Different Types of Carpet Stains And How To Treat Them

You undoubtedly take a lot of pride in your home and do all you can to keep it in pristine condition.

Unfortunately, stain-causing accidents are bound to happen to the best of us. Your perfectly house-trained pet might have an oopsy, your child's sippy cup might end up nozzle-down, or someone might get a cut and get blood on the carpet. It's life. 

Instead of holding your breath, hoping the inevitable never happens, learning how to get rid of these stains when they occur gives you some peace of mind.

Here are simple procedures to help you treat the more common carpet stains and issues. 

Wine, Urine, Vomit, Tomato Paste, Tea, Spaghetti sauce

Wine stains are challenging to remove for two reasons. The first is that they have a high acidity content. The second is that its deep color has the potential to leave deep stains on light-colored carpets. 

Wine, urine, vomit, tea, spaghetti sauce, and tomato paste stains are cleaned much in the same way. 

Procedure:

1. Mix the cleaning solution as per instructions and apply to the affected fibers

2. Carefully and gently agitate the fibers to loosen the dirt in the soiled areas. The longer you do this, the better

3. Rinse thoroughly with water and try and dry it out as much as possible

4. You can also use a stain blotting powder to take care of the wicking after drying

5. Once it's dry, give it a good vacuum

It's essential to avoid heat-activated or high-temperature cleaning for these types of stains. You will need an enzyme spotter, stain oxidizer, and a stain blotter for this. 

Paint

While a home renovation or a DIY paint job can refresh your house immediately, paint spills on your carpets or rugs can dim the experience. 

Well, it doesn't need to. If you have paint stains, here is what to do to get rid of them. 

Procedure:

There are two ways to go about this, depending on the specific type of paint stain. 

Fresh spill

If you notice the stain right after it happens:

• Place blotting paper on it to try and absorb as much of the paint as possible. Resist the urge to scrub, as this can send the paint deeper into the carpet's fibers
• Mix warm water with dish soap and use a clean cloth to dab the stain and continue blotting the stain
• Work from the outside going in so as not to spread the stain

Dry Paint

If the stain is already dry;

• Find something like a kitchen knife to scrape the dry flakes off the carpet. Ensure the blade is sharp and be careful to get the flakes without damaging the carpet's fibers. Please do not overdo it!
• Then mix warm water with dish soap to create a foamy solution, carefully put this directly on the stain and let it soak to soften the remaining dry paint.
• When it softens, blot the area with paper towels or a clean rag.

If these methods fail, consider store-bought paint stain remover and apply as per the manufacturer's instructions or call a professional carpet cleaner as soon as possible. 

Mildew and Mold

If you have any leaks on your home's structure or get spills you are unaware of, the dampness can cause mold or mildew. This is not just unhealthy; it's unsightly and smelly as well. 

If you notice any mildew or moldy spots on your carpet;

1. Mix Power Gel with water at a 20:1 ratio and apply it directly on the spot

2. Agitate the spot thoroughly, but being careful not to ruin the carpet's fibers

3. Hot water extraction is highly recommended. Clean and vacuum it 

4. You can blot out the moisture with a clean, dry towel

5. Apply the oxidizer with the spray nozzle and agitate again before allowing the area to dry

Pet Poop

As much as you love your pet, pets are capable of leaving the last stain you ever have to clean up: poop. 

However, don't panic when this happens, as here is a simple procedure to ensure you remove the stain and the odor from your home. 

Procedure:

1. Mix half a tablespoon of dishwashing liquid with warm water and one tablespoon of white vinegar.

2. Dip a clean cloth in the solution and sponge the stain 

3. Sponge and blot the spot until the spot is apparent, or until the towel, you are sponging with no longer absorbs the stain

4. If the stain lingers, use an eyedropper to apply a few drops of hydrogen peroxide followed by two drops of ammonia. Leave out the ammonia if it's a wool carpet as it can cause discoloration. 

5. Rinse it off by sponging the area with cold water, then blot it dry

Rust

Rust stains on a carpet often occur as a transfer from a rustic metal item that sits on the rug. 

On the face of it, a rust stain on your carpet might sound like a nightmare to clean. But you will be surprised to learn that it isn't. 

Procedure:

1. Apply Rust removing solutions like Rust Away directly to the stain

2. Gently agitate so that the compound infiltrates the fibers and pry's the Rust away

3. Carry out a hot water extraction to rinse the spot, then allow to dry

Some rust removal compounds are so potent that the rusty spot will disappear without any agitation. 

Caulking

If you have a latex or oil-based caulking stain, it's advised to remove it before embarking on the actual stain removal. This is because the caulking can dilute the cleaning compound making it less effective.  

Procedure:

1. After you have removes the caulking, apply Pro Solve Gel generously to the caulking deposits

2. Leave it on for about 5 minutes

3. Agitate with a Carpet Shark to separate the caulking from the fibers. You can use Carpet Shark with Pro Solve Gel if the stain is stubborn

4. Rinse through hot water extraction and dry it completely

5. Once dry, you can treat with an anti-re-soiling agent 

Final take

These household techniques and chemicals are often sufficient for stain removal. However, if these methods fail, it's probably time to contact a professional carpet cleaning company.