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The sight of
stains on a carpet can be very bothersome, and detract from the beauty of an otherwise gorgeous carpeting. Learning what to do and how to clean various types of old stains is an excellent choice for your home's carpets and rugs. If your home's carpets are riddled with food stains, pet stains, and other problem areas, here are prescribed solutions to help you get rid of them, leaving your carpets clean and looking like new.
Remove Old Soluble Stains with Warm Water and White Vinegar
Soluble stains are the easiest to remove; they are stains that result from spills like alcoholic beverages, food dyes, milk, soda, and the like. These stains are often removed with a warm water application.
Step 1: Clean With Warm Water and Washcloth
Get your washcloth or rag dabbed in warm water, and then place the rag or washcloth firmly over the stain. The warm water will moisten the stain for more natural absorption.
Step 2: Mix One-Quarter Teaspoon of White Vinegar and One Liter Of Water
Add one-quarter teaspoon of white vinegar or non-bleach detergent to one liter of water, stir gently and evenly to attain a consistent solution. With that, you’ve successfully made a detox solution that will perfectly clean stains from your carpeting.
Step 3: Scrub Intensively Over the Stain Spot
Get a new rag or washcloth, dip it in your detox solution and scrub over the stained area gently to remove stains. Ensure that your rag is directly on the stain spot to enable maximum performance as you can gently scrub over the stain.
You can use the convex part of a spoon to smoothing and scrape out the stain. The spoon method is an effective one, as it helps disperse the stains as required but if not done carefully it might roughen the surface of the carpet.
Step 4: Use a New Washcloth to Scrub the Stain
Having applied the detox solution, remove the rag dipped in the solution and replace with a new washcloth to clean the stain further. The detox solution should have taken out a good amount of the stain, so the new washcloth will help remove what is left of the stains.
Step 5: Rinse With Warm Water
Rinse the stained area by dipping your rag or washcloth in warm water and scrubbing over the spot; warm water is effective for removal of old stains as well as odor.
Step 6: Repeat The Process
Repeat the whole process again. But this depends on the severity of the stain and how larger the stain spot is. Repeating the process help maximize stain removal without leaving any sign.
Step 7: Allow the Carpet to Dry
Finally, allow your carpet to dry. You could use a drier for faster drying or use a dry rag to remove moist, ensure to get the spot dry within or before twenty-four hours to help prevent bacteria growth. With that, you’ve successfully removed that old disgusting stain.
Eliminating Wine and Coffee Stains From Your Carpet
Step 1: Use a Clean Paper Towel to First Scrub the Stain
Wine and coffee are common beverages that are often found in homes. The stains they leave on your carpet might become a nightmare trying to scrub off if you don’t know how to go about it.
For a wine stain on your carpet, the first thing to do is to employ the aid of a paper towel to help absorb the spill from the carpet. Ensure to scrub mildly with moderate pressure to avoid spreading the stains farther than the affected part, in case you’ve spread the stain all over!
Don’t worry too much; it will only take more time. You could use a light bathing towel or a dish towel, but the paper towel is best because of its absorbent properties.
Step 2: Mix One Tablespoon of Ammonia with One Cup Of Water
To get these coffee and wine stains out, you need a very strong solution to combat the stains. Mixing water and ammonia will produce a powerful solution to help remove coffee and wine stains effectively. Stir the ammonia and water gently until you’ve got a strong solution.
For wool-based carpets, water and a mild detergent are preferable, because ammonia is known to hurt wool materials. Detergent use for washing Dishes and lemon juice is a better option for coffee stains; it effectively cleans off coffee stains compared to ammonia and water.
Step 3: Apply Lightly To a Sponge
Grab a kitchen sponge; dip it lightly into the ammonia solution. But ensure not to completely soak the sponge in the solution, to avoid collecting more than the required quantity for optimal removal of stains and easy scrubbing.
Step 4: Rub the Sponge upon the Stain
Gently scrub the affected area with the sponge in a circular path, start from the outside part and slowly scrub into the tick part of the stain with moderate pressure, to help prevent spreading the stain farther than the affected spot.
Step 5: Remove Excess Moisture with another Paper Towel
Get a new paper towel or light towel and scrub the affected spot. With the ammonia and water solution in play, the stain should now gradually phase away. You can also use the convex side of a spoon by applying moderate pressure as an alternative to remove the stains.
Step 6: Repeat the Process, If Necessary
You might need to repeat the whole process to clean off the stain completely. Although, this depends on the severity of the stain and the amount of area covered by the stain. If you have left over from the solution, keep it handy for future use.
Remove Old Blood and Urine Stains
Step 1: Use Steel Brush to Scrape Surface If Already Dry
The disgusting smell of urine and distinctive brown stain from blood makes this kind of stain quite different from the rest. The best way to effectively get rid of such stains, if dry, is to scrape the affected surface with a steel brush.
Doing this will not actually get rid of the stains, but it will only help weaken the stains and serve as a forerunner for subsequent steps. This is the first step, for blood stains.If the stain is still fresh and new, scrub the affected spot with a light towel or paper towel soaked in warm water.
Step 2: Scrub the Surface of The Stain With Dish liquid Soap And Water
Dish liquid soap and water can be helpful in getting rid of body fluid stains. Add a teaspoon of dish soap to one cup of water to prepare the counter-agent solution. Stir the mixture gently and evenly to get the right solution, dip a washcloth into the solution and scrub over the stain.
Step 3: Scrub the Spot Again, This Time With More Pressure
Soak the washcloth in the solution, place over the affected spot for five minutes, to allow the stain absorb the solution. Scrub the stain, this time more rapidly with more pressure to remove the stain completely.
Step 4: Mix Half Cup Of Warm Water And A Tablespoon Of Ammonia
Most stain from body fluid might prove stubborn to remove. If after using the dish liquid soap and water, yet the stain refuses to go away. Mix half cup of water and a tablespoon of ammonia. Stir the mixture thoroughly before applying on the stain spot; white vinegar can be used in place of ammonia if it urine stain.
Step 5: Apply Solution to Stain
Now the ammonia or white vinegar solution is ready, use a sponge soaked in the solution to rigorously scrub over spot using a circular motion from the outside, slowly move to the peak of the stain. Give the scrubbing some time; then apply a moderate pressure to wash out the stain effectively.
Step 6: Scrub for the Final Time
Allow the ammonia to soak into the stain, for like five minute, then use a paper towel to clean off the stain for the last time, with this the urine and blood stain should have phased off entirely. If it is not completely out, that means, the ammonia solution was not mixed properly.
Step 7: Rinse and Dry
If the stain has phased off, get a dry paper towel and damp it with warm water. It is best to use warm water after using ammonia to help prevent smell and bacteria growth. Scrub over the spot and then allow to dry, using a drier or other means.
Ways in which fat and oil-based stains could be eliminated
Step 1: Scrub Grease and Stain with a Knife That Is Not Sharp
Fat and oil-based stains can be very disgusting to the eye. One who has an adequate insight could easily eliminate these stains. Utmost, the person handling the cleaning exercise should gather materials required for necessary stains for effective cleaning process.
It is done by using a blunt knife in removing dirt’s on the surface of the carpet; this process will remove a greater part of the stain mostly in situations that the stains are much. It is worthy to note, that using of a sharp object in removing fat and oil-based stains on carpets can at times have bad effect to the carpet hence, it is advisable that the cleaner uses blunt objects like knives instead.
Step 2: Some Baking Soda Could Be Dispersed On The Affected Area, And Allowed To Stay For Five Minutes.
Well, baking soda has a good catalytic property that cannot be underestimated therefore; it is used as a removing agent. Baking soda when placed on the stained area can attenuate the stain and eliminate the stain on the carpet; with this, cleaning is a piece of cake. Corn flour can be used in place of baking soda when
cleaning your carpet.
Step 3: You Can Remove The Stain By Placing A Towel On Top Of The Stained Carpet And Ironing It.
With the help of the heat from the iron, the unwanted fats or oils become easier to remove. Set the iron by regulating it to low or medium, the duration should not be over a minute long. You should be careful to avoid direct application of the substance to the floor as it may cause damage.
Step 4: Use Dry-Cleaning Solvent For Scrubbing Stain.
Carefully scrub the fat stain using detergent. As it is observed that fatty stains are diminished to the lowest level when detergent is used.
Step 5: A Paper Towel Soaked In Warm Water Is Used For Cleaning
When, the liquid parts of the fats or oil is absorbed, this leaves a dry stain that can be effectively clean with towel.
Step 6: Use a Vacuum Cleaner on the Surface
Using a vacuum cleaner will help to remove the excessive dry stain; after treating the stain with chemical, you will need to have patience for the chemical to take effect. The solid matter in the stain should be easily removed using a vacuum cleaner. Time allotted to vacuuming should be infinitesimal; if the solid matter hasn't been sucked up by then, it may need an additional removal techniques for the stain to be properly removed.
Step 7: Repeat the Process, If Necessary
If you are not satisfied with the cleaning, you could repeat the process again. More often than not, most of the cleanup might not be done well, at first attempt.
Eradicating Old Industrial Fluid Stains
Step 1: Clean Using a Paper Towel
Industrial fluid stains (like inks or some household chemicals) could destroy the beauty of our carpets. This stain could be reduced considerably like most other types of stains, just by placing a paper towel on the affected area to clean up the fluid.
Step 2: Wet the Stain by Applying Alcohol or a Non-Oil Hair Spray
Gently rub alcohol on the surface of the affected area. The alcohol acting as a solvent will weaken the molecular structures of ink or fluids on the carpet; this makes the stain removing process a lot easier.
Step 3: Use a Vacuum Cleaner in Removing the Stain
With the stain removed, vacuuming over the stained area will clean every part that has been sufficiently affected by the chemical.
Step 4: Clean Again, Using Light Detergent
Add a little detergent to the remaining stain and leave for some time. Then place a washcloth on top of the area and let it soak up the stain. If you discover that you are not making any head with what you are doing, you can directly spread the washcloth over the surface and iron.
Step 5: Repeat, If Need Be
Industrial fluid stain may vary, and as such, proper care should be taken in cleaning the spots with more severe stain. Hence, repeating the process would not be a bad idea for stubborn stains.
How best to Maintain Carpets and Prevent Stains
Your Carpet Should Be Cleaned Annually At least wash the carpet 16-18 months after use to prevent spoilage, enable it last longer and prevent bad smell. It is generally recommended that you hire a pro if you can afford the expense. A professional will ensure the carpet is clean, and will minimize the risk of complications.
Place Mats in High-Risk Areas
The best way to prevent a stain is by making sure your carpet does not get stain. A mat can easily be sent to the laundry, unlike carpet. Placing your mat in areas where there are higher risks of getting stained, saves you time and stress.
• When you put your foot mat beside the kitchen and bathroom, it is a right way of trapping water and preventing the house from getting soiled.
Vacuum Clean Frequently
Use a vacuum cleaner regularly on the carpet, to prevent spoilage and for hygiene purpose. When this cannot be done, you could employ the services of a robot to vacuum clean frequently.
Keep a Dehumidifier Running In Your House
If your house is wet for over a day, the services of a dehumidifier is essential to clean and also reduce the moisture content of the carpet, because the absence of this might lead to the growth of fungi and mildew which will encourage bad odor.
Clean All Prospective Stains Immediately
The longer the stain on the carpet the tougher it becomes and so immediately a stain is noticed it should be dealt with, to reduce future stress.
