The Ultimate Carpet Stain Guide

Clean carpet is important to keeping your home looking good. Here are some quick tips from Rainbow Restoration on cleaning up some common carpet stains.

Wine

• Blot up as much excess as possible
• Apply detergent, vinegar, and ammonia solutions, blotting between each
• If necessary, bleach with 3-5% hydrogen peroxide
• Rinse with water and blot until dry

Coffee

• Apply detergent solution, blot
• Apply vinegar solution, blot
• Apply enzyme detergent, blot
• Rinse with water and blot until dry

Blood

• Apply cool detergent solution and blot.
• Apply cool ammonia solution and blot.
• Apply enzyme detergent, blot
• Rinse thoroughly with water, and blot until dry.
• If a stain remains, apply rust remover or oxalic acid solution.
• Bleaching with 3-5% hydrogen peroxide may be necessary.

Grass

• Apply amyl acetate, if available, to remove chlorophyll, blot.
• Apply enzyme detergent and blot.
• Rinse with water and blot.
• Apply ammonia solution and blot.
• Apply vinegar solution and blot.
• Rinse with water, and blot until dry.

Ballpoint Pen Ink

• Apply alcohol and blot, or use a wet/dry vacuum.
• Repeat as needed.
• Apply dry-cleaning solvent and blot.
• Apply amyl acetate, if available, or acetone (except on acetate fibers).
• If a stain remains, apply rust remover or oxalic acid solution.
• Bleaching (or professional stripping) may be necessary.

Grease

• Apply dry-cleaning solvent.
• Apply POG sparingly, and blot.
• Alternate steps 1 and 2.
• If a stain remains, apply a detergent solution, and blot.
• Apply ammonia solution and blot.
• Apply vinegar solution and blot.
• Rinse with water, and blot until dry.

Mud

• Brush or scrape off as much as possible.
• Apply detergent solution and blot.
• Apply ammonia solution and blot.
• Rinse thoroughly with water, and blot until dry.
• If a stain remains, apply POG and dry-cleaning solvent alternately, and blot until dry.
• Note: Some red clay and mud stains may be difficult to remove completely.

Fruit Juice

• Apply detergent solution and blot.
• Apply ammonia solution and blot.
• Apply vinegar solution and blot.
• Rinse with water, and blot until dry.
• If a stain remains, apply enzyme detergent, and blot.
• Rinse with water, and blot until dry.

Crayon

• Apply dry-cleaning solvent.
• Apply POG, blot.
• Apply dry-cleaning solvent and blot.
• Apply detergent solution and blot.
• Rinse with water, and blot until dry.

Nail Polish

• Apply amyl acetate, if available, or nail polish remover. PRETEST FIRST. Repeat as needed, with blotting.
• Apply dry-cleaning solvent.
• Apply POG, blot; apply dry-cleaning solvent, blot.
• If stain remains, apply detergent solution, and blot until dry.
• Apply ammonia solution and blot.
• Apply vinegar solution and blot.
• Rinse with water, and blot until dry.

For Further Reading:

What's Hiding in Your Carpet?

Why Would You Dump Ice Water in Your Living Room?

Is Your Carpet Making You Sick?

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