STAINS

Follow these general guidelines for stain removal from carpets:

  • Move promptly! Many stains will become permanent if not cleaned up immediately. Others such as urine and vomit (which contain strong acids) can permanently damage your carpeting. So always act quickly to remove stains as soon as they occur.
  • Remove as much of the stain as possible with a clean white cloth or towel. Always blot. Scrubbing can harm the appearance of your carpeting.
  • Test your stain remover for color fastness by applying a small quantity to the carpet where there are no stains. Press down on the wet area with a white cloth and check for fiber damage or color transfer. If the carpet has held its color and no fiber damage is apparent, then go ahead and treat the stain with the selected stain remover following the manufacturer’s instructions.
  • Treat the stain following the manufacturer’s instructions. After treatment, blot up the stain with a clean white towel or cloth again making sure to blot and not scrub. Tough old stains may require more time and multiple treatments for complete stain removal.
  • After the stain has been completely removed, rinse the area with clean cold water then blot until dry. Some cleaners will leave a sticky residue that will attract dirt if not rinsed with clean water.

CARPET STAIN REMOVAL CHART

Note: The chart below contains a complete listing of both cleaning products sold in stores and home remedies. We list the most effective solutions. Here are the store brands that we recommend:


DE-SOLV-IT® – a solvent available in most hardware stores.

KIDS N PETS® STAIN & ODOR REMOVER – an enzyme cleaner that works best on biodegradable stains. Available in most supermarkets, Wal-Mart® & Target®.


SPOT SHOT® – A carpet spotter that blasts out with tremendous force and seems to do a good job on certain old dried stains. Available in most grocers, Wal-Mart® & Target®.

WINEAWAY® – Works well on a number of red stains. Tough to find but available at most major grocers.
 
Adhesives
  
De-Solv-It®. Make sure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions as
De-Solv-It® is toxic.
Baby Formula
  
KIDS N PETS® Stain & Odor Remover
Beer
  
KIDS N PETS® Stain & Odor Remover
Blood
  
KIDS N PETS® Stain & Odor Remover
Candle Wax
 
Scrape off as much wax as possible then lay plain absorbent paper
over the wax. Iron the paper with a hot iron. As the wax melts and is absorbed by the paper, keep changing the paper until all of the
candle wax is on the paper.
Catsup
  
KIDS N PETS® Stain & Odor Remover
Chocolate
  
Many chocolates contain artificial dyes and
preservatives that make it very difficult to remove.
Clean it up quick! We recommend Spot Shot®.
Coffee
  

Move fast with coffee as it can stain if allowed to set.
Most coffee drinks nowadays contain so much
more than just coffee! We recommend Spot Shot®.
Dirt
  
For good old ground in dirt we recommend a thorough vacuuming
and cleaning the carpets with a carpet cleaning machine either do-it-yourself or with a professional.
Gum
 
Gently try to loosen and dissolve the gum with
De-Solv-It®. Follow manufacturer’s instructions
carefully as De-Solv-It® is toxic.
Feces
  
KIDS N PETS® Stain & Odor Remover
Grape Juice
 
KIDS N PETS® Stain & Odor Remover
Grease
  
Use a mild detergent solution of ¼ teaspoon of liquid dishwashing detergent mixed in one cup of hot water. (Do NOT use laundry detergent or detergent for automatic dishwashing machines). After stain has been removed, rinse with hot water to try and remove the residual detergent.
Ink
  
Printers ink is biodegradable and can be removed with KIDS N PETS® Stain & Odor Remover. Ballpoint pen ink can be removed with
De-Solv-It®. Permanent marker is designed to be permanent and is almost impossible to remove unless you catch it while it is still fresh.
Iodine
  
KIDS N PETS® Stain & Odor Remover
Jam & Jelly
  
For red jams and jellies, try Wineaway®. For natural jams and jellies with no dyes or preservatives, use KIDS N PETS®. For others, try Spot Shot®.
Kool-Aid
  
Kool-Aid contains artificial dyes that are very difficult to remove. Move fast! We’ve had moderate success with Wineaway® but your best bet
is to clean it up fast before the stain sets and dries.
Lipstick
  
Spot Shot®
Mildew
 

Mold & mildew can damage carpet so try to avoid letting mold &
mildew develop in your carpet. We’ve had moderate success with
KIDS N PETS® but it may take multiple treatments.
Milk
  
KIDS N PETS® Stain & Odor Remover
Mud
  
It works best to let mud dry, then vacuum and clean the muddy spots
with a carpet cleaning machine.
Mustard
 
Mustard contains very powerful dyes that are all but impossible to remove. Try to clean it up quickly before it has a chance to set. Old mustard stains may require a call to a carpet professional to replace
the stained section of carpet.
Nail Polish
 
Use a non-acetate fingernail polish remover.First
test for colorfastness. If it passes the test, then apply a small quantity to the stained area and gently work it in. Then blot. Repeat if necessary
and then follow up with a clean water rinse.
Oil
 
Use a mild detergent solution of ¼ teaspoon of liquid dishwashing detergent mixed in one cup of hot water. (Do NOT use laundry detergent or detergent for automatic dishwashing machines). After stain has been removed, rinse with hot water to try and remove the residual detergent.
Rust
 
Call a professional!
Shoe Polish
  
Use a mild detergent solution of ¼ teaspoon of liquid dishwashing detergent mixed in one cup of hot water. (Do NOT use laundry detergent or detergent for automatic dishwashing machines). After stain has been removed, rinse with hot water to try and remove the residual detergent.
Soda Pop
  
For natural sodas, use KIDS N PETS® Stain & Odor Remover.  For red sodas use Wineaway®. Soda pop with artificial dyes and preservatives are often very difficult to remove. Clean them up quickly. Spot Shot can often lighten these stains but they are very difficult to remove completely.
Tea
  
KIDS N PETS® Stain & Odor Remover
Tomato Sauce
  
KIDS N PETS® Stain & Odor Remover
Urine
  
KIDS N PETS® Stain & Odor Remover
Vomit
  
KIDS N PETS® Stain & Odor Remover
Wine
  
Wineaway®