Stains on your carpet are all different and will not lift off in the same way. Most common problems with stubborn stains are caused by using the wrong method to try and remove them. Here is a guide to remove some of the more common stubborn carpet stains.
Red Wine and Coffee Spills
The key to removing any spillage from your carpet is to act quickly. The first thing to do is to use a clean and dry cloth to blot the spillage. Press down on the cloth to penetrate the fibres of the carpet and use the cloth to blot the spillage. Start from the outside of the spillage and work your way inwards. Don’t wipe the spillage as this could spread it further across the carpet and penetrate the fibres and the carpet backing even more. Once you have removed as much of the spillage as possible, flush the area with cold water and continue to blot with a clean part of the cloth until all of the water has been removed.
Pet Urine and Accidents
First you need to blot the accident as much as possible, then use an enzyme-based cleaner for pet accidents that can break down the proteins in urine and feces and remove the smell for good. Avoid using a steam cleaner or hot water on new accidents, as the stain and odour can ‘set’ in the carpet and be almost impossible to remove.
Candle Wax and Chewing Gum
For candle wax or chewing gum freeze with ice cubes in a sandwich bag until hard, then use a blunt knife and scrape from the edges inwards. Remove any remaining residue with a carpet cleaner as needed. Don’t attempt to scrape while soft as this will only spread the stain.
Grease, Oil and Mud
Mud – Let it dry out and then remove all the dry mud from the pile of the carpet with a vacuum. If there are any remaining stain marks on the carpet, refer to the above advice for dealing with stubborn carpet stains. Grease & Oil – Sprinkle cornstarch or talcum powder over the spill and leave for approximately 10 minutes to allow the powder to absorb the oil. Brush off the powder and then clean as necessary. Remember – Never mix different cleaning chemicals together for dealing with stubborn stains. The worst scenario is that dangerous fumes are produced by mixing products that contain Bleach and Ammonia (in the form of cleaning products).
Ink and Biro Marks
Use an appropriate amount of rubbing alcohol on a clean cloth to gently dab at the stain. Be sure to test a hidden patch of carpet first to make sure that the dye will not bleed or change colour. Work from the outside in to make sure you are not spreading the stain. Switch to a clean part of the cloth often to make sure you are not just moving the ink around on the carpet.
When to Call in the Professionals
However, there are occasions where stains have penetrated the fibres and penetrated into the carpet’s backing. In cases where the stain has penetrated this far, it is unlikely that home treatment will be effective in removing the stain. Even if you have been able to remove some of the staining, if it has been present for some time and has penetrated into the carpet’s backing, professional extraction could be required to successfully remove the staining. People looking for Carpet Cleaning Hereford who have had a spill to go stale should also look to see if the spill has penetrated into the carpet’s backing. Disposal of cleaning materials and who to contact with local issues can be addressed through local council guidance for residents of Herefordshire.
There is more on Carpet Cleaning Hereford at Octokleen.
Most stains can be removed by a quick treatment with the right method of cleaning but there are occasions when it is better to call in a professional to salvage the remainder of the carpet.