Different Types of Stains and How to Remove Them

Carpets can be a costly investment in your home, leading to a pleasing aesthetic appearance, creating softness in the room and giving it an overall cosy look and feel. However, no matter how hard you try to avoid it, stains and spills happen. Whether this is due to accidents, children in the home, pets or something else – they are inevitable. But this doesn’t have to mean that you should leave the stain and let it dry up, leaving an unpleasant odour behind. There are some common stains, which, with the right knowledge, you can remove by yourself. And in most cases, this can be done with some ingredients you typically have in your own home. Let’s take a look at how to clean stains out of a carpet.

Types of stains and how to remove them

Whether a rug or a carpet, the most common types of stains you may encounter (including the steps for how to remove them) are the following:

Pet stains

When dealing with pet stains, you’re faced with either debris, urine or both. When it comes to debris, remove it using your gloved hand and dispose of it. It’s now time to deal with what is left: the wetness. You should try to plot up as much of the liquid as possible. Next, apply an enzymatic cleaner and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. If you don’t have an enzymatic cleaner, you can also use ¼ cup white vinegar and a quart of warm water to spray on the stain. Let the mixture soak on the carpet for a couple of minutes and proceed with blotting it up. For those that don’t have vinegar, try some stain-fighting laundry detergent in a spray bottle. Spray it on the carpet, wait a few minutes for it to become absorbed and then blot it up with a clean, dry cloth. Rinse with warm water and repeat as necessary.

Coffee or tea stains

Start out by blotting most of the liquid up with a clean dry cloth. Next, apply a solution which is a mixture of vinegar, water and non-bleach detergent. Use a spray bottle to spray the mixture on the carpet and blot until the stain is gone. Remember to rinse it with water, continue blotting and repeat until the stain has disappeared. It’s also highly recommended that you do a patch test first on an inconspicuous part of the carpet so that you don’t damage it when you’re cleaning up the stain.

Blood stains

Blood stains are a bit trickier to deal with but not impossible. As a starting point, don’t use warm water on the stained carpet. This will help the stain adhere to the material. Instead, you should use cold water or club soda, which you’d spray onto the stain, followed by blotting it with a clean cloth. Repeat the process until the stain has disappeared. If water or club soda doesn’t work, use two tablespoons of grease-fighting liquid dish detergent and cold water, which you’ll mix together and spray onto the stain. Moisten liberally until it is soaked entirely and then blot as you see the blood being transferred onto the cloth.

Ink stains

Getting ink stains out of carpet can be a difficult task, but fortunately, there are some different techniques that can make the process much easier. Ink stains should never be rubbed or scrubbed as this can cause it to spread. Instead, use isopropyl alcohol with a high percentage of the active ingredient. Next, dampen a clean white cloth with the alcohol and dab it onto the stain until it is nearly dry. Once it’s cleared up, remove the excess moisture using a liquid-friendly vacuum cleaner. Alternative solutions include using some hairsprays, nail polish removers and other detergents with a high alcohol content (e.g. white wine and vinegar can work as well).

Chocolate stains

Begin by using a dull knife to scrape away as much of the chocolate as possible. Next, fill up a plastic bag with ice cubes and place it over the stain so that it can harden the chocolate. Scrape the excess chocolate with a dull knife once again and follow this by vacuuming the stain so that the remaining small pieces are sucked away. After doing this, you can mix ¼ teaspoon of liquid dish soap with one cup of warm water. Apply the solution to the stain using a clean cloth. Work from the outside towards the centre. Let the solution sit for around five minutes and then blot until the stain has disappeared.

Dirt stains

Dirt or mud types of stains should first be allowed to dry before treatment. Begin by scraping off as much of the dirt as possible and follow this by vacuuming the spot. Use a solution that includes either a detergent (mild dishwashing liquid with warm water) or warm water and white vinegar. Apply the solution to the stain and then let it sit for around 10 minutes. Follow this by blotting with a cloth or paper towel.

Wine and juice stains

Club soda is your best friend for dealing with wine or juice stains. Spray the club soda onto the stain and then blot it up with a cloth until it is gone. Another alternative is to try a mixture of ¼ cup white vinegar, 1 tablespoon of dish soap and water, which you would mix together in a spray bottle. Spray onto the carpet liberally and let it soak for around 10 minutes. Blot the stain dry afterwards until it has been removed. However, removing dried red wine from a carpet can be a difficult task to complete on your own.

Candle wax

Similar to chocolate stains, you should first let the stain dry completely and then use an ice pack over it to help the wax harden. Then, break up the wax using a dull object such as a dull knife and scrape gently. Follow this by vacuuming the area. You may also wish to treat the spot with carpet cleaner or some rubbing alcohol, to be followed by blotting the area dry.

Best way to deal with carpet stain removal

If you’re still struggling with these homemade concoctions, you may want to call in a professional carpet stain removal company in Enfield, London. With our rug stain removal service as well as carpet stain removal, you’ll be able to enjoy fresh, stain- and odour-free carpets once again. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us! We’re just a click or a call away.