Solutions for Common Carpet Stains - Blog - Steam Smart Pro

When you have invested hundreds or even thousands of dollars into decorating your home, the prospect of irreparably harming your carpet can make it hard for you to truly enjoy your home. It is important to clean your carpets professionally every year or two to prevent the development of set-in stains. If you live in the Foothills, Arizona area, choose Steam Smart Pro, the Foothills reliable carpet cleaners.

When to Consult a Professional for Stain Removal

Knowing how to remove stains from carpets can help prepare you for life’s messes, giving you and your family the freedom and confidence to live a full life without giving your carpet a lived-in look.

We hope these solutions work for you. Reach out to a professional stain removal service such as Steam Smart Pro if:

• The home remedies are not working
• A stain is particularly stubborn
• You need to remove all traces of a stain

Types of Stains

The approach you take to removing a stain depends on the type of material that has stained the rug. Different materials have different physical properties that respond better to different stain remedies. Generally speaking, we can split them into two types, water-soluble and non-water-soluble.

Water-Soluble Stains

Water-soluble materials are often easier to remove because they dilute in water so that you can wash them away.

Non-Water-Soluble Stains

Stains based on oil, fat, and other substances such as chewing gum do not dissolve in water. This complicates the process of removing these stains. Soap and detergents can remove some non-water-soluble stains by breaking up fats and oils and allowing the water to carry them away.

Other solvents can dissolve non-water-soluble stains, but these chemicals might be toxic and can cause damage to the carpet fibers or dyes. When using something stronger than soap and water to clean any stain, be sure to test the cleaning material to ensure that it does not affect the color of the carpet.

How to Remove Stains From Carpet: General Tips

If you stain your carpet with something that does not appear on our list, you can mitigate the damage using the following steps.

1. Try to remove as much of the stain as possible using physical action. Breaking up the material that produces the stain might make it easier for cleaning materials to get at the deeper parts of the stain. Removing as much of the stain as possible while it is on the surface of the material prevents it from reaching deeper into the carpet, where it will be harder to remove.
2. Blotting with soap and water is a gentle method of working many types of stains out of carpets. Blotting is preferable to rubbing because it does not push the stain deeper into the carpet.
3. With hard materials like chocolate, it can be a good idea to harden it with ice, break it up physically, and vacuum up as much as you can before removing any residual stain. Place the ice inside a plastic bag to avoid dampening the stain before vacuuming with a dry vacuum. Alternatively, use a wet vacuum and a cleaning solution approved for that device.
4. Repeating the process of wetting and blotting the carpet together with detergent increases the ability of water to dissolve stains.
5. Using a white towel to blot stains prevents the possibility that dyes in the towel might dissolve in the cleaning solution and stain the carpet. A white towel also makes it easier to tell whether the cleaning method is effective because it will pick up stains from your carpet.

Home Remedies

Many simple but effective methods of removing stains from carpets rely on readily available household chemicals. While these chemicals may not be as effective as professional cleaning solutions, they can help you take care of minor stains in a pinch.

Stain Removal Products

Commercial stain removing products and carpet cleaning machines can help remove carpet stains, but the usual caveats for cleaning products apply. Do not mix different cleaning chemicals, and be sure to check the chemical’s effectiveness on a small area before cleaning the entire carpet.

How To Remove Specific Stains

Many home remedies can eliminate or reduce carpet stains. These tips will illustrate how to remove stains from carpet in everyday situations.

Blood

Heat will cause blood stains to set, making them difficult to remove. Blotting the stain with cold water will be more effective. Alternatively, the acidic carbon dioxide in club soda makes the liquid effective at removing blood stains.

Gum

Gum can be challenging to remove because it does not readily dissolve. Instead of trying to dissolve the stain, it is typically more effective to freeze the gum with ice and then break it free from the carpet fibers.

Ink

Blotting the area with soapy water repeatedly can be an effective way to remove ink stains.

Tea or Coffee

As with other stains, dish soap and water will help remove tea or coffee stains. However, mixing hydrogen peroxide with dish soap in a two-to-one ratio will be more effective. Gently work the cleaning solution into the carpet fibers with your fingers while being careful not to press the stain deeper into the carpet.

Urine

Some commercial products specialize in removing pet stains, including urine. Commercial products can also aid in housebreaking dogs and discouraging cats from spraying. To remove urine, blot with a mixture of water and vinegar, followed by blotting with a mild detergent.

Wine

Water and a mild acid like club soda or vinegar will help to dislodge wine stains.

Turn to the Professionals at Steam Smart Pro

At Steam Smart Pro, we want to support the Foothills, AZ community, as we have for over nine years. Not only do we know how to remove stains from carpet professionally, but we also help you learn how often to clean your carpets. Check out our website for our latest discounts and special deals. Contact Steam Smart Pro at 520-502-7683 to schedule a thorough carpet cleaning and rug cleaning in Tucson, AZ today.

Author Bio:

Eric Bullard

The owner of Steam Smart Pro in Tucson, AZ, brings over 20 years of invaluable experience in the field of carpet, tile, and air duct cleaning. With a strong dedication to quality and a deep understanding of effective cleaning techniques, Eric consistently delivers outstanding results to his satisfied residential and commercial clients.