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Written by Hadley Poss Apr 18, 2019

Removing Pesky Carpet Stains 101

As a commercial cleaning company, I am sure you have seen your fair share of bad carpet stains. Walking in for your regularly scheduled cleaning to find that you have to battle a tough stain can seem daunting.

The majority of carpet stains can be treated by acting quickly and using the following process. First, prepare a clean, white, cloth for spotting. Next, remove any solids from the carpeted area. Vacuum thoroughly. Apply a spot cleaning solvent specific to the spot or stain you are trying to remove. Finally, rinse then dry the carpet.

In the rare cases of the persistent difficult stains that cannot be treated through the above method, we are about to arm you with a list of creative tips to get rid of any stain imaginable, so pesky stains won’t get the best of you again.

Carpet Stain -1

Here are some of the most common pesky stains and how you can treat them:

 

Ink Pen

Spray with alcohol-based hairspray and blot with a clean cloth until the stain is removed.

 

Paint Stains

If the paint is already dry you can try to remove it with water and a toothbrush. If the stain persists, try a commercial cleaner like Lift-off paint remover.

 

Blood

Working from the outside in, scrub the stain using cold water and a sponge. Another method is to sprinkle pepsin power on the stain or spread a raw starch paste over the stain. Using this method, you would then pour water over it, wait for it to dry and then vacuum up anything remaining.

 

Grease

Remove fresh grease by blotting the stain with paper towels. You can also remove dried grease by gently scraping it. Second, cover the stain with either baking soda, baby powder, or cornmeal. Let your powder of choice sit for anywhere up to 6 hours to absorb the grease, the longer the better. Vacuum up the powder and then use rubbing alcohol and a wet cloth to rub the stain from the outside in. Next, mix water and dish soap that has grease cutting abilities in it and scrub what is left of the stain. Then, rinse the area with a cloth that has been dipped in a mixture of half water and half vinegar. Last, blot the area dry and then repeat the second step. 

 

Vomit Stains

Remove the excess vomit. Sprinkle with baking soda, cornstarch, or baby powder and leave for 15 minutes. Next, mix 1 tablespoon of dish detergent, 1 tablespoon of vinegar, and 2 cups of warm water. Use the mixture to sponge on the stain. Blot until that mixture is absorbed and then sponge with cold water and blot dry.

 

Marker Stains  

These stains are tricky, to be completely honest they may never go away entirely. To reduce the stain, you could blot it with alcohol- based hair spray or rubbing alcohol. When you’ve reached you desired results, use water to moisten the area. Last blot dry with a clean towel. 

 

Candle Wax

Freeze the wax with an ice cube and scrape the wax away before using carpet cleaning solution to remove the excess waxy residue.

Carpet Stain -2

Wine Stains

Remove as much wine as possible by blotting with a clean cloth. Pour a little water on the area and blot again. Make a paste out of three-parts baking soda and one-part water to apply onto the stain. Let it dry and vacuum it up before treating with carpet cleaning solution.

 

Chocolate

Scrape off as much as possible before beginning. Make a mixture of 4 drops of laundry detergent with 3 cups of water to blot the stain with from the outside in. Use a paper towel to blot dry, rinse with water, and blot once more from the outside in.

Make-Up Stains

Cover stain with WD-40 then blot. Afterwards blot the area with laundry detergent and a little warm water. Last rinse with water and blot dry.

 

Coffee and Tea

Blot the area with a clean paper towel or cloth. Spray cold water and continue to blot.

 

Grass Stain

Vacuum up loose debris, then blot with a damp towel. Use laundry detergent and water to make a paste and rub it into the stain with a brush. Last rinse with water and blot dry.

 

Dye

Blot stain gently to remove excess dye. Combine 1 tablespoon white vinegar, 1 tablespoon dish liquid, and 2 cups warm water and blot with mixture until the stain is no longer visible. Rinse area and blot dry.

 

Tomato-Based Stains

Scrape up the excess, and then blot gently to soak up as much as possible. Next rinse with cold water and blot dry. Now spray the area with white vinegar, let it sit for 20 minutes, and then blot up.

Gum

Remove what you can of the gum from the carpet by pulling gently. Dab extra strength Ben-Gay on what you can remove just from pulling the gum. Clean with carpet cleaning solution, rinse, and dab dry.

Now you are prepared to tackle those pesky stains. Make sure your company is prepared with the right cleaning and spotting products for the job. Action Unlimited Resources has everything you need to keep your commercial cleaning facility’s carpets looking brand new and stain free.

Topics: Floor Care

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