Stain Removal Guide

Stain Removal Guide

What can you do?

Even if you have your carpet & rugs cleaned once or twice a year, accidents can always happen.  Here are some instructions to help you try to remove some of these things yourself.

 

Stain Removal

Vacuuming

Carpets receive a lot of abuse - pounding feet, dirt, grit, dust, oily cooking vapors and all kinds of spills.  Vacuuming removes dry soils which are a big cause of wear and unsightliness.  Be sure to vacuum in multiple directions so that you are maximizing the effectiveness.  Be careful not to get too close to the fringe on rugs with the beater bar; they are more safely vacuumed with a hand attachment.

 

Stain Treatment

For effective spot removal, you'll want to have the following spot removing agents.  They should be used in the recommended sequence.

  1. Cold Water
  2. Detergent Solution: Mix one tablespoon of clear dishwashing liquid with a cup of warm (not hot) water.
  3. Ammonia Solution: Mix one tablespoon of clear household ammonia (3% solution) with 1/2 cup of water.
  4. Solvent: A dry cleaning solvent (available at hardware stores).
  5. Ice: Chill with ice cubes in a plastic bag.  Shatter residue, pick or scrape off and vacuum.
  6. Vinegar Solution: Mix 1/3 cup of white vinegar with 2/3 cup of water.
  7. Warm Water (not hot)
  8. Clear nail polish remover (preferably acetone)
  9. Alcohol or Methylated Spirits Mineral Turpentine
  10. Rust Remover
  11. Absorbent Powder (e.g., salt, talc, or proprietary absorbent powders)
  12. Absorbent Cleaners (e.g., Host)

Types of Stains

  • Alchoholic Beverages: 1,2
  • Bleach: 1,3
  • Blood: 1,2
  • Butter: 4,2
  • Candle Wax: 5,4
  • Chewing Gum: 5,4
  • Chocolate: 2,3,6
  • Coffee: 1,2,4
  • Colas & Soft Drinks: 7,2
  • Cooking Oils: 4,2
  • Cream: 2,4
  • Egg: 2
  • Felt Tip Pen: 7,2,8
  • Floor Wax: 4
  • Fruit Juice: 1,2
  • Furniture Polish: 4,2,3
  • Gravy & Sauces: 7,2
  • Ink (fountain pen): 1,2
  • Ink (ball point): 4,9,2
  • Ketchup: 7,2
  • Lipstick: 4,2
  • Mercurochrome: 2,3,6
  • Milk: 7,4,2
  • Mustard: 2
  • Oil & Grease: 4,2
  • Paint (latex): 2,3,4
  • Paint (oil): 9,4,2
  • Rust: 4,2,10
  • Salad Dressing: 2,4
  • Shoe Polish: 4,2
  • Soot: 4,2,3
  • Tar: 4
  • Tea: 1,2,4
  • Urine (fresh): 1,2
  • Urine (old): 2,3,6
  • Vomit: 2
  • Wine: 11,1,2
  • Unknown Material: 4,12,2
  • Nail Polish: Always let harden before attempting removal which can take up to 24 hours for a large drip or spill.  After drying use a blunt scraper (back of a knife works well) and you should be able to scrape off the most if not all of the polish, then do the following steps: 8,4