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Accidents Happen: How To Remove Common Carpet Stains Carpets

Writer's picture: JennyJenny


No matter how careful you are to keep your carpets clean, accidents are bound to happen, especially if you bring kids or pets into the mix. So if before you throw in the towel and switch to hardwood flooring throughout your home here’s how you can remove some of the most common carpet stains.


Common Water-Soluble Stains

Common water-soluble stains are the easiest to remove and include things such as berries, fizzy drinks, food and mud. To get a common water-soluble stain out of your carpet you will simply need to make up a solution containing a quarter of a teaspoon of non-bleach detergent mixed with 32 ounces of clean water. If you don’t have any non-bleach detergent then white wine vinegar works just as well. Apply this mixture to the stain and work it in with a cloth, then switch to a clean cloth and keep going back to the stain until it is clean. The quicker you can get to a water-soluble stain the easier it is to get out.


Harder Water-Soluble Stains

Some water-soluble stains are harder to get out than others such as wine, blood, vomit, tea, coffee and chocolate. For these stains try mixing a tablespoon of ammonia with one cup of water. If that doesn’t work then you can also try adding a little chlorine bleach but be aware that this can harm carpets if they are not solution-dyed. If you aren’t sure. Always patch test somewhere inconspicuous first. If you are still struggling with these stains, don’t risk further your carpet and consider professional carpet cleaning.


Fat, Oil or Wax

If you spill fat, oil or wax on your carpet, then cover the stain with paper towels and then apply heat and pressure using an iron on a low setting or by heating a heavy-based saucepan and then applying it to the towels over the area. With heat and pressure the oil, fat or wax will then wick into the paper town and out of your carpet. If there is a lot of wax on the carpet then chip and hoover the excess first.


Glue

With kids around, there’s a fairly high possibility that you’ll experience glue on your carpet. To remove glue simply wet a cotton ball or cloth with some rubbing alcohol and gently press it over the glued area until it is thoroughly damp. Then wipe off what you can before repeating the process until all the glue residue has been removed and the carpet is clean.


Chewing Gum

Finding chewing gum on your carpet can be a freakout moment but don’t despair. Grab some ice out of your freezer and freeze the chewing gum until it is hard, then shatter it and hoover up the pieces before they soften again. You may need to do this a couple of times to remove all of the gum. Finally, wipe the area clean with a damp cloth.


Urine

When changing babies' nappies you can never tell if they may be about to wee again, spraying you and the nursery floor with urine. If this happens, first, absorb as much as you can with paper towels and then blot the area with a damp cloth. Next blot the area with a solution of equal parts vinegar and water before applying some mild non-bleach detergent and rinsing.

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