Most people know that accidents happen all the time, but what’s important is that we are prepared for it. Regardless of what may happen, at least we know what the next best step is. In this blog, you will know House Cleaning 101: Cleaning the Worst Stains with the Best Tools.
In any home, the common accidents that happen are stains that appear on table cloths, linen, or clothing. The most challenging stains that we are faced though are ones that appear on the carpet. Especially if you have an exquisite rug in your living room, and wine, unfortunately, was spilled on it. You can take advantage of carpet cleaning services for the tougher stains, but there are instances that you might get the stain out on your own.
So here are the usual types of carpet stains that you can try to clean on your own and how to do it:
Alcoholic beverages (or any liquid that may permanently stain the carpet)
Pour 1/4 teaspoon of white vinegar or a non-bleach detergent to 32 oz. of water. Wipe the mixture over the stained area until it is clean.
Be careful with bleach when it comes to coloured carpets, as it can permanently damage the colours. It is best to use it only on white or off-white rugs, so check your product first before using it on your rug.
Blood
As soon as you realize that blood has splattered on the carpet, address it immediately. If the stains are fresh, use cold water so that it would not seep into the carpet—mix two tablespoons of dishwashing liquid to a spray bottle with cold water. Spray the mixture on the stain thoroughly until the carpet or the stained area is damp with the solution. Use paper towels or a cloth to dry it and use cold water to rinse it.
Coffee stains
Use a dry cloth to blot the stained area, but if it is covering a large area, make sure you use several pieces of fabric to dry it out. If you continue to use just one cloth, it will only spread the stain even further.
Once the area is dry, use a mixture of 1 1/4 cups of water and 1/4 cup of bleach in a bottle. Spray the area gently, wetting it bit by bit. You can use this particular mixture on carpets made out of polypropylene. Use a clean cloth to absorb the wetness and use warm water to wash it. Repeat until the spot is clean.
Juices
Use a dry cloth to clean out the stain. Better to dab on it rather than rub the cloth against the stain, as it can risk damaging the carpet’s surface. Use a mixture of 1 tablespoon of dishwashing liquid and 1/4 cup of white vinegar. After pouring it in a spray bottle, use it on the affected area until it is adequately covered, and let it sit for 5-10 minutes. Blot out the area with a clean towel until the stain is cleaned.
Last thoughts
To be safe, always make sure to test out the mixtures that you make on a small area of the carpet you want to clean. You will be using mostly household items and chemicals to clean out the stain; although there are cleaning products that you can buy to use on blemishes, it is best to start with what is readily available.
At worse, there is carpet cleaning services that you can look into because some stains are better left to the professionals.
