DO NOT MIX CLEANING AGENTS.

Pet stains (urine and feces):

First, remove solid matter if possible. Use an over the counter carpet cleaning solution to get rid of the stains; they also sell a cleaning solution specifically for cleaning up pet urine. It’s very important that you clean up as much as you possible can because harmful bacteria will linger. If an odor is still left, use a carpet deodorizer to eliminate the strong odor. For more information read our tips on removing pet urine from carpet.

Makeup

Both liquid and powder types of makeup will leave a stain on the carpet; you need to determine the makeup’s oil content in order to sufficiently remove the stain. Powder makeup is typically non-oily. Liquid foundation, lipstick, and mascara have oil in it. Majority of stains can be removed by spraying a household carpet cleaner. Allow the carpet cleaner to sit for 10 minute and break the stains down, and this will cut down on having to scrub the carpet. After the stain is removed gently dab away the solution. For oil based cosmetics try using Goo Gone, if you don’t have Goo Gone try alcohol. Take a clean white cloth and moisten it with the alcohol, gently blot the lipstick stain.  More tips on removing makeup from carpet.

Remove Fingernail Polish Stains.

Paint, Oil and Grease

If the stain is only a small, sizeable amount keep the area wet and covered with a moist towel to avoid drying. It is essential to keep the spot moist for as long as needed until the cleaners come. Call a professional carpet cleaner immediately!

Plant Stains

Remove the remaining soil off of the area. Soak the carpeted area with a moistened cloth with warm water. It’s best to use an over the counter carpet cleaning solution, make sure you let the area sit for 10 minutes before wiping up the cleaning solution.

Food & Beverage Stains

When cleaning simple spills try to remove all solids first, and pat dry with a clean towel .It’s important not to scrub, you can even fold up a towel and stand on it. For simple food stains use a good over the counter carpet cleaning solution. Coffee stains are very concentrated and will require a professional carpet cleaning. For best results use steam cleaning to penetrate the sub layer of the coffee stain.

Removing Ketchup and Mustard Stains.

Remove Kool-Aid Stains.

Upholstery Stains

First consider what kind of fabric your upholstery is, check with the manufacturer. For grease stains, first apply baby powder to absorb the grease. After the grease has soaked up, remove the powder then reapply. Before treating the stain, test a small piece of fabric to make sure it will not damage the furniture. After absorbing the stain, use a brush and gently scrub the area with upholstery cleaner. Dishwashing liquid also can work well to eliminate the grease. Continuously blot the excess cleaner with a damp cloth, repeat as much as needed. If the stain will not come out, call a professional carpet cleaning company that uses hot water extraction, this process will be the most effective and very gentle for majority of upholstery fabrics.

Removing Furniture Stains.

Ink, Crayon and Marker Stains

Use an over the counter foam or dry chemical cleaner, and use as directed. If the stains haven’t set (dried) yet, the easier it will be to clean them up. You can also try using hairspray on the area, and wash after treating the area. For ballpoint ink use rubbing alcohol on the stained area.

Read more on removing crayon stains from carpet.

Vomit

Keep the spot moistened and covered until you can get a professional carpet cleaner to come, due to the biohazard that could produce harmful bacteria. Steam cleaning would be recommended because it will penetrate the surface and the bottom layers.

Red Wine Stains

Blot the liquid as much as you possibly can. Use an unflavored club soda to treat the area, carefully blot the club soda on and off, it’s important not to scrub the stain! Second, make a mild detergent solution (dishwashing soap) with warm water in a bowl. Then alternate using a ½ glycerin and ½ water solution, continue to dab the stain.

High Traffic Stains

Before cleaning the area, make sure you thoroughly vacuum to get all the debris that is trapped into your carpet. If the area is small try wetting the area with a warm wet cloth. Use a specific over the counter carpet cleaning spray or high traffic powder to clean the designated area.

Water Damage

If the water that has leaked onto your carpet is sanitary you may be able to restore your carpet back to its original condition. If dirty, contaminated water has flooded your carpets need to be replaced as soon as possible.

Smoke Damage

If only a small fire occurred all that’s needed is a thorough cleaning and deodorizing. If major smoke damage is left on the carpet and someone is able to salvage and professionally clean your carpet this would be the better choice. It’s going to always be more expensive to buy new carpet and have it installed. Disinfect your carpet with a homemade bleach solution using a few tablespoons of bleach dissolved in warm water

Fiber Damage

With only minor fiber damages (small burn or stain) it may be easy to carefully trim the damaged carpet fibers off. Using a sharp pair nail clippers or scissors cautiously trim the stained carpet ends. If you have major carpet damage you will either need to replace the carpet area or get your carpet professionally cleaned. Getting your carpet professionally cleaned tends to be much less expensive than buying new carpet.

Carpet Yellowing

Yellow is usually the strongest dye in carpet. Carpet yellowing is a result of urine, pesticides, mill oil (loom/yarn oil) Butylated Hydroxy Toluene (BHT) yellowing which mostly occurs in homes with very low air circulation. Detergents with a pH over 10 on stain- resist nylon fiber carpet will create a yellow effect on your carpet. Optical brighteners are used by some carpet manufacturers who don’t know about the effects of carpet yellowing. Optical brighteners are special dyes that are applied to carpet making it brighter than it really appears. Direct sunlight and ozone fading can remove the colors out of your carpet and leaving a yellow color. Chlorine bleach can strip various colors from carpet fibers leaving behind a yellow color. Also, an application of a silicone protector on stain resistant nylon fiber carpet can also yellow.

Carpet Darkening

Causes for carpet darkening include water damage, high traffic, pets and soil. The best alternative to cleaning your carpet would be to hot water extraction or “steam cleaning”, because this process will not only clean the surface but get to the bottom layer of dirt and debris embedded into your carpet. Izf

Fire Damage

In a house fire if a lot of plastic was burned, enormous amounts of an oil residue will be stuck into the carpet fibers. The burnt carpet will have to ultimately be replaced. It’s recommended to call a professional carpet cleaner that uses hot water extraction because this involves a gentle process that will work well with the different residues that have been burned into the carpet.