Carpet stains are inevitable— pet accidents, drinks, mud, and more always seem to end up on your carpet. So what can be done when these stubborn stains wreak havoc on your carpet? The best thing to do is to call the professionals for carpet cleaning but there are some things you can do on your own to help remove these 3 types of common stains.
Wax & Oily Carpet Stains
For carpet stains that are waxy or oily (gum, candle wax, etc.), try placing ice on top of the spot and then pick it out with a blunt knife. If you have kids in your home, then you are probably familiar with glue or nail polish getting stuck to the carpet as well. To remove glue, lightly cover the area with rubbing alcohol and then wipe it away gently. To remove nail polish, use a rag dipped in a very small amount of nail polish remover. Always test an area of your carpet before you try any DIY stain removal solution to make sure you don’t discolor or damage the carpet fibers!
Water-Soluble Carpet Stains
Water-soluble stains include things like latex paint, washable ink, vomit, blood, chocolate, berries, or drinks. For these types of stains, simple cleaning solutions work best! Try mixing 1 tablespoon ammonia with 1 cup of water, or ¼ teaspoon of white vinegar with 32 ounces of water and apply to the area. If you have wool or wool-blend carpet, apply a mild detergent with warm water instead.
Pet Urine Stains & Odors
Dog and cat urine stains can be a hassle to deal with, especially if your pets have frequent accidents. As soon as you notice a pet urine accident or stain, use a towel to absorb as much of the stain as possible. Then use a homemade or store-bought cleaning solution to remove the stain. Remember that for pet stains and their associated odor and dust to be removed completely, you’ll need to schedule a professional carpet cleaning that helps remove pet urine odors and stains.
Carpet Cleaning in Orange County and the South Bay
Even if you do a great job taking care of surface stains on your own, be sure to book a carpet cleaning at least once every year to help get rid of existing spots and stains and protect against future stains. At Immaculate Home Chem-Dry, we help you keep your carpets free from stains as well as dirt and dust!