5 Tips for Treating Carpet Stains
Apart from your sofa, you carpet is another item that makes your home look good and inviting. A house with a nice rag or carpet feels cozy and warm. Your guests may not want to leave once they visit you. However, there are some things that reverse this effect – carpet stains. If you happen to spill wine or juice on carpet, it makes it look and smell bad. Some people may decide to throw away the carpet and replace it with a new one because they feel that the damage can’t be reversed. However, before you try that option and spend days or months trying to find the perfect rag for your living room, try these 7 carpet cleaning tips.
1. Get Rid of the Excess Stain Immediately
The first and most important measure to take after you spill something on the carpet is to scrape off the excess stain with a butter knife or spoon. Usually, most spills leave more liquid than is necessary on the carpet. The sooner you get rid of that excess liquid, the more likely you are to get rid of that stain. As you remove the excess, be careful not to dig the spoon or knife deeper into the carpet. Aggressive scraping can damage the carpet instead of cleaning it.
2. Blot the Stain
After you have scraped off the excess, don’t wipe off the stain since that only spreads it. Instead, take a piece of cloth and blot the stain, starting from the outside to control the spread, and slowly moving towards the center of it. It’s advisable that you choose an absorbent piece of cloth for the blotting process. Furthermore, don’t use a piece of cloth with a lot of colors. Keep it simple, a white cloth is preferred so as to monitor the intensity of the stain. You are supposed to blot the stained area until you don’t see any more stains on the cloth.
3. Use a Carpet Stain Remover
For the stain that has dried up on the carpet and cannot be removed through blotting, use a carpet stain remover. Spray the product on the stain and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the remaining solution. Alternatively, you can make your very own stain remover using vinegar solution. The process is as follows: place 1 teaspoon of dish washing soap in a glass of warm water, then add a quarter tea spoon of vinegar. Mix the solution and apply it on the stain. Allow it to sit there for about 10 minutes. Then, take a piece of absorbent cloth or paper towel and blot the stain away.
4. How to Remove Coffee, Tea, and Blood Stains
The fastest way to get rid of coffee or tea stains with homemade stain remover is to first blend 2 table spoons of hydrogen peroxide with a tablespoon of dish washing liquid. Apply the mixture on the stain and let it sit for a few seconds. Since tea and coffee stains tend to be absorbed pretty quickly, you have to rub in the peroxide solution with your fingers so as to make sure that it mixes well with stain. After that, initiate the blotting process. For a blood stain, use cold water as the stain remover.
5. Getting Rid of Fat-based Stains, Urine, and Wine
Fat-based stains are caused by margarine and butter. The best natural remover for such a stain is baking soda. Pour baking soda on the stain and let it remain there for 6 hours. Take your vacuum cleaner and get rid of the baking soda, before taking a damp cloth dipped in alcohol solution and blotting the stained area. In case you own a pet, there are high chances that they could urinate on the carpet. To get rid of such stains, use an enzymatic solution that can acquired from any pet store. On the other hand, for a wine or juice stain, you can spritz the stain with club soda and the blot it until the stain is no longer there.
Conclusion
Nothing pains more than spilling something on your favorite rag or carpet. A stain spoils the calm mood that is normally given off by a clean carpet. Use the above guideline to salvage your carpet after a spill and restore it to its original beauty.
