How to Remove Different Kinds of Carpet Stains

Remove carpet stains with club soda.

No matter how hard you try, carpet stains will occur at some point. Drinks and food are the worst culprits, especially with small children leaving small bits of food behind like a crumb trail. Coffee, tea or wine also rank high on the carpet stain list. Oil and grease stains may also leave their black marks on carpets if you have a weekend mechanic in the house. Certain cleaning products and tools can rid your carpet of these ugly blemishes.

Things You'll Need

• White paper towels
• Club soda
• Clean cloths
• Grease-cutting dish soap
• Bucket
• Rags
• Towels
• Baking soda
• Vacuum
• Soft-bristle brush or old toothbrush
• Fan

Instructions

Removing Drink or Food Stains

1. Blot liquid spills from the carpet with white paper towels. Avoid pressing the paper towels into the carpet; dab at the moisture gently to keep from pushing the stain deeper into carpet fibers.

2. Pour 3 to 4 tablespoons of club soda onto a clean cloth and blot the cloth into the stained area. Pour additional club soda onto the cloth for larger stains. Allow the club soda to work on the stain for five minutes.

3. Lift the stain from the carpet by pressing white cloths or paper towels into the affected area. Replace cloths or paper towels as the stain releases from the carpet.

4. Mix 1/2 teaspoon grease-cutting soap with a half bucket of warm water. Dip a cloth into the water and rub into any remaining stains on the carpet.

5. Rinse the soap and stains from the area with a damp rag. Press towels into the carpet to remove excess liquid.

Removing Oil Stains

1. Blot the carpet with white paper towels.

2. Sprinkle baking soda liberally over the remaining oil in the carpet. Allow the baking soda to absorb the oil from the carpet for two to three hours.

3. Vacuum the baking soda from the carpet.

4. Mix 1 tablespoon grease-cutting dish soap into a bucket of warm water. Apply the soapy mixture to the carpet with a soft-bristle brush or old toothbrush. Scrub the floor gently, loosening the oil or grease from the carpet.

5. Wipe the soap and stain away by blotting with damp cloths. Remove all soap from the carpet. Dry the carpet with towels, or direct a fan toward the wet area to help with the drying time.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have a wet/dry vacuum, you may use it on both oil and food stains.

References

• Mrs. Clean: Carpet Stain Removal Tips
• This Old House: How to Remove Every Type of Carpet Stain