4 Stubborn Carpet Stains and How to Remove Them
The heartbreak of discovering a carpet stain is palpable. Half of your day is ruined thinking about how in the world it could have happened, and the other half is ruined as you spend hours on your knees trying to get it to disappear. Well, here are some stubborn carpet stains and some great techniques to get rid of them.
Stain Type 1: Fruit Juice, Jam, Jelly, or Preserves
Solution: Vinegar
Vinegar is an excellent stain remover for a wide variety of stains. The reason why is it does a great job of dissolving the elements that help stains stick within the fibers of carpet fabric. To get a relatively light stain out, you can combine some salt with the vinegar and completely dissolve it. You can also attack a heavier stain by combining vinegar and borax or by combining vinegar with cornstarch to make a paste.
Stain Type 2: Coffee and/or Tea
Solution: Vinegar
Vinegar comes to the rescue again when you have to erase a stain from coffee or tea. In order to combat these tricky enemies of cleanliness, the method should be different, however. You will want to combine vinegar with equal parts of water and then use it to attack the coffee or tea stains. For instance, you could mix a cup of vinegar with a cup of water. Briefly mix them together and then use them to rub out the coffee or tea stain.
Stain Type 3: Ink
Solution: Corn Starch and Milk
Ink on your carpet—or anywhere except paper—is a pain in the neck, back, and knees. If this happens, crack open the refrigerator and grab some corn starch and milk. Combine them together to make a paste. The paste should have a consistency similar to toothpaste or perhaps a bit thicker. Spread it liberally over the ink spot. Let it sit for several hours until it is completely dry. The bonds holding the ink to the carpet fabrics will be weakened during this time. Then just vacuum it up.
Stain Type 4: Red Wine
Solution: White Wine, Salt and Water
With this procedure, it’s important to act fairly quickly in order to get it done before the red wine dries. Once you notice that red wine has spilled, put some white wine on it in order to help dilute it. If you don’t have any around, grab some white vinegar. Then use a sponge and cold water to clean the area up to the best of your ability. There will likely still be some red or pinkish spots left behind. For these, use some salt. Sprinkle it all over the area, and don’t be afraid to use a little more than you think is necessary. Wait for about 10 minutes and then vacuum it all up.
So, if something drops, don’t panic. These stains can be combatted with some simple things you can find around your home. However, if there are several stains, or if any are particularly stubborn, you may want to call some pros to come and take care of them.
