Getting Tough Stains Out Of Carpet
Spills are inevitable. If your carpet is in the kids' bedroom or playroom, you're bound to find spots of paint or other art supplies. If it's in the living room, expect a wine spill at some point. And if your rug graces the floor under your dining room table, spills are inevitable. Read on for some simple tricks to try before calling the carpet cleaning company.
Paint Stains
If your little artist accidentally tips a pot of paint onto your carpet, have no fear. Try to only purchase washable paint for your kids to make stain removal easier, but no matter the type of paint that spills, use a similar procedure. If you catch the spill when it's still wet, blot as much paint as possible from the carpet. Be sure not to rub the stain because that only pushes the paint deeper into the carpet fibers. Continue blotting until the paint comes out of the carpet. If you find a paint stain that's already dry, make the paint wet again to ease removal. Carefully apply a solution of hot water and dish detergent to the stain until the paint softens, then scrape the softened paint off the carpet using a dull knife.
Wine Stains
If you see someone spill a glass of wine during your party, act quickly, but in a manner that doesn't shame your guest. If you immediately drop to your hands and knees to work on the stain, your guest could feel terrible. Instead, work quickly to neutralize the stain, and then remove it when your party ends. Neutralize the stain by pouring white wine over it and sprinkling the stain liberally with table salt. Then keep the stain damp by covering it with a damp cloth and get back to your party. After your guests leave, blot the stain with clean, dry cloths until it disappears. If the stain is stubborn, use a commercial carpet cleaning solution to remove the stain.
Food Stains
If the carpet under your dining room table gets food spilled on it, take immediate action. Tomato-based stains, like ketchup, barbecue sauce and tomato sauce, can be the most stubborn. Get rid of these stains by blotting it with dish washing liquid, then rinse the stain away using white vinegar. Given that the carpet under a dining room table likely will be the recipient of many stains after many dinners, it's a good idea to schedule an annual professional carpet cleaning, like Wilson Carpet & Air Duct Cleaning, LLC, for the dining room rug to keep it looking fresh.