The Most Common Types Of Carpet Stains

It’s best to clean spills on your carpets immediately to ensure success. Look at the most common types of carpet stains and how to get rid of them here…
Identifying the stain
This can be one of the most important things you do before treating any stains in order to ensure that you choose the right stain remover. You’ll often need to analyse where the stain is, the appearance, and the smell of the stain itself.
Once you’ve located the stain you can feel the texture which may be hard, soft, oily, or waxy. Finally, the smell will help you identify the source and you can begin your treatment.
Fat and oil-based stains
Examples of fat and oil-based stains are:
- – Cooking oil
- – Lipstick
- – Salad cream
- – Butter and lard
Treatment
You need to act quickly to clean these carpet stains before they become permanent. A fast solution is to apply baking soda to the spot and allow it to sit for around 15 minutes for it to absorb the oil. Then vacuum the area thoroughly and treat any residue with rubbing alcohol to dissolve the remains.
If the oil stain is still visible you can try a mix of two cups of warm water with a tablespoon of white vinegar and a tablespoon of washing up liquid. Apply the solution with a sponge and work into the oil residue. Then rinse the area with cold water and allow it to dry. Remember not to overwet the carpet as it may turn mouldy and start to smell.
* Protein-based stains
Examples of protein-based stains include:
- – Blood
- – Meat and meat juices
- – Dairy products
Treatment
The trick here is to only use cold water to try and treat the stain as heat will only make the stain darker. If this doesn’t solve the problem add a small amount of washing up liquid to treat the spot or dilute household ammonia with cold water and apply.
Using a commercial stain remover that contains enzymes is an alternative but you need to make sure that your carpet material is suitable for this type of product.
* Water-based stains
Examples of water-based stains include:
- – Soda
- – Alcoholic beverages
- – Latex paint
- – Fruit
Treatment
Try to clean the stain whilst it’s still fresh by using a clean towel to blot up the excess, working gently from the outside in. If the stain is stubborn add a mild solution of washing up liquid and blot again followed by a clean water rinse to remove excess soap. Allow the area to thoroughly dry. Water-soluble stains are usually the easiest to remove from your carpets.
* Wax and gum
Treatment
Cover the wax or gum with ice and leave for around 20 minutes, then pull the substance from the fibres starting at the edge and working inwards. Residues can be removed by ironing on medium heat over a towel placed on top of the stain.
Types of carpet cleaning agents
Shop-bought solutions can help with a range of stains but bear in mind that not all carpet materials are tolerant of the same cleaning agents. Synthetic carpets such as polyester, nylon, or wool can often stand commercial carpet cleaners but you should always check with your carpet manufacturer’s cleaning guidelines and do a test patch in an area that’s not on show. See a range of carpet spot removers below:
- – Reducing agent: man-made stains such as dyes can be removed with this method
- – Bio-enzymatic: organic stains such as urine or vomit can be targeted with this stain remover
- – Solvent: petroleum-based and solvent-soluble stains such as ink and paint can be got rid of this way
Contact a carpet cleaning specialist
When you want to remove old stains from your carpet or simply clean carpet stains that have been recently acquired just call in the experts. You’ll be provided with a stain removal service using eco-friendly products that will be carried out by trained and experienced carpet cleaning technicians.
Pre-treatment of identified stains will ensure that the most appropriate stain removal solutions will be chosen. Then deep cleaning carpet cleaning methods will be used to complete the process. Your carpets will dry quickly and look new! Getting your carpets professionally cleaned just twice a year will keep them refreshed and restored – all you need to do is make a booking then sit back and relax whilst all the hard work is done for you.