Did you know that the most expensive rug in the world costs $33.8 million dollars?
Any carpet owner should think twice before hosting a murder mystery, “painting with a twist,” or spaghetti dinner in their living room!
Rugs and carpets are investments that require special care. Keep these five substances away from your rugs and carpets and learn how to remove stains on carpet in case of an accident.
1. Ink or Paint
Ink and paint are some of the most difficult stains to remove from carpet. After all, they are practically designed to stain everything they touch. Some of the worst offenders are India ink, printer ink, and fabric paints.
If disaster strikes, wet a cleaning cloth with high-concentrate isopropyl alcohol. Dab the carpet with the alcohol, but don’t rub. Rinse with water and dry completely before vacuuming.
2. Red Wine
A glass of red wine pairs perfectly with a cozy movie night. Unfortunately, wine does not pair so well with your living room carpet. Red wine and other grape products are notorious for causing the worst carpet stains.
If you or a guest has caused some carpet spills, don’t panic, but act quickly. Use a dry cloth to soak up as much liquid as possible, then wet a new cloth with diluted white wine vinegar or detergent. Blot the stain from the edges inward.
As with ink, you don’t want to rub or scrub at the stain. If you’ve removed as much wine as you can, but you still see a stain, you may be able to try again later with hydrogen peroxide or sodium perborate.
3. Blood
When you or a housemate is injured and bleeding, carpet cleaning is probably the last thing you’d think about. Still, bloodstains can set into carpets quickly and look worse as they deteriorate over time.
After the injury is contained, work quickly to remove the bloodstain. Blot up the blood as much as possible with paper towels or disposable cloths.
Never use warm water to clean blood. Warm water will cause it to coagulate and stick to your rug! Instead, use cold water with a small amount of dish soap to dab up the stain.
4. Pet Stains
We love our furry companions, but we don’t love the surprises they leave on our rugs. Some pet stains, like urine, are invisible once dried but can create an obvious odor in your home if not cleaned properly.
When you notice a pet stain, it’s important to clean it as soon as possible. Avoid using ammonia-based products, as this can lead the pet to urinate in the same place again. Pick up any solid waste and spray the rug with special pet cleaner or diluted white vinegar.
After letting the cleaner soak in for a few minutes, press the carpet with paper towels or a cleaning rag to lift the stains. After removing all of the liquid, sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda on the stain and let it settle overnight. After 24 hours, vacuum the baking soda from the rug.
5. Chlorine Bleach
Bleach isn’t exactly a stain but more like an anti-stain. Unless your carpets are the purest of white, bleach will ruin them. The best way to avoid spilling bleach is to store it far away from your carpets and rugs.
Cleaning carpet stains from bleach is nigh impossible. Immediately after spilling the bleach, use a paper towel or rag to soak up the liquid without rubbing and spreading the bleach.
If all else fails and the bleach stains are set in, your last resort may be to dye your carpet. If you decide to dye, it’s best to dye the entire carpet at one time. Even so, results can be inconsistent.
The Best Way to Remove Stains on Carpet
The only thing worse than a carpet stain is a carpet stain compounded with poor cleaning products. Hiring a professional carpet cleaning service can save you (and your carpets) from a lot of stress.
Stains on carpet are never a pretty sight, but cleaning carpet stains on your own is difficult and time-consuming. Are you ready to experience the professional difference? Contact Blue Jay Carpet Cleaning to learn more about our services!
