In a perfect world, we would all live in immaculate houses decorated to our tastes that always remained in the same condition as the day we moved in. Our fluffy carpets would remain the rich shade that we selected when we first shopped for them with zero flaws and provide the perfect warmth to the space. Unfortunately, life gets in the way of clean and pristine living spaces. Kids learning to walk crawl around with dirty hands and knees, beloved pets have accidents, friends spill wine glasses at get-togethers and mugs of coffee are clumsily dropped first thing in the morning. It makes no sense to not live your life to the fullest because you’re afraid of a little carpet stain. This fear is completely irrational because there are many easy ways to clean carpet stains. In this blog, we will discuss various methods for getting rid of carpet stains.

Carpet Material

The first step in getting rid of carpet stains is determining what material your carpet is made out of. Generally speaking, there are two different types of carpets: natural and synthetic.

Naturals carpets are commonly made of the following materials: 

• Wool
• Seagrass
• Coir
• Jute
• Sisal

Synthetic carpets are commonly made of the following materials: 

• Nylon
• Polyester
• Triexta
• Olefin

Do-It-Yourself Cleaner

Once you’ve sorted out what material your carpet is made out of, you’re ready for step two, making your own carpet stain cleaner! You should base which cleaner you make on what type of carpet you have. Here are the homemade cleaners you can make using items you likely have around the house for both synthetic and natural carpets:

 Synthetic Carpets

Detergent solution: Combine a quarter of a teaspoon of a translucent liquid dish washing detergent with one cup of lukewarm water.
Vinegar solution: Mix one part white vinegar with two parts water.
Nail polish remover solution: Use acetone, typically found in nail polish remover. Apply one of these solutions to a cloth then dab it onto the stain. Never put the solution directly on the carpet.

 Natural-fibre Carpets

Detergent solution: Combine one teaspoon of translucent liquid dishwashing detergent and one cup of lukewarm water.
Vinegar solution: Mix a quarter of a cup of white vinegar with a quarter of a cup of water.
Ammonia solution: Mix a spoonful of clear household ammonia with half of a cup of lukewarm water.
Nail polish remover solution: This solution is the same as above.
Pour the solution of your choice into a spray bottle and lightly mix it onto the stain. For the nail polish remover solution, use a cloth as advised above.

Type of Stain

The third step of getting rid of carpet stains is determining what the stain is. Each different stain will require a different removal method. Here are some of the most common types of carpet stains and how to get rid of them:

Food and Drink Stains

Use these tips specifically for food and drink stains:

Use the homemade detergent solution and a cloth to dab the stain repeatedly. Press down on the stain with the cloth for several seconds. Wait fifteen minutes for the stain to break down. Then soak up any extra liquid with a different, clean dry cloth. To remove any residual detergent and stain marks, use the vinegar solution. Repeat the previous steps with the vinegar solution. Rinse the spot on the carpet with a cloth soaked in warm water. Repeat these steps until the stain is no longer visible.

Oil and Grease Stains

Use these tips for oil and grease stains.

Synthetic-fibre carpets:

Dab the stain repeatedly with the nail polish remover solution on a white cloth. Dab it repeatedly then press the stain for several seconds. Blot it with a warm water-soaked cloth to rinse. Wait an hour for the stain to dry then repeat until the stain is removed.

Natural-fibre carpets:
Blot the stain with a little bit of the nail polish remover solution on a white cloth. Then spray the stain with the detergent solution and blot. Then spray the stain with warm water. Wait an hour for the stain to dry then repeat until the stain is removed.

Call in the Professionals

These tips to get rid of carpet stains are helpful, however, sometimes you need some extra help from professional, highly trained carpet cleaners. If you’re looking for carpet cleaning in Toronto, look no further than Love Your Carpet. No stain is too difficult for us to get rid of, we guarantee it! We’ll have your carpet looking as good as new and remove allergens and unpleasant odours at the same time. Contact us today or fill out our form online for a free carpet cleaning quote.