How To Remove Carpet Stains
Tips To Keep Your Carpet Clean
Carpet stains happen to everyone—it’s just part of life with kids, pets, and the occasional spill. With a few straightforward tricks and the right products, you can keep your carpets looking fresh and clean.
This guide covers how to remove stains from carpet.
So, whether it’s a pet accident, juice spill, or coffee stains, take a deep breath—we’ve got you sorted. Let’s jump into stain removal, the simple way!
Supplies You’ll Need
- White/Light Colored Rags
- Paper Towels
- All Purpose Cleaner Solution
- Carpet Stain Removers
- Water
- Cleaning Brush
- Vacuum Cleaner
- Clean Microfiber Cloth
Having these basic supplies on hand will ensure you’re ready to tackle any type of stain quickly before they have time to set.
How To Remove Stains From Carpet
1. Blot
No matter what kind of stain you’re dealing with, timely attention is key. As soon as you notice a spot, start by blotting it gently with a white cloth or white towel to soak up excess liquid. Don’t scrub, or you may spread the stain further into the carpet fibers. Blotting absorbs the stain to help lift it out of the carpet.
2. Pre-Treat Heavy Stains
If you’re dealing with a set-in stain or a stubborn stain, first pre-treat the area before attempting to remove it. Spray a cleaning solution or spot-remover directly. This helps break up the stain so it releases from the fibers more easily. Just be sure to test cleaners first.
3. Remove Resides
Once you’ve blotted up excess liquid and pre-treated heavier stains, it’s time to release any remaining residue lodged deep in the carpet pile. Gently work in a bit of carpet cleaner using a damp clean cloth, cleaning brush, or old toothbrush. Move from the outside edges of the stain inward in a circular motion to remove trapped particles. Rinse the area with plain water and blot with a rag or paper towel.
Check to see if the spot is gone. Repeat as needed. This prevents the stain from reappearing.
4. Let Carpet Fully Dry
It’s important not to walk on damp carpeting after stain removal. Allow the area to thoroughly dry before vacuuming up residue. Set a fan nearby to help speed up drying time. Walking on it can cause bacteria and mildew growth.
Follow these simple steps as soon as spills happen. But what about those mystery spots that seemingly crop up out of nowhere?
Tips On Tackling Some Of The Most Common Carpet Stains
Food & Drink Stains
Ketchup, white wine, chocolate, and greasy food spills seem to find their way onto light-colored carpets all too easily. Luckily, they also respond well to timely treatment.
- Blot immediately.
- Spray with carpet cleaner, allow to soak 5 minutes.
- Gently scrub edges with brush.
- Rinse area thoroughly.
For stubborn food dye, make a paste from oxygen bleach powder and apply. Let sit 1 hour before rinsing and allow to fully dry before vacuuming.
Pet Stains & Odors
Dog and cat urine on carpet create an unpleasant odor and also often contain dyes that stain. Baking soda helps absorb both.
How to Remove:
- Blot urine immediately.
- Sprinkle baking soda over the area.
- Use a spoon or dull knife, gently work it into the fabric.
- Let sit for 24 hours to absorb odors.
- Vacuum up baking soda.
- Spray with detergent solution and blot.
Repeat as needed for traces of stain or lingering odors. Thoroughly rinse to get out all baking soda residue, which can attract dirt over time if left embedded in carpet fibers.
Mud
Foot traffic inevitably brings mud and dirt into your home. Using water alone just creates more mess. Follow these steps instead for clean results:
Try This:
- Let mud dry completely.
- Vacuum thoroughly using wand attachment to extract soil.
- Apply carpet stain remover onto any remaining residue.
- Blot stain with clean rag.
- Rinse with water and re-blot to extract moisture.
- Allow to fully dry.
Rust
These occur when something rusty comes into contact with carpet, usually leaving behind a stubborn orange or brown stain. Lemon juice can help remove it.
To Remove Stains From Carpet:
- Blot stain immediately.
- Mix 1 part lemon juice with 1 cup of water.
- Spray over stain.
- Rinse and let it dry fully.
It may take more than one application to completely remove long-set or heavy rust. Just take care to rinse carpeting thoroughly after using acidic lemon juice.
Grease Stains
Greasy residue from food, oils, candle wax, or tar often leaves behind nasty light or dark stains on carpet. Dawn liquid dish soap can break these up .
This Method Works Well:
- Blot excess grease immediately.
- Apply small amount or 1 teaspoon of dishwashing liquid directly onto stain.
- Use a damp brush and warm water, gently scrub soap into carpet fibers and outside edge.
- Rinse area thoroughly with clean water.
- Blot excess moisture with an absorbent cloth.
- Then vacuum.
Depending on the size and age of the stain, this elimination process may need to be repeated more than once for complete grease removal.
Eliminate Lingering Odors with Baking Soda
Sometimes old carpet stains leave behind an unpleasant odor even after successful removal. You can freshen the smells by using baking soda or a mixture of white vinegar and water.
Here’s How:
- Vacuum first to lift out filth.
- Sprinkle baking soda generously over area.
- Let sit overnight.
- In the morning, run the vacuum over area.
The baking soda will absorb odor molecules left behind so carpet looks and smells clean.
When to Call a Professional
While you can tackle many household carpet stains yourself at home, there are some situations that require calling in top professional carpet cleaning service:
- Water damage from flooding needs immediate extraction before mold develops.
- Tough stains like blood stains in the carpet backing.
- Bad odors from smoke, pet messes, vomit, or long-set stains.
- Carpets older than 3 years.
Routine professional deep carpet cleaning every 12–18 months can keep carpets in good shape between regular vacuuming and periodic spot cleaning touch-ups at home.
Key Takeaways
- Blot ant types of stains immediately to avoid setting.
- Pre-treat heavy discoloration before attempting removal.
- Work cleaning product into carpet pile in gentle or circular motions.
- Always rinse cleaned areas thoroughly.
- Allow to fully dry before walking on it.
Following these simple carpet stain removal techniques and instructions can help your carpets and upholstery stay looking cleaner longer. But even with the best care, carpeting eventually shows signs of wear. Protect your investment by responding promptly when stains happen before they have a chance to become permanent.
This blog post was written by Jenson Woods from Wow Carpet Cleaning Adelaide.
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