How to: Remove Carpet Stains Easily

Remove Carpet Stains with Simple Tricks

If you’ve ever tried to remove carpet stains, then you’ll know that it can be quite a challenge. In fact, that’s probably why you’re here. Fortunately, there are a few tricks that we have to share, which should make it easier for you to remove carpet stains in your home. 

This post will share with you:

1. A standard procedure for carpet stain removal:

2. A few home-made concoctions you can create to remove carpet stains; and

3. Ways to deal with different types of stains from red wine to ink.

Before we begin, it’s important to note that the sooner you deal with a stain, the easier it is to remove. We recommend tending to stains as soon as they happen.

Check our this video by Martha Stewart for a start:

How to Remove Carpet Stains

Step 1: Remove the Culprit Immediately

As soon as you (or your kids) have spilt something on your carpet, try to remove ay excess liquid/solids immediately.

If it’s a liquid, DO NOT rub it. Get an absorbent cloth or paper towel and dab it repeatedly. Do this as many times as possible until the cloth stops soaking up an excess liquid.

If it’s a solid, pick up as much as you can using your hands, a cloth, or a paper towel. Then scrap of any remaining solids using a spoon or a butter knife before it drys and gets stuck in the carpet fibres. 

Step 2: Apply a Stain Remover

Apply a carpet stain removal product following the manufacturers instructions. If you don’t have one lying around your home, then you can make one with vinegar. 

Add 1 teaspoon of white vinegar and 1 teaspoon of dishwashing liquid to a cup of warm water. Then apply a small amount to the stain. Don’t wet the stain too much as you could damage the carpet. Let the solution soak for 10 minutes.

Step 3: Dab the Stain Away

Using another clean, absorbent cloth, dab the stain away. Keep doing this until the stain stops transferring to the cloth. Tip: the best way to remove carpet stains is to dab from the outside in.

If the stain is not completely gone then repeat the process again from step 2. Tip: If you want to dry the spot completely, then either aim a small heater at it, or place a heavy object on top of an absorbent cloth or paper towel (repeat until dry).  

Tips for Removing Different Types of Carpet Stains

While we’ve covered a standard procedure for carpet stain removal, it’s not necessarily a one size fits all solution. Different types of carpet stains require different techniques to remove them effectively. In this next section, we’ll cover some ticks for removing the most common types of carpet stains.

Coffee & Tea Stains

Try mixing 1 tablespoon of dish washing liquid with 2 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide. After dabbing the stain thoroughly, add the mixture to the stained area and gently work it in with your fingers. Pour or spray a small amount of water onto the stain and then dab it dry. Add a little bit more more and repeat until the mixture and stain are removed. 

Source: Coit

Pet Urine Stains

This can be a tough one! When it comes to pet urine, it’s not hard to remove carpets stains, but it’s hard to remove the smell. We recommend using an enzymatic cleaner, which you can buy from most pet stores. If you have a puppy or (especially) a kitten, it’s best to keep this handy at all times so you can deal with the urine immediately.

NOTE: Avoid steam cleaning pet urine because it will set the stain and it will smell worse!

Wine Stains

If you don’t have a carpet stain removal product handy, try using soda water. If you don’t have that either, try a mixture of baking soda and water. Some sites like DirectConnect claim that you can use the same vinegar method we mentioned above in Step 2.

You can also use salt to soak us some of the wine. Pour salt onto the fresh stain until you can no longer see it. Let the salt soak up the wine and then vacuum it up. 

Source: VinePair

Blood Stains

Just like wine stains, something as simple as soda water could do the trick. The bubbles help to pull the blood out of the carpet fibres, which makes it easier to dab away. Bear in mind that you may need to repeat the process several times to completely remove carpet stains. NOTE: always use cold water when removing bloods stains. Hot water causes blood to coagulate, whereas cold water prevents it from permeating the carpet fibres. 

Fat-based and Grease Stains

Sprinkle the stain with baking soda and let is sit for several hours (Optional step: spray the baking soda patch with 50/50 white vinegar and water). After it’s sat for at least 6 hours, vacuum the baking soda up. Then lightly wet a cloth with alcohol and dab the affected area. Only after you’ve done this should you try using a carpet stain removal product.

For some more tips and tricks on home-made cleaning hacks, check out this post.