How to Get Tea Stains Out of Berber Carpet
Tea stains are a common problem on rugs and are relevantly easy to remove. However, the tannins and glucose that teas contain and the probable presence of wool in your rug do necessitate a specific procedure rather than a general stain-remover product. Patience is key when removing stains from Berber rugs, especially wool ones. Be prepared to repeat the entire process several times to remove the stain completely. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- White paper towels
- Sponge
- Mild dishwashing liquid
- White vinegar
- Rubbing alcohol
- Spray bottle
- Brick
Instructions
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1
Blot up as much tea as possible using white paper towels, recommends Good Housekeeping.
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2
Sponge the stain thoroughly with cool water and blot up any excess liquid with paper towels.
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3
Mix 1 tsp. of mild dishwashing liquid with 1 cup of warm water. Moisten three or four paper towels and firmly press down on the stain. Blot up excess liquid with paper towels. Repeat until the paper towels show no stain.
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4
Rinse thoroughly with water using a spray bottle and blot up any excess water with paper towels.
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5
Soak paper towels in rubbing alcohol and apply them to the stain, advises Cornell University's College of Human Ecology. Blot until the paper towels show no stain.
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6
Rinse thoroughly with water using a spray bottle and blot up any excess water with paper towels.
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7
Mix 1 part white vinegar with 2 parts water. Apply this mixture to the stain using a spray bottle and blot up excess liquid with paper towels.
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8
Apply the mix of dishwashing liquid and warm water again and blot with paper towels to remove excess liquid.
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9
Rinse thoroughly with cold water using a spray bottle. Blot up excess liquid with paper towels.
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10
Place several paper towels over the stain and weigh them down with a brick. Leave them until they are dry.
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11
Launder the entire rug if possible, advises Iowa State University.
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Tips & Warnings
Try cleaning procedures first on a small area of the rug that is not normally noticeable to check for damage.
Apply cleaning products using rubber gloves, and open the windows in your room.
Clean the stain as soon as possible. The longer it remains the harder it will be to remove.
Apply all liquids unevenly to the stain to avoid leaving a noticeable ring on your rug.
Never apply any bleach or chlorine solution to a Berber rug if it is made of wool.
Never scrub or rub the stain. This may damage the rug permanently.
Over-applying stain removal liquids can damage your rug. Apply as indicated.
