Accidents do happen, and when they do the best defense is to be prepared. Know how to handle spots before they happen. In the time frame of this message it will not be possible to cover all of the many substances that can be dropped on your carpet and how to get each one out. So we will cover the principles of effective spot removal.
Now, how to get that spot out?
1. Identify what caused the spot
If you don't know yourself, ask others in the house. Knowing exactly what made the spot can make removal much faster, with a greater chance of success and with less chance of damage to your carpet. Even geometric spots such as circles, squares and even triangles may be stains from furniture legs. These are very difficult to remove and should be handled by a professional company. If the spot is sticky or stiff, this is a good indication that removal is possible. If the spot is lighter in color this is not a good sign as it may indicate that there is a color loss instead of just a spot. If this is the case, a professional company that is thoroughly familiar with spot dyeing is a must.
At this point, it may be good to know the difference between a spot and a stain. A spot is any foreign substance that adds textrure to a fiber. A stain is anything that adds to or deletes the color of a fiber. Obviously, stains are not easily removed and usually permanent, whereas spots are more readily cleaned up.
- If the spill is fresh, blot up as much as possible with an absorbent paper or cotton towel. (If the spill is thick, use a spoon to remove as much as possible by scraping toward the center and scooping up).
- If the spill is dried, pour a small amount of cool water or carbonated water on the spot and work it in with a spoon to attempt to re-liquefy it and then start the blotting process.
- Use a fresh towel or new paper towel and stand on it to blot. Repeat this procedure until no more residue from the spill transfers to the towel.
- After blotting up all that you can, pour a small amount of cool water on the spot and repeat the blotting sequence until no more residue transfers to the towel.
- If there is anything left after these steps, determine the solution that you will use to attact the spot.
For oil based spots like greasy foods, grease, oil, tar, butter, use a dry cleaning solvent such as Energine or Carona. These can be purchased at most large grocery stores. For water based spots which are most soft drinks, and food spots that have sugar or starch in them, use a solution of 1/2 teaspoon of dish washing liquid soup, 1/3 cup of vinegar, to 2/3 cup of warm, not hot, water.
For blood, egg, milk, chocolate and other protein based spills, use a mixture of 1 cup of cool water, with 1/2 teaspoon of household ammonia, and 2 drops of mild dishwashing detergent. If the spill is unknown, start with the dry cleaning solution first. If that doesn't work, rinse, blot, and try the protein solution.
*Before applying any solution to you carpet, test in an inconspicuous area, such as inside a closet. If discoloration occurs, do not use.
- Apply the solution to the spot using a spoon to work the solution into the center of the spot from the outside edge. Do not rub too hard or fast as this could permanently distort the carpet fibers and damage them. Never use a brush for the same reason.
- Blot with towel, repeat until there is no more residue transferring to the towel.
- It is always good to pour on a little cool water to rinse out any cleaning solution and blot it up also. You may wish to lay 1/2 inch of paper towels or a cotton towel folded several times on the area that you treated and put a heavy weight of about 5 to 10 pounds on it overnight. This reduces the chance of any residue resurfacing later. Putting a fan on the area can also help.
If there is some color remaining, it may be necessary to call in a professional carpet cleaner who can use more specific and more potent products to attempt removal.
Click here to view our Spot Removal Technique Guide