Unfortunately for all of us, stains happen, and usually at the worst possible time. Luckily, most carpet stains can be treated with the right liquid solutions and a little bit of elbow grease. Remember, it is important to read the carpet label to make sure the following solutions won’t lead to damage. When you are cleaning, be sure to dab instead of rub.
Mud
Mud is one of the most common carpet stains you will encounter. People track mud onto carpets by walking through it and then walking on your carpet, making it a frequent visitor to your home during spring and rainy weeks during the summer.
To tackle these stains, scrape off any dry, excess mud with a blunt object before dabbing it with water to remove as much as possible. Then, mix a quarter teaspoon to a teaspoon of mild cleaner with a cup of warm water and dab until no more brown spots appear on the rag when you dab. To finish up, dab with cold water to remove any cleaning agents from the carpet.
Grease
Grease is a second common carpet stain that can come from eating that slice of pizza in front of the TV. Again, blot to soak up any moisture and mix a ¼ teaspoon of detergent with warm water on a towel to dab. Let the solution sit and dab with cold water to remove it.
Blood
Blood is a tough stain to remove because it requires fast action. These stains can come from cuts dripping onto the carpet, or even rug burns that occurred on the carpet. Begin by going over the area with a brush if the blood has dried to get as much as possible off of the surface. Then, dab with a mixture of 2 cups of cold water and a teaspoon of mild detergent. Dab until no more red transfers onto the cloth. It may take a few tries to get rid of the stain, and may also require a professional.
Red wine
Red wine is a common stain left over from parties or date nights. Much like blood, the color can lead to very noticeable stains. Start by wetting a paper towel and dabbing at the stain to break it up before applying a paste made of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water. Let the paste sit on the stain for several minutes and vacuum it after it has dried.
Chocolate
Chocolate can end up on the carpet due to children or accidentally dropping some yourself. Be sure to scrape up any chocolate covering the stain and blot with a wet towel. Mix ¼ of a teaspoon of mild detergent with a cup of warm water and blot at the stain until it no longer comes away brown. Rinse the soap away by dabbing with cold water.
Coffee
This offender may be more common for non-morning people as they get ready to face the day. You should try to reach coffee stains before it dries out and blot it with some water. Then sprinkle some baking soda over it to absorb the moisture and help get rid of the smell. Finally, let the baking soda sit for a few minutes before vacuuming over it. If the stain is already dry, you may need a commercial cleaner to help get rid of it.
Pet stains
Even the best-trained pets slip up from time to time and miss the litter box. It is important to remove these types of stains because you may become desensitized to the smell of urine over time, but your house guests won’t be. Start the cleaning process by removing any solids, and then apply a solution of water, baking soda, and vinegar to get rid of the smell and remove the stain. Try 2 cups of warm water, 2 cups of white vinegar, and 4 tablespoons of baking soda.
Soft drinks
Soft drinks, much like red wine, often find themselves on the floor. These drinks can leave the carpet discolored and sticky. Just as before, blot with water until no more color transfers over to the cloth, and then mix a teaspoon of detergent with warm water. Use the mixture to blot again, and rinse with cold water to remove any soap.
Permanent marker
Permanent marker stains may be more common for people with young children. The best solution for these stains is different from the usual soap and water. Try dabbing some rubbing alcohol onto the stain and flush it with water to remove the alcohol from the carpet afterward.
Vomit
This one can spring up for parents, pet owners, or even anyone else. Vomit stains are challenging because of the smell left over. Just like pet stains, scrape up any solids before going to work on the stain. The solution is also a little bit different: mix 2 tablespoons of vinegar with 4 cups of warm water. Let the mix sit for a minute before blotting with a rag and rinsing the area with another wet rag.