We’ve talked a lot about how to clean your carpet in previous blog posts. But what happens when you have a really bad stain that can’t be removed? Here’s a list of some stains you really want to avoid!
Red wine
This one is pretty obvious, especially when it comes to light coloured carpets. No one wants a big red blotch in the middle of their pristine white carpet. If you do spill red wine, use a clean cloth to dab it away while it’s still wet. Plain water or a solution of white vinegar, dishwashing liquid and water might do the trick. And remember to sponge the carpet dry afterwards if you use the vinegar solution.
Coffee
Coffee is a bad stain for carpet because of its acidity and dark colour. Try the same method for red wine to clean up coffee spills.
Pet stains
Pet stains are hard to control if you have pets in your home! If you find yourself with a pet stain, soak up as much of the liquid as possible as soon as it happens with newspaper or towels, then wash the area with cold water and dry it.
Blood
Another pretty obvious stain to want to avoid. If you get blood on your carpet, dab the stain with a solution of one tablespoon of hand dishwashing liquid and two cups of cold water. Absorb the liquid with a dry cloth, and repeat until the stain is gone.
Lipstick
Lipstick contains oils–much like candle wax and motor oil, two other products you don’t want getting on your carpet!–that bond to the carpet fibres. Blot as much of the stain as possible immediately, and try using a mild shaving cream on the stain by working it in with an old toothbrush.
Old stains
If you’ve moved into a house with old stains, hydrogen peroxide and store-bought cleaning products might do the trick–but always spot check first. And if that doesn’t work, you might need to call in the professional cleaners.
Bleach
This is the most important stain to clean up right away. Bleach physically lightens the shade of your carpet, and as soon as it starts to set in, you can’t undo it. Protect your hands with gloves, soak up the liquid with a cloth and use dishwashing liquid and water to dab at the stain from the outside in to prevent it from spreading outward. Once the bleach has started to work into the carpet, the best you can hope for is to hide the stain under furniture or rugs.
