Carpet is a great option for many homeowners – its warm, cozy, insulating, comes in a variety of styles, and can help your home become more energy efficient. That being said, it is more prone to staining than other types of flooring, and there’s nothing worse than your newly-installed carpet being ruined in the first year!
Luckily there are many ways in which you can treat stains, making sure your carpet has a longer lifespan. Check out the following:
Act Immediately
The longer a stain sits, the more chance it will become a permanent fixture as it will begin to soak into the fibers. Try to address stains as soon as they happen to avoid this.
Blot
The next step is to blot away at the stain, as well as removing all external matter. Ensure you don’t rub – this will actually often make the stain worse as you’re effectively helping it get further into the fibers. Works from the outside in to ensure it doesn’t spread.
Wet
Next use a damp cloth to wet the stain. At this point if the stain is being stubborn, you may want to apply carpet cleaner and rinse with water. Always remember to use the same method as blotting – never scrub and move to the center of the stain for best results.
Water Soluble
Water soluble stains (cola, juice, ice cream, excrement, mud etc.) can be treated using white vinegar (¼ teaspoon) and 32 oz of water. You may swap the vinegar for non-bleach detergent, just remember to always test an inconspicuous area first.
Other water soluble
Other different water soluble stains may need more attention (these stains include blood, coffee, mustard, wine). You’ll need to mix one tablespoon of ammonia with one cup of water.
Fat, Oil, and Wax
Place a paper towel over the stain and put the iron on the lowest setting, and it should hopefully come up.
