Whether you use rugs or carpets in your home, they represent an investment and one that you want to protect. Carpets can easily become spotted and stained from an assortment of sources, from being tracked in, to accidental spills, and everything in between. There are some substances, however, that can cause stubborn and even permanent stains. Though there are some methods that might help you be successful at removing the stain, it can still prove to be a difficult task. Today, we at Steam Magic Carpet Cleaning would like to share the worst substances that come into contact with carpets and rugs.
Which Stubborn Carpet Stains are Hardest to Remove?
1) Red Wine. A cozy movie night is often paired with a glass of red wine pairs perfectly. Wine does not pair so well with your living room carpet, unfortunately. Notorious for causing the worst carpet stains are red wine and other grape products. Do not panic, but act quickly, if you or a guest has caused some carpet spills. Soak up as much liquid as possible using a dry cloth or paper towels, then with diluted white wine vinegar or detergent, use a wet, new cloth to treat the stain. Make sure to blotting from the edges inward. You don’t want to rub or scrub at the stain, otherwise, you can create a bigger mess. If the stain persists, you might have success with hydrogen peroxide or sodium perborate but use these with caution as they can potentially lighten the color.
2) Ink / Paint. Some of the most difficult stains to remove from carpet are ink and paint. They are practically designed to stain everything they touch after all. India ink, printer ink, and fabric paints are some of the worst offenders. Wet a cleaning cloth with high-concentrate isopropyl alcohol if a disaster does strike. Do not rub out the stain and only dab and blot with alcohol. Before vacuuming, rinse with water and dry completely.
3) Pet Stains. We don’t love the surprises they leave on our rugs and carpets, though we adore our pets. Once dried, some pet stains, like urine, becomes indiscernible, but if not cleaned properly, the obvious odors become more dominant. It is important to clean it as soon as possible when you notice a pet stain. Since it can lead the pet to urinate in the same place again, avoid using ammonia-based products. Remove any solid waste and spray the spot with special pet cleaner or diluted white vinegar. Press the carpet with paper towels or a cleaning rag to lift the stains after letting the cleaner soak in for a few minutes. Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda on the stain and let it settle overnight once removing all of the liquid. Vacuum the baking soda from the rug after 24 hours.
4) Blood. Carpet cleaning is probably the last thing you’d think about when you or a housemate is injured and bleeding. Blood looks worse as they deteriorate over time and bloodstains can set into carpets quickly. Work quickly to remove the bloodstain once the injury is contained. With paper towels or disposable cloths, blot up the blood as much as possible. To clean blood, never use warm water since it can coagulate the blood and stick to your rug or carpet. Use cold water with a small amount of dish soap to dab up the stain, instead.
5) Chlorine Bleach. Bleach is not a stain, but it can ruin carpets quickly. Store bleach far away from your carpets and rugs to avoid spilling it on the bleach. Cleaning carpet stains from bleach is near impossible. Use a paper towel or rag to soak up the liquid without rubbing and spreading the bleach immediately after spilling the bleach. Your last resort may be to dye your carpet if all else fails and the bleach stains are set in. It is best to dye the entire carpet at one time if you decide to dye.
Carpet Cleaning, Stain Removal & More in San Diego, Solana Beach, La Mesa, Mission Valley, La Jolla, Del Mar, Poway, Encinitas & Chula Vista, California
If you are having problems with carpet stains, call Steam Magic Carpet Cleaning and let our experts assist you.
