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Glue and chewing gum may often find their way onto your carpet if you have younger children. These types of messes can be frustrating and difficult to deal with, even with the use of commercial cleaners. The trick for gum is to use an ice cube to freeze it. Once the gum is frozen, it should peel off without leaving a residue behind. If there is still a stain, use undiluted white vinegar on it. Dip an old toothbrush in the vinegar and gently scrub the stain, blotting the area with a dry, clean cloth.
Dried glue on carpet can be removed with a mixture of vinegar and water (half and half). Spray at the glue with the solution using a spray bottle and then blot it away with a clean sponge. For more stubborn glue spots, warm the vinegar solution up on the stove or in the microwave before spraying the spot. Allow the solution to sit on the spot for 10 to 15 minutes before blotting. You may have to scrape at it with a plastic putty knife. - Grease can be very difficult and most people don't know how to properly clean it. One "green" way of cleaning grease out of carpet is to sprinkle the stain or spot with a little bit of cornmeal. Allow the cornmeal to sit on the stain for five minutes. Create a mixture of half vinegar and half water and then sponge the area clean with this mixture. You may want to first sweep most of the cornmeal up and then blot the rest of the cornmeal up with the vinegar and water mixture.
- Most people think their carpet or upholstery is a lost cause when red wine gets spilled on it. Fortunately, there is a "green" way to clean it that won't make the stain worse and is safe for the environment. You should clean the spill immediately for best results. If the carpet is light-colored, sprinkle salt on the spill and allow it to sit for 15 minutes. The salt will naturally absorb the stain, eventually turning pink in color. Brush or vacuum the salt away (carefully) and then clean the area with a mixture of one-third of a cup of white vinegar and two-thirds of a cup of water.
