How to Remove Tough Carpet Stains
No matter how careful we may be, we’re all bound to have to deal with carpet stains at some point. Some stains are worse than others, and it may be tempting to just throw in the towel and get the carpet replaced. But before you do, there are some things you should know about how to remove carpet stains.
Act quickly
If you do spill or drop something on the carpet that might leave a stain, the first thing to remember is to act quickly. This will help prevent the stain from setting into the fibers of the carpet and becoming an even bigger problem.
First off, pick up any big pieces of debris. Be careful not to use too much pressure, as you’re trying to avoid pressing the stain deeper into the carpet; a fork or slotted kitchen utensil can be useful here. Then gently dab the area with a damp cloth for a few minutes to help soak up the stain before it sets in.
Once you’ve finished the initial treatment, spray the area with a pretreatment stain remover, and then rinse it with cool water before dabbing it dry again. Do not use warm or hot water for this.
Red wine spills
Red wine can be a particularly difficult stain to deal with, especially on a white carpet. It can be mitigated if you are able to start cleaning it soon after the spill. Keep in mind that it will be significantly easier to clean (and you’ll get much better results) if it is cleaned within five minutes of the spill versus 24 hours after.
Use the same process as detailed above; then apply a carpet stain remover. Products labeled for pet stain removal also work well for red wine stains. Let the area soak for about five minutes, and then dab it dry. This may take several applications to clear up.
Pet accidents
For stains of dog or cat urine, we don’t always notice it right away. Sometimes we only notice it when it begins to smell (and, boy, does it ever smell!). But even though it may seem like a biohazard that you want to eradicate with the largest, most powerful steam cleaner you can find, that actually might end up doing more harm than good.
The high heat from a steam cleaner may end up setting the stain and the odor, locking the foul stench into your carpet forever. It’s better to treat the area as you would any other stain, using a product designed to treat pet stains in particular. You can also use a home carpet cleaner (also called a wet vacuum), followed by a rinse with cool water.
Even if you’re an expert on how to clean carpet stains, it will still take a lot of time and effort to get the job done. For this reason, it may be in your best interest to hire a professional to handle it. Contact All American Carpet Inc. today to get the job done right.
Categorised in: Carpet