilled white vinegar
- Warm water
Instructions
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Red Wine
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1
Sprinkle salt on top of the stain while it is wet and allow it to sit. Leave the salt on the stain overnight or for a minimum of six hours. The salt will turn pink or red once it has absorbed the stain. Vacuum up the remaining salt.
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2
Pour a small amount of club soda over the stain area. Use a clean, white rag to blot the stain. Press the cloth into the stain, lift the rag up and fold so that a clean portion of the rag is exposed. Move to another portion of the stain and continue the process. Do not rub or scrub.
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3
Spread salt over the stain again and wait for the area to dry. Vacuum up the remaining salt.
Grease
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4
Scrape away excess grease using a knife or putty blade.
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5
Cover the stain in baking soda to absorb the stain. Leave it for 10 to 15 minutes then vacuum up.
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6
Apply dry-cleaning solvent with a sponge to the stain. Blot the dry-cleaning solvent into the stain until it is absorbed.
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7
Mix 1 tbsp. liquid dishwashing soap with 1 tbsp. distilled white vinegar and 2 cups warm water. Apply the solution to the stain using a sponge. Do not scrub the solution into the stain; instead use a gentle blotting motion.
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8
Blot the solvent with a clean rag dipped in cold water until it is removed. Dry the stain by blotting with a clean white rag and allow the carpet to dry before use.
Hair Dye
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9
Blot the stain immediately with a clean white paper towel to pick up excess dye.
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10
Mix a 1/4 tsp. liquid dishwashing soap with 1 cup warm water for a cleaning solvent.
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11
Saturate and wring out a clean white cloth in the solvent. Start blotting the stain from the outside corner, working your way toward the inside. Make sure not to scrub the stain, which will spread the dye. Allow the solvent to sit on the stain for a minute and repeat if the stain has not lifted.
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12
Use a sponge dipped in cold water to rinse the solvent from the carpeting with a blotting motion. Blot dry with a clean white rag.
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1
Tips & Warnings
If you cannot remove the stain using traditional cleaning methods, consider cutting the carpet fibers away with a pair of scissors to reduce the amount of stain that you see. Cover the stain with furniture or a throw rug if it is in an easily covered area. Act fast when a stain occurs -- the faster you clean it up, the less likely it will stay permanently.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Photos.com/Photos.com/Getty Images
