When you install carpet, you may find yourself stockpiling on carpet stain removers to prepare for the inevitable stains that are going to taint your carpet. Even a home without kids or pets is prone to at least one spill or smudge — it’s just a necessary evil that is a part of having a carpet. No matter the spill, the process of how to remove carpet stains remains pretty much the same, and is pretty easy to follow. 

Below, we will cover how to remove some of the most common stains from your carpet so you can further enjoy your carpet and prolong its life! If you are looking to replace your carpet or are interested in another type of flooring option, then give our floor store in Winnipeg a call! Floor Country is happy to assist homeowners in choosing a flooring material that best fits them and their needs. Give us a call today. 

Removing Pet Stains

Even the most well-behaved cats and dogs have accidents from time to time. Even if these accidents aren’t common, pet stains can really take a toll on your carpet, especially if you have had your carpet for years. The next time a doggy disaster strikes in your home, fast action is the key to successful stain removal!

The first job is to remove the mess as best you can, which may include scooping poo up carefully or blotting urine. It is vital that you do not scrub in either case, as this will spread the mess around and deepen the stain. Spray the area with a solution of water and dishwashing detergent. After giving the solution a few minutes of contact time, blot it again with paper towels.

Create another solution with water and vinegar, and spray the entire area again. After a few minutes, continue the process of blotting the carpet dry. The next thing to do is sprinkle the area with lots of baking soda. This will absorb both the odor and any remaining moisture. You can also sprinkle a few drops of your favorite essential oil on the stain. This will provide temporary masking until the smell dissipates. 

If the stain remains, repeat the steps above, but remember, the quicker you act, the quicker the stain should disappear. The final job is to vacuum the entire area thoroughly.   

Removing Coffee Stains

Coffee carpet stains can leave a carpet looking filthy if not treated properly. This noticeable yellowish-brown tone can easily be mistaken for an ignored pet mess. If drinking coffee is a regular part of your routine, then this is a necessary tool to know. As soon as the spill happens, blot the excess liquid up with paper towels or microfibre cloths. 

Once the excess has been removed, spray the area with a solution of white vinegar and water (in equal parts). If your carpet is a lighter shade, you might need to use a non-bleach detergent as well. If you do this, consult the cleaning instructions that came with your carpet first before proceeding to do a small test area first. 

Blot up the excess moisture, and sprinkle the carpet with baking soda. At this point, it may be best to leave the stain overnight. In the morning, vacuum the power and assess the stain. If it’s still there, repeat the steps above, but use a little ammonia if your carpet manufacturer allows it. You could also use a little rubbing alcohol as an alternative. 

Removing Blood

Maybe your child came into the house with a cut and dropped some blood on the carpet. Maybe you cut yourself cutting vegetables for dinner. The first thing to do is tend to yourself first, and then spray the blood carpet stain with cold water. Avoid using hot water, because this could help the stain set further into your carpet. Blood coagulates with heat, which could double your problems.

Once you have wet the area with cold water, create a solution of cold water and dish detergent and spray the area liberally. Blot the stain dry with paper towels and rinse with clean cold water before blotting again. Keep repeating these steps, and you should start to see the bloodstain gradually disappear.    

Removing Red Wine

Dropping red wine on a white carpet can feel like a death sentence, especially if you’re visiting a friend and it’s not your carpet! It can be a pain to get out, but if you act fast, you can save your carpet. After blotting the excess liquid up, run to the kitchen and grab a bottle of tonic water and cover the stain with it — without drenching your carpet. The bubbles should break up the stain before it gets the chance to set in. Dab the tonic water away until your carpet is dry and then spray the spot with a water and vinegar solution.

Repeat the blotting process, and then cover the area with baking soda. After an hour or so, vacuum your carpet thoroughly.  

Chocolate

Chocolate stains look terrible and rank among some of the worst stains behind pet stains. The good thing is, they are relatively easy to remove from most types of carpet. It is, however, easier to remove hard chocolate stains than it is to remove melted chocolate. So, with that being said, if you have spilled melted chocolate into your carpet, or soft chocolate for that matter, freeze the chocolate with ice cubes or a pack of frozen vegetables. 

Once the chocolate has hardened, gently scrape the chocolate away with a spoon. Hopefully, this should do the trick, but if you are still faced with a stain, then you should spray the area with a solution of water and dishwashing liquid. Dab it dry and repeat the process. In most cases, this approach should remove the stain completely. You likely won’t need any cleaning chemicals. 

Call Floor Country for a New Carpet

Most of these techniques and procedures can be very effective in removing carpet stains. If your carpet is at the end of its life, then you may want to consider getting your carpet replaced! Floor Country would be happy to get the job done for you. We help homeowners across Winnipeg get the floor of their dreams by offering a variety of flooring solutions. From hardwood and vinyl to laminate, carpet, cork, and tile, Floor Country is your go-to floor store in Winnipeg. Give us a call today.