Between pets, kids, and visitors, our carpets take a beating. It’s a lot of work to keep carpet maintained and looking fresh like the carpet cleaning service experts. You can take steps to care for your carpets like having a no-shoe policy in your home or vacuuming every day.
But, even the most careful families end up with spills. And even the most consistent pets track mud or have accidents. Carpet stains are a part of everyday life and can be stubborn and frustrating.
You don’t have to resort to expensive cleaning products. There are tried and true remedies for carpet stains already hiding in your cabinet and pantry. Check out these household items and tips you can use to get rid of carpet stains.
1. Don’t Rub It In
Catch a fresh spill? Your first instinct may be to scrub. But you’ll just be rubbing the stain deeper into the carpet fibers and could potentially damage your carpet.
The best way to soak up fresh spills is to grab a clean and absorbent cloth. Apply a firm and steady pressure to absorb the liquid into the cloth. Repeat as necessary, adding clean water to dilute the spilled liquid.
2. White Wine for Red Wine
Don’t cry over spilled wine. Besides losing a bit of your favorite red vino, the problem is easily solvable. Turns out, the solution for spilled wine is even more wine.
White wine can be used to clean up a red wine stain. Simply absorb as much of the red wine as you can with a dark-colored towel or paper towels. Then pour some white wine on to the area. Then absorb as much of the white wine as you can and clean the area with soap and water.
3. Ice Cubes to the Rescue
With the trend of making slime becoming so popular, parents are ending up with their kids’ gooey projects in their carpet. And what parent hasn’t found a discarded piece of gum stuck in the rug? Fortunately, the solution to removing both of these can be found right in your freezer.
Grab an ice cube and run it over whatever sticky stain you’re trying to remove. The ice will freeze the goo into a hard substance. Use a dull knife to carefully scrape it off the carpet fibers. You can then use a vacuum to remove the dried pieces from the area.
4. Club Soda to Fizzle Out Stains
Spill a bit of your morning coffee? Did your kid knock their cup of juice off the table? You can grab a bottle of club soda to take care of the stain. Be sure to use pure club soda and not tonic water or sparkling fruit water as they may contain sugar.
Absorb as much of the spilled beverage as you can with a clean cloth. Then pour a small amount of club soda onto the area. All of those fizzy bubbles draw the stain out of the carpet fibers. Wait a few minutes, soak up the club soda, and repeat as necessary.
5. Degrease Oil Stains
Greasy food like french fries and salad dressing can wreak havoc and cause stubborn stains. Your dish soap does a great job of degreasing your dishes. It can also be used to remove greasy or oily stains from your carpet.
First, dab the stain with a paper towel to get up as much of the oil as possible. Then, apply a thin layer of baking soda to the stain to soak up the rest of the oil. You may also use cornstarch or baby powder. Allow the powder to sit on the stain for an hour or so and then vacuum the area.
Apply a small amount of grease-fighting dish soap like Dawn to the area. Let it soak in for a few minutes and then pour a small amount of clean water on it. Soak up the water with a clean, dry cloth. Repeat these steps until your oil stain is no longer visible.
6. Iron Out Stubborn Wax
Knock over a lit candle and end up with wax drippings all over your carpet? The nature of hardened wax makes it one of the most difficult stains to remove. Luckily, all you need to get it out it is ice, an iron, an old towel, and a knife.
Just like removing gum or slime, ice can be used to harden the wax and make it easier to scrape off in chunks. Lay an ice pack on top of the stain and allow it to freeze the wax for a few minutes. Use a dull knife to scrape off as much of the wax as you can.
Then, grab an old, thin towel and lay it on top of the stain. Set your iron to a medium setting. Iron the wax through the towel and watch as the towel absorbs the wax. Be careful to make sure you don’t burn the carpet. Repeat the step as necessary, using a clean area of the towel to absorb the wax each time.
7. Go All Natural to Remove Pet Stains
Pets are messy, and even the most consistent ones have accidents. Pet stains are odor-causing and can be stubborn to remove. Fortunately, you can make a natural solution to both clean the stain and eliminate the stench.
Grab a container and add one part water and one part distilled vinegar. The ammonia in the vinegar will eliminate the smell of the urine. You can also add 10 to 15 drops of essential oil, but make sure it is one that is safe for your pet.
Pour the solution over the stain and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Use an absorbent towel or paper towels to soak up the solution. Repeat as necessary until you can no longer see or smell the stain.
8. Grab a Can of Shaving of Cream
Standard white shaving cream can be a useful and inexpensive carpet cleaning tool. Just make sure that the shaving cream you use is not colored and is a cream, not a gel. The foamy substance of the cream makes it great at lifting stubborn stains from carpet fibers.
Apply the shaving cream to the stain and let it work for 20 to 30 minutes. Use an old toothbrush or sponge and rub the shaving cream into the carpet. Rinse the shaving cream from your carpet with cool, clean water. Absorb the water with a clean towel and repeat the steps as necessary.
Conclusion
Carpet can be difficult to maintain, but it’s expensive to replace. Even professional carpet cleaning is pricey. Keeping a list of tips to remove stains effectively can save your carpet and save you cash.
With all of these different techniques, it’s simple to address a variety of stains, new or old. Fancy tools or products aren’t necessary to remove tough spills like red wine and coffee. Keeping your carpet in tiptop condition just takes a few household items and a little elbow grease.
