Tips to Remove Difficult Carpet Stains

• By Kate Johnson
• On May 31, 2021

There are common carpet stains that people are likely to encounter and it’s useful to know how you can clean them up before they have chance to settle. The effectiveness of removing spills will be greatly increased if they are blotted up before the liquid dries and stains the carpet. Club soda and vinegar can also be used to form a potent mixture to get rid of coffee and red wine stains. If you move quickly enough, stains can even be significantly lightened with just water.

Carpet is expensive and designed to last for decades. It’s worth taking the time to clean any stains off your carpets.

Red Wine

Many carpet spill horror stories in Perth start with the opening of a bottle of red wine. Red wine has a vibrant and bright colour, and a spill can mean that the last days of your carpet are near. However, if you get to it before the wine has had a chance to make a home, there are a few ways in which you can still save your carpet. This works better if the stain has not dried yet. As soon as the stain appears you should:

• Blot it up vigorously but make sure that you don’t rub it in
• Use a clean cloth and a little bit of water when you notice it getting lighter
• Continue blotting till you get the desired result

If the stain still refuses to budge, you should consult with a professional carpet cleaner before discarding it for good.

Paint Stains

Paint stains can be almost impossible to remove once they have dried. If this is the case with your carpet, you may want to hire a professional service specialising in carpet cleaning. However, if you act fast, you can easily get the stain removed or at least lightened. The cleaning method also depends on the type of paint that has spilt.

• Water-based paints can be simply blotted with a damp paper towel
• Latex-based paints can be removed with lukewarm water after blotting

Coffee Spills

Spilling coffee is such a common occurrence there are probably thousands of carpets in Perth with coffee stains. If you spill your cup of morning coffee, the first thing that you should do is:

• Blot it before the liquid is soaked up by the carpet
• Blot from inside out and use a mixture of club soda and lukewarm water to sponge it up
• When this is done, sponge the liquid up one last time with clean water

Tips to Prevent Stains on Your Carpet

Understandably, you want to keep your carpet constantly pristine, stainless and clean. However, the reality is that if you live in a Perth house where residents drink or eat in the living room, it is impossible to avoid spills. However, all stains are not the same. While some may take just a quick blotting to swiftly lighten up, some are more stubborn and may settle into the fabric.

How to Avoid Permanent Stains

If you have carpet at home, you need to deal with stains now and then, however, with a few simple tips, you can make sure stains don’t settle in. The best way to do this is to clean a stain as soon as it appears by using pure dish washing liquid. Doormats can be used to catch dirt brought in by shoes at the door and keep dirt away from the carpet.

Get Spots out Immediately

As soon as you detect a stain or spill, get into action.

• Spray an absorbent cloth with a dishwashing liquid and dab it on the stain
• Do not rub as this will just make the stain spread
• As the stain dissolves, blot with clean paper till it disappears

Clean the Doormat Frequently

Interior doormats are one of the easiest ways to help your carpet stay clean, especially if you have just had it cleaned by an expert cleaner. But, doormats can only stop your shoes or bare feet from bringing in dirt when the doormats themselves are clean. Therefore, it is essential to clean doormats regularly and take some time to get out the grit once every week.

Different Methods to Clean a Doormat

You can clean a doormat in various ways. When in doubt, always vacuum. After vacuuming over the front of the doormat, turn it over and give it a good vacuum. A lot of dirt from the floor is accumulated here, and unless you clean both sides, the doormat will not be clean. If you want to clean the mat but don’t have much time to spare, just take it outside and give it a good whack. If the care tag of the doormat says that it is machine-washable, toss it in and use the gentle cycle to have your doormat as good as new.

Focus on the Most Used Carpet

If your home has a light-coloured carpet, you are likely to have a problem with areas that are used frequently. For example, you may have noticed a grey or discoloured path on the carpet from the couch to the kitchen or to the door. Stubborn as it may be, this large stain can be removed, or at least lightened with this easy trick.

• Use a solution specially manufactured for carpet cleaning
• Apply as required and then vacuum up the residue using a wet/dry vacuum

If you don’t want to follow the tips above and devote the weekend to cleaning your carpets, you can contact a professional carpet cleaner to carry out the job for you.