The 5 Best Ways to Remove Carpet Stains

No matter how careful we are, stains and spills happen and most likely, they will happen on the carpeted areas of our homes. Sometimes these stains are serious enough that a professional carpet cleaner is needed to save the carpet but there are a number of simple stains that can be removed yourself, with the right tips.

Pet stains

We all love our pets but they can be messy and have no regard for our carpets! Pet stains are also accompanied by unpleasant smells and removing these odours is just as important as removing the stains. Clean up the initial mess and blot up any dampness until the area is almost touch dry. White vinegar is a household item that can be used to neutralise the odour and clean up any stains – mix it with warm water and spritz on the stain, leave to soak for a few minute then blot again. There are also special pet stain removers available in the supermarket that can be effective.

Coffee stains

Speed is of the essence with a coffee stain – get some paper towel into action and get most of the liquid up quickly. Make sure you use plenty of towels as if you use ones that are already wet, this will just transfer the stain to a larger area. Vinegar, water and a touch of non-bleach detergent can be sprayed lightly on the stain before rinsing and repeating if needed.

Blood stains

Blood is another stain that needs to be dealt with as quickly as possible. Firstly, only use cold water to deal with these stains, rather than warm water – the cold stops the blood permeating into the fibres of the carpet. Use a liquid dish detergent with the cold water and moisten the stain then blot with a cloth, transferring the blood to the cloth. Blot it dry and repeat if needed.

Wine stains

Apart from the tragedy of a spilled glass, wine can be a troublesome stain to remove, especially red wine. One tip to help lift the stain is to add a little salt to it. This absorbs the wine and makes it easier to remove the spilled liquid from the carpet before it permeates into the fibres. The best solution is to use a touch of hydrogen peroxide or some liquid soap with water to gently spray on the stain after you have blotted up the thick of the liquid. Rinse and blot dry then repeat if necessary.

Vomit stains

Cleaning up vomit can be a two stage process, unless you have a specialist carpet cleaner on hand. First you need to use ammonia to remove the vomit and its associated smell. A touch mixed with water then sprayed on the area – just a fine amount, don’t overdo it. Dab it up and leave to dry. Next you need to clear away traces of the ammonia so use a tablespoon of detergent in water and blot gently with a cloth. Leave to dry and you should have a clean patch that also doesn’t have any funny smells to it.