Carpets are prone to stains like wine spills, pet messes, or even coffee stains. Therefore, here are some best ways to clean carpet stains with ease!
Cleaning carpets is a tedious task, especially if they are pretty dirty. From pet messes and liquid spills to baby poop, carpets are prone to stains and a perfect breeding ground for harmful bacteria. But don’t fret, to cut your hassle, we have compiled few best ways to clean carpet stains without much effort. Keep reading the article to know ways to get rid of carpet stains easily at home.
Best Ways to Clean Carpet Stains
Note: Before using the below methods, remove the food crumbs from the carpet and blot the fresh stain as much as possible. Also, spot test the below products on an inconspicuous carpet area to avoid mishaps.
1. White Vinegar
Thanks to white vinegar’s mild acetic acid content, it’s the go-to product to eliminate all kinds of obstinate stains if they are relatively fresh. Besides, it neutralizes the obnoxious odor present on the carpet. However, avoid using vinegar on dark-colored carpets as it might cause discoloration. Read details here.
2. Dawn Dish Soap
Popular for removing tough oil and sticky messes, dawn dish soap is an excellent tool to lift stubborn stains from the carpet. Simply add 10-15 drops of dawn and a cup of water into a spray bottle. Jiggle the bottle well and spritz the solution on the stained carpet spot. Next, blot the area with a white cloth. Continue spraying and blotting process until the stain is completely gone.
3. Baking Soda and White Vinegar
The duo of baking soda and white vinegar produces a fizzing action that eradicates carpet stains instantly. For this remedy, sprinkle enough amount of baking soda on the problematic spot and then pour a little bit of undiluted white vinegar on it. Wait for 2-3 minutes, and then scrub with a soft-bristled brush. Once you’re done, blot the stain with a paper towel followed by a thorough vacuuming.
4. Rubbing Alcohol
For spot treatments, rubbing alcohol is an ideal medium to remove unsightly marks of wine and other liquid spills from your lovely carpet. Make sure to use this cleaning hack only on light-hued carpets as the dark ones can discolor. Head on to this video to learn the tutorial.
5. Try Shaving Cream
Shaving cream is a readily available household item that works quite well against carpet stains only when applied quickly after the spill. This trick is best for both white and colored carpets. Find the cleaning instructions here.
6. Baking Soda
Baking soda is a go-to product to get rid of wet carpet blemishes. It absorbs the stains and neutralizes the odor as well. To get a stain-free carpet, soak up the excess liquid with a cloth. Next, cover the spot with enough baking soda and pat gently with a paper towel. After that, lightly mist warm water all over the area and let it sit for an hour. Once it’s done, vacuum the area properly.
7. Use Salt
Salt, hydrogen peroxide, and carpet shampoo are all you need to get a spotless and odor-free carpet. This method is especially effective against red wine stains. In this hack, salt sucks up the wine while the other ingredients do the rest of the job.
8. Steam Iron
It sounds crazy, but steam iron lifts carpet stains quite easily. This hack is useful for old stains. First, load a spray bottle with 1 part white vinegar and 3 parts water. Next, connect the iron with a power source and adjust it to the medium steam setting. Then, spritz this solution on the stained spot and cover it with a tea towel dampened in tepid water. After that, iron the towel for 10-15 seconds. Redo the ironing step if required.
9. Club Soda
Club soda is an effective solution to clean colorful beverages and red wine from the carpet. Begin the hack by absorbing the spilled drink with paper towels as much as possible. Next, pour enough club soda on the stained spot and then blot using an absorbent cloth until the smear is gone.
10. Toothpaste
Toothpaste is a lifesaver when you’re dealing with old carpet stains. For this, squeeze enough white toothpaste on the stain, lightly mist water, and scrub with a brush momentarily. Next, wipe the section with a damp microfiber cloth. Again spray a mist of water and blot the spot with paper towels. Continue the misting and blotting process to remove the toothpaste. Repeat this entire method if the stain persists.
11. Nail Polish Remover
Removing nail polish from a carpet is a cumbersome task. To cut the hassle, grab any brand of nail polish remover. Always remember this method is great for fresh stains only. Moist a little portion of a cloth with a nail polish remover and press the stained spot lightly. Redo the process until the nail polish spill is gone.
12. Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is the best bet to remove protein and plant-based stains. Start the cleaning hack by filling a spray bottle with 3% hydrogen peroxide and spritz it on the discolored carpet area. Next, work on the stain using a scrub brush and leave it for 10-15 minutes. After that, blot the space with a paper towel and dry it using a hairdryer.
13. OxiClean
Spruce up the look of your stained carpet by cleaning it with the all-purpose cleaner, ‘OxiClean.’ It’s specifically designed to eliminate tough blemishes. All you need is a bottle of OxiClean, a white towel, water, and this article to get the job done.
14. Pine-Sol
Restore your carpet to pristine condition using the versatile cleaning agent- ‘Pine-Sol.’ It’s a perfect means to take off fresh and dried greasy stains along with neutralizing stinky carpet odors. Read the instructions here.
15. Windex
Before resorting to the overpriced carpet cleaners, give a try to the versatile Windex. It works against a wide array of stains such as coffee, food, drinks, grease, and oil. If you’ve got an old stain, begin saturating the spot with this miraculous liquid and rub it with a soft scrub brush. Once the stain disappears, blot the liquid using a microfiber cloth and dry properly.
16. Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is one of the best ways to clean fresh carpet blemishes because of its mild acidic content that breaks down the stains easily. Use it as a carpet cleaner by combining equal proportions of lemon juice and tepid water into a mist bottle. Then, spray it on the stain and wait for 10-15 minutes. After that, thoroughly blot the area with a sponge or paper towel.
17. Mineral Spirits/White Spirit
Eliminating oil-based paint stains from a carpet is effortless with mineral spirits. Initiate the cleaning hack by moistening a white rag with mineral spirits and blot until the carpet becomes spotless. While blotting, change the rag when it becomes discolored and use a new one.
18. Dawn Dish Soap and Hydrogen Peroxide
If neither dawn dish soap nor hydrogen peroxide worked on their own, combine them to increase their cleaning potency to a whole new level. To get a stain-free carpet, mix a cup of hydrogen peroxide and 8-10 drops of dawn in a bowl. Then, dip an old toothbrush in this solution and scrub the area. Continue the dipping and scrubbing until the stain disappears. Lastly, mist water and blot with an absorbent cloth.
19. Vodka
Vodka is more than just a mixer in cocktails, it’s an excellent stain buster. This hack is perfect for the removal of grass, ink, and red wine stains. To revive your stained carpet, pour a generous amount of non-flavored vodka on the problematic spot and leave it for 8-10 minutes. Then, blot with a paper towel. Redo the process if the stain is still there.
20. Borax
If none of the above methods work for you, go with borax. Borax has numerous household uses, and fortunately, you can also use it for carpet cleaning. It cuts the most stubborn stains with ease. To make your carpet spotless, watch this video.
Tips for Preventing Carpet Stains
After eliminating the blemishes from your carpet, it’s vital to follow the below tips to prevent carpet stains in the first place.
- Use carpet protectants because they work as an invisible shield against accidental spills.
- Run vacuum on your carpet daily.
- Instruct your family members and guests to leave their shoes outside before walking on the carpet.
- Using plastic doormats and rugs is a good idea to prevent carpet stains.
- As soon as you notice the spills, quickly blot using an absorbent.
- Get your carpet cleaned by a professional once a year.
Conclusion
It doesn’t matter what kind of stain your carpet has because the above cleaning hacks will eliminate the stain for sure. Besides, if you don’t know how to clean carpet on stairs, this article might help you. Let us know your best way to clean carpet stains by commenting below.