How Do You Get Stains Out Of Carpets

Accidents are bound to happen at one time or the other.

Even if you take every precaution to protect your carpets to ensure that stains don’t occur, an incident can occur in an instant with ketchup, a sippy cup, a drop of blood, your beloved pet who just could not hold it any longer or Kool-Aid.

In fact, there are a truly limitless amount of ways that your carpets can get stained.

However, if you are educated and armed with the right knowledge, you can help remove these stains simply and effectively.

 So the question still remains, how exactly do you get rid of carpet stains? 

There are various ways in which you can do so, and while some methods involve home remedies, others include buying store-bought detergents. There are truly dozens of ways in which you can clean your carpets and eliminate stains.

However, some methods are more effective than others, so let’s take a closer look at how you can get rid of carpet stains and which techniques you should be investing in.

How do you get deep dirt stains out of the carpet?

If you have carpets that you are proud of, you’ll likely be reminding family members and friends to remove their shoes before coming into carpeted rooms, yell at them to not bring food onto your carpets.

However, you can’t watch everyone all of the time.

Sooner or later someone’s bound to bring a cup of coffee or gravy boat and spill it all over your rooms your carpeted floors.

Instinctively, you want to search for stain removal solutions and start cleaning your carpets.

However, before reaching for that carpet cleaning detergent, you may find the best carpet cleaning solution is in fact, water.

Another tip is that you should never rub a stain on your carpet and instead blot it clean with a slightly damp white cloth.

Rubbing a carpet stain simply pushes the stain deeper into the carpet fibers and makes it harder to remove.

You will have times when plain water will not work, especially if the stain is quite tough. In this case, you can use a cup of stain remover or a homemade DIY solution.

However, the best carpet stain remover will be tailored to what caused the stain in the first place.

Here are some tips to help you clean dirt off your carpets.

When it comes to cleaning mud, you need to allow the mud to dry completely before treating your carpets.

Next, you should ensure that you scrape as much of it as you possibly can and then vacuum whatever is left behind.

Pour your detergent solution or DIY cleaner on the stain and let the solution stand for approximately 10 to 15 minutes.

Thereafter you should start blotting the stain. You can also use a paper towel to do so.

What do you need for cleaning the stains out of carpets?

When it comes to cleaning carpets, the trick is to know what type of stain you’re dealing with.

This is because cleaning up coffee is different from cleaning up wine and therefore involves different solutions and supplies.

In most cases, everything you will probably need to clean up your carpets is already what you have in your cupboards.

Irrespective of which solution you need to clean up your mess, always ensure that you blot the stain instead of rubbing it.

Rubbing the stain makes it go further into your carpet fibers and makes the stain even harder to get out.

Cleaning your carpets at home can save you lots of money in the long run when compared to hiring professional cleaning companies a few times a year.

However, what you need to remember is that do-it-yourself cleaning options do not have the cleaning power that professional cleaning tools to deliver.

But most rental centers will provide a half-day and a full day rental service depending on the cost.

However, if you don’t choose to take this route, then here are a few tools that you can use to clean your carpets at home.

• Vacuum
• Carpet shampoo
• Rubber gloves
• Pre-spray
• Steamer
• Defoamer

Before you start cleaning, ensure that you read the directions on the machine and manufacturing instructions and then vacuum your carpets.

Also, do a spot test on your carpets with the clean solutions that you’re using to ensure that it does not stain or damage your carpets.

This test should be done on a conspicuous area of the carpet, such as underneath a closet.

If you are using the hot water extraction method, the windows should be open, or a fan should be turned on to expedite the drying process.

In order to prevent mold and mildew growth, you need to ensure that your carpets dry in approximately 24 hours.

Ultimately when you’re creating a certain type of stain, make sure your solution is right for the type of stain and the carpet as well.

Toughest carpet stains and how to remove them

• Wine or juice: If you’ve spilled a vibrant beverage such as red wine, white wine, or juice on your carpet, you can remove the stain with club soda. Thereafter, blot with a clean microfiber cloth and repeat this process until the stain is gone.
• Chocolate: Using a knife, scrape away as much of the chocolate as you possibly can. If the chocolate is melted, then place a sealable plastic bag with ice cubes over the stain to harden the remaining chocolate residues before scraping it off. Then vacuum any loose pieces and then mix with liquid dish soap and 1 cup of water to remove the stain. When cleaning chocolate, you want to work from the outside towards the center. The solution should be left on for at least five minutes or until the stain is gone.
• Candle wax: An ice pack should be left on the wax until it hardens. Then you can vacuum up the remaining pieces. Apply dry solvent cleaner to the affected area and then follow the manufacturer’s instructions and blot to dry. Dab the area with a warm damp cloth and then blot dry with a paper towel.
• Coffee or tea: When you are cleaning coffee or tea, mix two tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide with one tablespoon of dish soap. First, you should blot the stain and apply the solution directly on it. Let it sit for a few seconds, and you can then work the solution into fingers, and blot until the stain is removed.
• Blood: Ad cold water and club soda to the stain and then blot to clean. This process is all that is needed, and it should be repeated completely until the stain is completely gone.
• Fat stains: Fat stains such as margarine or butter can be removed using baking soda. You should sprinkle the baking soda and let it sit for up to six hours. Thereafter, vacuum and blot with a cloth that is moistened with rubbing alcohol. You can also make use of a dry solvent spot carpet cleaner to remove these fatty stains.
• Bubblegum: Try to peel away as much of the gum as you possibly can. If it’s too soft, harden it with ice cubes and chip away with a spoon or knife.

Do vacuums help with the carpet stains?

A vacuum cleaner is probably one of the most versatile cleaning tools you can have in your home.

You can think of it as your go-to appliance cleaner as well.

Vacuum cleaners work by using suction to remove dirt, debris, and lots of other particles from carpets.

It does not use water, and it cannot be used with any type of cleanup.

Regular vacuuming will keep your carpets looking fresh; however, eventually, you’ll notice dirty marks and stains that a vacuum just can’t handle.

This is when it’s time to get out your carpet steamer.

So the truth is vacuum cleaners do help you clean your carpet by sucking in the dirt and residues; however, in order for carpets to be truly cleaned and sanitized, you will need a steam cleaner.

Related Questions

Are homemade carpet cleaning solutions better than store-bought ones?

The are various solutions, both homemade and commercial carpet cleaners, on the market as well, and depending on the type of stain, certain solutions will work better than others.

In some cases, all you need to clean the carpet stains in cold water.

Should I rub or blot a stain when cleaning?

You should never ever rub a stain when cleaning and always blot instead.

This is simply because rubbing the stains simply pushes it further down into the carpet fibers making it even harder to get out.

Can I get rid of carpet stains with my vacuum cleaner?

No, your vacuum can assist in the cleaning process by sucking in dirt and debris left on your carpets; however, in order to remove stains, you will need a carpet steamer.