How to Remove Carpet Stains The Right Way

Fort Collins Carpet: How to Clean Your Carpets The Right Way DIY

Hiring a professional to clean your carpets and remove carpet stains can be expensive. That’s why there’s no shame if you’re thinking about going the DIY route. The average cost of professional cleaning services will range from as low as $75 to as high as $350. The rate itself will depend either on the size of the room. But there are factors that can push prices up. For instance:

• Is the carpet difficult to reach?
• Are there stains that need to be removed?
• What type of material is the carpet (with wool and cotton being the more expensive)?

It’s recommended that you hire a professional to clean your carpets at least twice a year. For the most part, however, you can do a lot of the cleaning yourself, especially when it comes to removing carpet stains. Here’s how to remove carpet stains the right way, once and for all.

Getting the Stains Out

The type of stain you want to remove will be relative to the type of cleaning agent you will use. For the most part, however, equal parts dishwashing liquid, white vinegar and baking soda mixed with 1 cup of warm water will do the trick. It’s important that you immediately apply the cleaning agent before the stain can settle. Never scrub it unless you want the stain to spread. Instead, dab it with a little pressure using absorbent cloth or a sponge.

Chocolate

Chocolates are very delicious, but they can also be very dangerous especially in the hands of small kids. Once the sweet treat falls onto carpet, clean your carpet using a dishwashing liquid and water. But first, scrape off any solid material before applying the cleaning agent with the sponge.

Coffee or Tea?

This is another perfect example why beer is awesome. Believe it or not, you can clean your carpet using beer, especially if the stain is caused by coffee or tea. Just pour a little beer onto the affected area, blot gently and voila! For red wine, the best antidote is white wine in order to dilute the stain.

Ink

Cornstarch is not just good as a binder when you bake, it’s also the best material to clean your carpet if the stain is ballpoint ink. What you do is to mix the cornstarch with water until you get a pasty consistency. Just apply it to the affected area and leave it there for a few hours. Once the material has caked and cracked, pick up your vacuum and fire away.

Grease Stains

For grease stains, the best way to clean your carpet is to use a cleaning agent that is a mixture of rubbing alcohol and salt (four parts to one part, respectively). Blot the concoction on the stained area until the stain comes out.

Ketchup

Ketchup can be tricky because once it sets, you may need a professional cleaning service to make your carpet spotless again. But ketchup’s kryptonite is salt. Just sprinkle it on the affected area and vacuum after a few minutes. Is the ketchup still there? Just repeat the process until it’s gone.

There are some very effective DIY methods for removing carpet stains when accidents happen. For more information on cleaning your carpet, read this: How to Care for New Carpet: The Ultimate Guide.

Carpet beyond saving? Contact Carpet Direct of Northern Colorado for a free, in-home consultation on your new flooring!