We’ve all been there. You’re having a party and someone spills red wine all over your carpet. Or perhaps your kids got stuck in the rain and ran in the house and onto the carpet with muddy shoes. Either way, you’re left with a stained carpet. You may have tried just rubbing it out with some soap and a damp towel, but you’re still left with a mess. If you’ve ever been left with a carpet stain you can’t get out, we’ve found some tips to help you when it comes to removing stains from carpet and get your carpet clean. After scouring the internet, here are some things you can try.
Tips for Removing Stains from Your Carpet ASAP
While you may be tired after hosting a party and take the “I’ll do it later” approach, it’s best to attack the stain as soon as you see it. The more you let it set in, the greater the chance of it becoming part of your carpet. This is especially true with red wine stains.
When you first notice a stain like this, look for any physical debris. Use a fork or a spoon to remove it. Don’t put too much pressure. Doing so will just dig the mess deeper into the carpet fibers. Next, take a damp cloth or paper towel to dab the spot. Be sure to use plain fabric or paper towels without any colors. These could also seep into the carpet. Gently press into the stain. This could take a while, so stay the course, and don’t give up!
Once you’ve done this, pre-treat the area with a stain removal solution. To finish the process, rinse the spot with cool water. Don’t use warm water. Let the space dry and take a look at whether the stain got out. If it didn’t, you’ll want to repeat the entire process.
Use an Ice Pack
This tip is useful depending on the type of stain you’re dealing with. Using an ice pack can help to remove a candle wax stain or a stain of something else that has melted onto your rug.
Rub an ice pack on the wax until it gets hard. Then, break it up gently. Once you have the little pieces, vacuum them up. Treat the spot with a dry-solvent carpet cleaner. Follow the directions on the bottle. When you’re done, dab the area with a warm, damp cloth, then blot-dry it again.
The same can be done if you have gum stuck in your carpet (yuck!). Use a bag of ice cubes over the gum to get it hard. Then chip away with it using a dull knife. Vacuum it up and also use a dry-solvent carpet cleaner.
Use Dishwashing Detergent
Some stains react well to some simple dishwashing detergent. That’s the case when it comes to that mud and dirt we were talking about earlier. If you have one of these stains on your carpet, start by letting it dry before vacuuming it. This is the opposite of the “attack it fast” approach you would take with a red wine stain or other similar stains.
Don’t rub it in because that will just deepen the stain. Once it’s dried, vacuum over the area several times. Do this until most of the dirt is picked up. Then, mix one teaspoon of dishwashing detergent with one cup of warm water. Use the solution to blot over the area until the stain is gone.
Try a Homemade Solution
Many times, items you have in your home, like dishwashing detergent, can be used to clean or at least pre-treat carpet stains. If you have a coffee stain on the carpet that’s turned yellow and a bit unsightly, try using this tip to get it out.
Start by drying the spot with a dry white towel if the stain is still wet. If it’s already dried, you can skip to the next step. Use a mixture of ¼ cup vinegar, one tablespoon of Dawn, and a quart of warm water in a spritzer bottle. Spray the area and then let it soak in for 5-10 minutes. Then, blot it dry with a clean towel until the stain is removed. You may need to do this a few times to remove the stain.
While you’ll want to use these tips to remove carpet stains yourself, there are other times when you’ll want to have a professional come in to clean your home. At Maid Luxe, we offer regular maid service so you don’t have to worry about taking the time to clean your home.
Cleaning Services from Maid Luxe
When you hire a housekeeper from MaidLuxe you can expect the following services in a general cleaning. This is what is included in the Essentials Maintenance Cleaning Service.
- Dust
- Ceiling fans & light fixtures
- Blinds & window sills
- Wood moldings
- Baseboards
- Lamps & lampshades
- Picture frames & household ornaments
- Dust & polish furniture
- Hand Wash
- Outside of appliances
- Stovetop
- Countertops & backsplash
- All sinks
- All Mirrors
- Shower/bathtub and tile
- All bathroom counters
- Empty wastebaskets
- Make beds, One set of sheets changed
- Vacuum or dust stairs
- Vacuum and/or Mop all Floors
- Microwave interior/exterior cleaned
- Water inside plants
Some clients choose to have these services done weekly, while others choose bi-weekly or even monthly. We can set up a schedule to service your needs and budget. Our team is highly professional, so you can expect a glowing home each time we come in.
