How to Remove Carpet Stains

Carpet Cleaning Tips and Advise from the experts: Always clean up spills quickly to avoid permanent stains… you must remove carpet stains as quickly as possible. Clean the spill with cold water by blotting NOT by wiping. Use clean white terry clothes or paper towels (make sure the towels do NOT have a design on them as the designs often “bleed” color into the carpet. If it’s a dry spill try vacuuming first with a canister vacuum NOT an upright as the brushes may distribute the spill and create a blurry stain.

Before You Remove Carpet Stains – Always Spot Test

If you are going to use a cleaner be sure to “spot test” an in conspicuous spot first. You don’t want to use a carpet stain remover only to find out the stain is made worse by the chemical. Carpet stain removal is part art part science. The same method doesn’t work for all kinds of stains. If you are cleaning a carpet spot be very careful not to spread the stain by reacting without thinking. You need to think about what you have spilled and how it might react BEFORE you act.

Always start with the weakest formulation. That is water, then water with mild detergent, then move up to the harsher chemicals as needed. You want to clean a carpet spot not create a bigger mess. Be sure to read all instructions. Carpet spot removal products are chemicals designed to lift and remove carpet stains and may remove your skin or cause a severe rash. Wear rubber gloves and make sure there is plenty of ventilation. You do not want to breathe the fumes.

If you needed to use a chemical carpet stain remover be sure to rinse the spot with water afterward. We recommend everyone own a carpet spotter, and our choice is the inexpensive Bissel “Little Green Machine”. It’s a bit noisy, and not all that powerful but it does exactly what it’s designed to do. You won’t use this to detail your car but it’s great for coffee stains, dog urine, cat urine, and those other everyday type stains that just happen. The key is to act quickly. And as far as pen ink goes – you may not get the stain out and will need to find products to cover or dye the stain, but that’s a different subject entirely.

Remove Carpet Stains and Spots Caused by Specific Substances

Remove Carpet Stains – Permanent Marker

How do you remove permanent marker stains from carpet? Well, the bad news is that it’s called “permanent” marker for a reason. Depending on how new and how deep the stains are, you may not be able to remove them completely. You can almost always lighten stains, though, and sometimes make them unnoticeable. There are other things you can do to hide the stain as well. Start with the method here to get out as much as you can.

First, thoroughly vacuum the area. This removes any loose dirt, dust or other substances that might give you trouble when you work on the stain. For the carpet stain removal solvent, use rubbing alcohol or a non-oily hairspray. Use a small amount on a clean white cloth, and dab at the stain. You should see transfer of the stain to the cloth. Use another dry cloth to blot up the solution between applications.

Just apply the solution and blot it up several times. Then rinse the spot with clean water and blot that up. Finally, dry the area thoroughly. Get out the remaining carpet stain without a carpet stain remover.

If you couldn’t get it all out, and if the stain isn’t too deep, it’s time to cut out some carpet – just a little. Try snipping away the stained edges with small scissors or with a razor blade or exacto knife. Use tweezers to carefully pull out severely stained fibers. When you try the latter, you might want to remove clean carpet strands from another, hidden area in the room, and then glue them into the stained area. Then leave a heavy object on the spot for several days before walking on it. That’s how you remove permanent marker in all but the worst cases.

Remove Carpet Stains – Candle Wax

You really can get candle wax out of carpet. It’s not always easy, but wax can be removed with patience. Dyes from the wax are a different matter. Getting those out depends on what’s in the particular dye. Start by scraping as much wax out of the carpet as you can, with a spoon. Afterwards, put an ice cube or two on the wax to freeze it, leaving them there for a minute. This should harden the wax enough to break it up and get more of it out.

To get the rest of the candle wax out of the carpet, cover the spot with a clean brown paper bag, and place a clothes iron on it, set on low. This liquefies the wax and lets it transfer to the paper. Use a new paper bag as often as necessary until you get all of the wax. This can take some time.

Wax Dyes In The Carpet. When the first three steps don’t get all of the wax out of the carpet, you can try rubbing alcohol. Be sure to use the clear alcohol, not the colored ones. Rubbing alcohol can also help remove stains from dyes in the wax.

Take a white cloth or a plain white paper towel wetted with the alcohol, and dab at the area. Continue this with a fresh towel until you get no more transfer of the wax or the dyes to the towel. When done, whichever method you used to get the candle wax out of the carpet, rinse the area with clean water. Blot up the excess water, and dry the area quickly. A fan can help with this. Quick drying prevents any of the dye stains deeper down from wicking up of the surface.

Remove Carpet Stains – Beer Stains, Wine Stains, Cola Stains, Coffee Stains

Blot with a paper towel to remove as much of the stain as you can, then neutralize with a white vinegar solution made up of 1/4 cup white vinegar in 3/4 cup of water. Soak the spot with white vinegar solution then blot to remove the excess moisture. A spray bottle works well for applying the solution. If you the stain has still not lifted mix 1 teaspoon of dish detergent such as Joy into 1 quart of water and apply to the area. Blot to work the detergent into the stain, then blot again to lift the stain. Repeat until the stain is gone. Then rinse with water and blot excess water up. Do not use dish soap that contains bleach or lanolin as it will damage your carpet.

Remove Carpet Stains – Fruit Juice Stains and Berry Stains

Remove as much of the spill as you can by scraping the excess up with a dull knife. If you have a wet vacuum it works well for sucking up the excess. If the spot has already dried you will need to saturate it with water so that you can lift the excess. First try removing with water by spraying the area and then blotting with paper towel. If that doesn’t completely lift it then apply a small mix up 1/2 teaspoon dish soap in 1 quart of water and apply the mixture to the area. Continue blotting to lift the stain.

Continue applying until the stain is completely lifted. Then rinse area with water using a spray bottle, and blot to remove excess water. If the soap mix did not lift the entire stain then moisten the area with 3% hydrogen peroxide and let stand for on 2 hours. Blot and repeat the hydrogen peroxide treatment until carpet the stain is gone. When exposed to light hydrogen peroxide returns to a water state so you don’t need to rinse just dab up the excess moisture.

Remove Carpet Stains – Blood Stains Catsup/Ketchup Stains and Vomit Stains

Blot up as much of the stain as possible then neutralize with an ammonia solution made up of 1 tablespoon ammonia and 3/4 cup of water. Using a spray bottle saturate the spot with the ammonia solution but make sure not to get the carpet backing wet. Then blot with a white paper towel to remove excess moisture. All solutions for removing blood should be cold. First mix up a solution of 1 quart water and 1/2 teaspoon dish soap. Then apply a small quantity of detergent solution to the spot. Blot to work the detergent into the affected area. Continue applying and blotting until the stain is fully removed. If the soap mix did not lift the entire stain then moisten the area with 3% hydrogen peroxide and let stand for on 2 hours. Blot and repeat the hydrogen peroxide treatment until carpet the stain is gone. When exposed to light hydrogen peroxide returns to a water state so you don’t need to rinse just dab up the excess moisture.

Remove Carpet Stains – Chewing Gum Stains – Glue

The quickest way to clean up these types of stains is to “freeze” them first. The quickest easiest way to freeze these materials is with canned air (like you would use to dust computer equipment). Spray the can upright and it sprays air, hold it upside down and it sprays freezing cold air. Easy, quick and useful. If you don’t have canned air then take an ice cube and apply to the gum. This will freeze the gum. Shatter the frozen gum with the handle of a knife then vacuum up.

Remove Carpet Stains – Chocolate Stains

Remove as much of the spill as you can by scraping the excess up with a dull knife and the blotting with paper towel. Blot up as much of the stain as possible then neutralize with an ammonia solution made up of 1 tablespoon ammonia and ¾ cup of water. Using a spray bottle saturate the spot with the ammonia solution but make sure not to get the carpet backing wet. Then blot with a white paper towel to remove excess moisture. If the stain has not lifted mix up a solution of 1 quart water and ½ teaspoon dish soap. Continue applying and blotting until the stain is fully removed. When stain is gone rinse with clear water and blot.

Remove Carpet Stains – Crayon Stains Paint Stains and Cosmetics or Makeup

Remove as much of the crayon by blotting with paper towel. Use a dull knife to scrape up what you can. Then apply rubbing alcohol to a white cloth or cotton ball and blot. You may have to apply extra if the crayon goes deep into the pile but make sure the backing doesn’t get wet. First mix up a solution of 1 quart water and ½ teaspoon dish soap. Then apply a small quantity of detergent solution to the spot. Blot to work the detergent into the affected area.

Continue applying and blotting until the stain is fully removed. If the soap mix did not lift the entire stain then moisten the area with 3% hydrogen peroxide and let stand for on 2 hours. Blot and repeat the hydrogen peroxide treatment until carpet the stain is gone. When exposed to light hydrogen peroxide returns to a water state so you don’t need to rinse just dab up the excess moisture.

Remember always follow the manufacturers instructions for stain removal. Combined with these carpet removal tips you should have no problem lifting the toughest of stains.

John Murray makes it easy to go through the carpet buying process and provides tips to keep your carpet lasting long. To learn more and receive your free mini-course visit the carpet rugs website.

Remove Carpet Stains – Additional Resources

• How to Remove Carpet Stains
• Carpets Guide