Stains and spills on carpet surfaces should be treated immediately after they occur. The longer a spill or Stain remains the more difficult it becomes to remove. The following steps should be taken in stain/spill removal:
• Blot up any excess liquid with a clean absorbent material, such as a towel, cloth or sponge.
• If the spill/stain consists of solids, scrap up the excess solids with a flat tool, such as a putty knife or dustpan. Be sure to disinfect or clean any tools that are used.
• Test the cleaning agent being used on a remote area of the carpet, to check for colour fastness.
• Apply the cleaning agent necessary for the particular stain. Be sure not to over wet the area. A sponge can be used to apply the cleaning agent.
• Blot the cleaning agent into the stain with the towel or sponge. Be sure not to rub or brush the Stain, because this could cause the stain to spread.
• Work from the outer portion of the stain inwards.
• After the Stain/spill is removed, rinse the area with clean water. A sponge can be used for sponging on water.
• Absorb the excess moisture with a towel. After the excess moisture is removed, place a clean towel on the area, and then place a heavy object, such as books, on top of the towel to help in the absorption process. Keep the weight on the towel overnight.
SPOTTING SOLUTION SUGGESTIONS:
• Concentrated Detergent and Water Solution = 2 teaspoons of detergent to 2 cups of warm water.
• Ammonia and Water Solution = 2 tablespoons of ammonia to 1 cup of water.
• White Vinegar (or Acetic Acid) Solution = 2/3 cup of white vinegar to 1 – 1/3 cup of water.
SPOTTING RECOMMENDATIONS:
BEER – Blot up excess, sponge with detergent solution, blot with cloth, sponge with water. If traces remain, sponge with white vinegar solution, blot with cloth. If traces remain, sponge with dry cleaning solvent.
BLOOD – Blot up excess, sponge with cold water, blot with cloth, sponge with detergent solution, blot with cloth, sponge with water, blot with cloth. Repeat if necessary.
BUTTER – Scrape up excess, sponge with dry cleaning solvent, blot with cloth. If it remains, sponge with detergent solution, blot with cloth, sponge with water. If it remains, sponge with white vinegar solution.
CANDLE WAX – Scrape up excess, blot with a dry-cleaning solvent, blot with cloth. Repeat if necessary.
CANDY – Scrape up excess, Sponge with detergent solution, blot with cloth, Sponge with water, blot with cloth. If stain persists, sponge with dry-cleaning solvent, blot with cloth.
CATSUP – Scrape up excess, Sponge with detergent solution, blot with cloth, Sponge with water, blot with cloth. Repeat if necessary. If any stain remains, sponge with ammonia and water solution, blot with cloth, sponge with water, blot with cloth.
CHIOCOLATE MILK or COCOA – Blot up excess, Sponge with detergent solution, blot with cloth, sponge with water, blot with cloth. If Stain persists, apply the ammonia and water solution, sponge with water, blot with cloth. If stain persists, apply the white vinegar solution, sponge with water, blot with cloth.
COLA – Blot up excess, clean with detergent solution, blot with cloth. Repeat if necessary. If stain persists, apply the ammonia solution, blot with cloth. If Stain persists, apply white vinegar solution, blot with cloth.
COFFEE – Blot up excess, sponge with detergent solution, blot with cloth, Sponge with water, blot with cloth. If stain persists, sponge with a dry-cleaning solvent.
COFFEE with CREAM and SUGAR – Blot up excess, sponge with detergent solution, blot with cloth, sponge with water, blot with cloth. If stain persists, sponge with white vinegar solution, blot with cloth, sponge with water. If stain still persists, sponge with detergent solution again.
CRAYON – Scrape up excess, sponge with white vinegar solution, blot with cloth. If Stain persists, sponge with dry-cleaning solvent. If Stain persists, sponge with detergent solution, blot with cloth, sponge with water.
EGG – Scrape or blot up excess, sponge with detergent solution, blot with cloth, sponge with water, blot with cloth. If stain persists sponge with ammonia solution, blot with cloth, sponge with water. If Stain persists, sponge with detergent solution again, blot with cloth, sponge with water.
FOODS (Greasy) – Scrape or blot up excess, sponge with dry-cleaning solvent, blot with cloth. Sponge with detergent solution, blot with cloth, sponge with water. Repeat if necessary.
FOODS (General) – Scrape or blot up excess, sponge with detergent solution, blot with cloth, sponge with water, blot with cloth. If trace remains, sponge with dry-cleaning solvent, blot with cloth.
FRUIT JUICES – Blot excess, sponge with detergent, blot with cloth, sponge with water, blot with cloth. If stain persists, sponge with ammonia solution. If stain persists, sponge with white vinegar solution.
FURNITURE POLISH – Blot up excess, sponge with dry-cleaning solvent, blot with cloth.
GLUE Plastic base) – Scrape or blot up excess, sponge with detergent solution, blot with cloth, sponge with wa-ter. If still persists, sponge with white vinegar solution, blot with cloth, sponge with water.
GREASE – Scrape up excess, sponge with dry-cleaning solvent, blot with cloth.
GUM – Scrape up excess (may be easier if chilled first with ice cube or aerosol gum remover). Sponge with dry- cleaning solvent, blot with cloth. Repeat if necessary.
ICE CREAM – Scrape or blot up excess, sponge with detergent solution, blot with cloth, sponge with water, blot with cloth. If traces remain, sponge with ammonia solution, blot with cloth, sponge with water. If traces remain, sponge with white vinegar, blot with cloth, sponge with water.
INK – Blot up excess, sponge with detergent solution, blot with cloth, sponge with water, blot with cloth. If trace remains, sponge with ammonia solution, blot with cloth, sponge with water, blot with cloth.
IODINE (Tincture) – Blot up excess, sponge with detergent solution, blot with cloth. If Stain persists, sponge with dry-cleaning solvent, blot with cloth, sponge with water, blot with cloth. If stain still persists, sponge with white vine¬gar solution, blot with cloth, sponge with water, blot with cloth.
LIPSTICK – Scrape up excess, sponge with white vinegar solution or detergent solution, blot with cloth, sponge with water, blot with cloth. If stain remains, sponge with dry cleaning solvent.
LIQUOR – Blot up excess, sponge with detergent solution, blot with cloth, sponge with water, blot with cloth. If stain persists, sponge with white vinegar solution, blot with cloth. Repeat if necessary.
MUSTARD – Scrape up excess, sponge with detergent solution, blot with cloth, sponge with water, blot with cloth. Repeat if necessary. If trace persists, sponge with white vinegar solution, blot with cloth, sponge with water, blot with cloth. If stain persists, sponge with detergent solution, blot with cloth, sponge with water.
NAIL POUSH – Scrape or blot up excess, sponge with white vinegar solution, blot with cloth. If stain persists, sponge with nail polish remover or acetone, blot with cloth, sponge with water, blot with cloth. If stain persists, sponge with detergent solution, blot with cloth, sponge with water. As a last try, sponge with ammonia solution.
PAINT Latex) – Scrape or blot up excess, sponge with detergent solution, blot with cloth, sponge with water, blot with cloth. If traces remain, sponge with ammonia solution, blot with cloth, sponge with water. If paint has dried, pro¬fessional attention is recommended, although a paste type paint remover followed by dry-cleaning solvent and then deter¬gent can he tried.
RUST – Scrape up excess, sponge with detergent solution, blot with cloth, sponge with water. Repeat if necessary. If stain is old, professional attention may be necessary.
SALAD DRESSINGS – Blot up excess, sponge with dry-cleaning solvent, blot with cloth. If spot persists, sponge with detergent solution, blot with cloth, sponge with water, blot with cloth. If stain still persists, sponge with white vinegar solution, blot with cloth, sponge with water.
SHOE POLISH – Blot up excess, sponge with dry cleaning solvent, blot with cloth, sponge with water, blot with cloth. If trace persists, sponge with paint remover without oil solution, blot with cloth, sponge with water, blot with cloth. If Stain persists, sponge with dry cleaning solvent again. Then try detergent solution.
TEA – Blot up excess, sponge with detergent solution, blot with cloth, sponge with water, blot with cloth. sponge with white vinegar solution, blot with cloth.
URINE – Blot up excess, sponge with detergent solution, blot with cloth, sponge with water. Sponge with ammo¬nia solution, blot with cloth. If still persists, sponge with white vinegar solution, blot with cloth, sponge with water.
VOMIT – Scrape and blot up excess, sponge with detergent solution, blot with cloth. sponge with water, blot with cloth. Repeat if necessary.
How to spot clean carpet stains ( Download PDF (363 downloads) )