How To Remove Stains From Carpet

Everybody wants their carpet to stay looking beautiful and brand new forever. You’ve just got a new carpet, and you couldn’t be happier with how clean and fresh it looks. However, life happens, and so do stains – your little one may spill their juice on the carpet, or your beloved pet may make a bit of a mess and leave an unpleasant mark on your nice carpet. No matter what the situation is, you may find yourself faced with the problem of how to remove stains from your carpet. If you have kids, you know how messy they can get, and you may find yourself in this situation more than once. 

But, don’t worry – here at BorisDoes, we understand that this is a tricky situation, and we’ve put together this blog to help you solve this problem. When dealing with carpet stains, it can be a frustrating process, but the key is to be patient and try out a few stain removal methods to find the one that works the best. Below are some of the most popular (and effective!) ways of removing stains from your carpet. 

How to remove coffee stains from your carpet 

One moment you are enjoying a nice hot cup of coffee, and the next thing you know, you’ve spilled it all over your carpet! If not treated properly, coffee stains can leave an unpleasant yellow-brown stain on your carpet – and nobody wants that! Thankfully there are a couple of simple steps you can follow to help remove these stains.

1. Dry the spot by blotting with a white towel. If the spillage is significant, make sure you are changing the towels as they become saturated. 
2. Try carpet stain-removing chemicals. It is important to test out the chemicals on a small patch of the carpet before using, to check that they don’t damage the carpet. Be aware that some chemicals can be harmful if exposed to the skin, so protect your hands by wearing gloves.

How to remove pet stains from your carpet 

We love our pets, which is why we’re willing to clean up any minor stains or “surprises” they leave behind. If you find yourself in this situation, don’t fret – just follow these simple steps to get your carpet looking good as new again.

1. First, clean up the initial mess and dispose of it if necessary. If the stain is wet, repeatedly blot with a paper towel until the carpet is almost dry to the touch and the stain is removed. 
2. If the stain has already dried into the carpet, the best thing to do is first moisten it and then apply a carpet stain cleaning product specifically for pet stains. 
3. You can also use white vinegar or white wine. Mix ¼ of a cup of vinegar with a liter of warm water and spritz the stain mixture. First, allow the vinegar spray to soak for a few minutes and then proceed with the blot technique until the stain is gone and the spot is dry. This will also help neutralize the odor!

How to remove blood stains from your carpet 

All it takes is for your child to scrape their knee a bit, and you are left with an ugly blood stain on your carpet. Luckily, these stains can be treated effectively if you act fast. Here are a couple of key tips to keep in mind:

1. Always treat blood stains with cold water rather than warm water. Coldwater prevents the stain from permeating further into the carpet fibers.
2. Fill a spritzer bottle with 2tsp of liquid dish detergent mixed with cold water. Spray a liberal amount of the mixture directly onto the stain. You want the carpet stain to be soaked. The next step is to use a paper towel or dry white cloth to blot the stain. Repeat this process if necessary.

How to remove ink stains from your carpet 

Ink stains can be some of the most tricky stains to remove from your carpet. However, the key again is to act as fast as you can, and with any luck, you’ll be able to remove it completely. 

1. Dampen a cloth with isopropyl alcohol. The higher the percentage of the active ingredient, the more effective it will work. Dab the wet cloth onto the stain. Be careful not to rub or scrub, as this can cause the ink spot to spread. Leave it for a few minutes, and then vacuum the excess moisture with a liquid-friendly vacuum cleaner. 
2. You may need to repeat this process to remove the stain completely. Some hairsprays, nail-polish removers, and other liquids that contain high concentrations of alcohols may work.

How to remove chocolate stains from your carpet 

You treat your child with a yummy chocolate treat and are rewarded with a big chocolate stain on your carpet! Chocolate stains are notorious for being difficult, especially when they are on carpet. But not to worry, there are plenty of steps to help remove the stain.

1. Carefully scrape away any excess chocolate with a butter knife or spatula.
2. Pour half a cup of cold water directly over the stain.
3. Use a small amount of dishwashing detergent and gently rub the stain in a circular motion. Do not scrub as this can spread the stain. 
4. Let it sit for 5 minutes and then soak up extra moisture with a dry cloth or towel.
5. Once the area is just damp, rinse it with a solution of cold water and white vinegar in a ratio of 10mL vinegar to 40mL water. Then dry with a clean towel. 

A natural approach to refreshing your carpet

Maybe you don’t have any particular stains, but your carpet is just looking old and a bit “blah”. Perhaps you want to clean your carpet without the use of potentially harmful chemicals which may get in the reach of little hands. The good news is that you can easily refresh your carpet using something you probably have in your kitchen cupboard right now. Baking soda is a lifesaver! Just sprinkle it onto your carpet and work it into the fibers with a soft brush. Then you can vacuum it up after 15-30 minutes, leaving you with a carpet looking good as new!

Carpet cleaners you may have at home 

It’s not always necessary to venture out to the store and buy carpet cleaning chemicals. In the times of COVID, you might want to avoid a trip to the store if it’s not necessary. Or perhaps you want a different alternative to cleaning chemicals. Well, you’re in luck! That’s right –  you may have some stain-fighting ingredients already in your cupboard! Below are a few common ingredients you can use to help remove stains from your carpet. 

Beer

That’s right, there’s a useful purpose for beer, other than drinking! Beer works as a great spot cleaner for coffee and tea stains, removing them very effectively. Simply rub the beer lightly into the carpet, and the stain should disappear!

Vinegar

Vinegar comes in handy for a bunch of different uses, particularly for removing a variety of common stains from your carpet. For light stains, just mix two tablespoons of salt with ½ cup of white vinegar. Let the solution dry, and then vacuum it. For larger or darker stains, you can still use the same mixture with the addition of 2 tablespoons of Borax for an extra boost. Even spilled paint is no match for the stain-removing powers of vinegar, just use 1 ½ tablespoon of vinegar mixed with 1 ½ teaspoon of laundry detergent and two cups of water. Sponge away the paint before it sets in, and then rinse with cold water.

Shaving cream

Your little one spilled juice on the carpet? There may be an unexpected remedy – shaving cream! Dig around in your bathroom cupboard, and you may just have the perfect solution. All you need to do is to blot the stain and pat it with a wet sponge, then squirt shaving cream on the stain and wipe clean with a damp sponge.

Milk and cornstarch

This mixture may sound odd, but it proves very useful for removing grease and oil stains. Simply mix the milk and cornstarch to make a paste. Apply the paste to the ink stain and leave it for a few hours. Then, brush off the dried residue and vacuum it up. Your carpet should be looking clean again, but if not, try repeating the process a few times until the stain is completely gone.

Salt

A sprinkle of salt can help boost the effectiveness of your homemade stain remover. If you have a ketchup spill, just sprinkle some salt on the stain, leave it for a few minutes, and vacuum the excess. Sponge up any residue and continue salting and vacuuming until the stain is completely gone. 

Remember, if, in doubt, you can always combine a couple of the above methods to find the one best suited to you. Try not to give up if one method doesn’t work as well as you thought it would. With a bit of trial and error and some patience, your carpet will be looking good as new in no time.