No matter how careful you are, you’re sure to spill something every now and then. Your carpets and rugs are in the line of fire every day, even sans the spills. You’ve got your pets wandering around with dirty paws, kids playing with sticky hands, and all kinds of messes from outside that you might not notice until it is too late.
Stains can make your home feel dirty, even when everything else is clean. So, we think it’s nice to have a few tricks up your sleeve to keep the stains at bay. Here, we offer our expert tips on how to clean carpet stains.
Be Prepared With a Stain-Removal Caddy
Having the right tools in your stain-fighting arsenal is the first step to stain removal. Create a little stain-cleaning caddy with the following:
- Two clean spray bottles
- Paper towels
- Clean absorbent cloths
- Dishwashing liquid
- Targeted carpet cleaner
This list might not seem like much, but it’ll provide the fundamental tools you need to take care of most stains.
Know How to Clean Carpet Stains
As soon as the spill happens, head for your caddy and follow these steps:
- Fill the first spray bottle with cold water.
- Fill the second spray bottle with one cup of warm water and a quarter teaspoon of the dishwashing liquid.
- Use the detergent mixture to spray your absorbent cloth.
- Dab, never rub at the stain.
- As the stain starts to break up, use another clean, dry cloth to blot away the mess until the stain is gone.
- Use the clean, cold water spray bottle on another clean cloth and dab at the detergent residue.
- Blot away the water with a clean, dry cloth.
The carpet will still be wet, so place a stack of paper towels or clean absorbent cloth over the spot and then weigh it down with something heavy. The weight will apply constant pressure to help the cloth absorb the residue. You can remove the cloth in the morning and use your fingers to fluff up the fibres.
Stubborn Stains
If the above steps don’t work, use your targeted carpet stain-remover and follow the instructions to get rid of the remaining stains.
Pet Stains
We all love our pets, but could easily do without the stains they often leave behind. Nothing is worse than poop and urine stains. Not only are they hard to clean, but they also really stink. Fast action is required with pet stains, but we’re not always home when accidents happen.
To remove pet stains, your best bet is to keep a carpet cleaner in your kit that contains enzymes. The enzymes fight the odours caused by bacteria in the urine and poop, while tackling the stain. The odours are not just stinky, but also create a spot in the rug that your pet thinks they can use as their bathroom. So, it is crucial to tackle that odour.
Once you apply the cleaner, blotting won’t be enough to do the job. In this case, you still want to avoid rubbing, but you will need to gently work the detergent into the carpet with a clean, damp cloth. Blot at the stain until it seems to be gone, and then rinse it with another damp cloth.
The pet stain-cleaners are a little stronger than detergent, so you might want to use your spray bottle with cold water to spritz the area and help remove the residue. Blot up as much of the wetness as possible, and then cover it with a cloth and let it sit for about 12 hours. The enzymes will continue to work, reducing the odour.
Red Wine Stains
Another culprit for carpet stains is the good old red wine spill. As much as you love your glass of cabernet, the lighter the colour of your carpet, the more damage it will cause. You can start by using a clean, dry cloth to soak up as much of the wine as possible.
Next, spray a wine stain-remover on the affected area after following the instructions. Blot it again with a clean cloth to get rid of the majority of the stain. Then, finish with a damp clean cloth to remove the residue.
Coffee Stains
A hot coffee stain sets in really fast, so you have to get to work immediately. Use a dry cloth to blot up the coffee. Afterwards, use a sponge with cold water to loosen up the remaining stain and blot it again with a dry cloth. Follow up by mixing a quarter teaspoon of liquid dish soap and one tablespoon of white vinegar into a cup of warm water. Dip a clean, white cloth into the mixture and rub off the remaining stain.
Blot in between each attempt with a dry cloth. If it seems like the stain isn’t changing, add one or two more drops of liquid dish soap to the vinegar/water mix and see if that removes the residue. Because of all the liquid, you’ll have to place a stack of paper towels or clean absorbent cloth over the spot and then weigh it down with something heavy overnight.
How to Reduce Carpet Stains
To help keep your carpets looking like new, you can add these regular cleaning tips to your regime:
- Have a no-shoes policy in the house to reduce the amount of dirt tracked across the carpet.
- Use a rechargeable stick vacuum to make it easy to vacuum up dirt often.
- Use a doormat so people can wipe their feet before entering your home.
- Shake out your doormat weekly to reduce the amount of dirt people track into the house.
- Purchase machine-washable mats so you can throw them in the wash to remove dirt.
- Vacuum the backs of mats to remove loose dirt.
- Clean your dog’s paws after a walk to reduce the dirt they track through the house.
- Dry off your dog’s coat after a walk in the rain to reduce the amount of dirty water dripped onto the carpet.
These tips will help keep your carpets and rugs looking their best.
If you want to keep your carpets looking fresh and new, but don’t have time to clean them yourself, you can depend on our cleaning professionals at Maid4Condos to help. For more information on how to clean your carpet, you can call us at 647-822-0601 or contact us online.
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