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Did you Know? Most carpet stains can be removed with common items found

under the kitchen sink or using a home remedy.

Carpet stain removal is easy, once you understand the proper

stain removal procedures.   Most carpet stains require patience

and the proper stain remover (solution).  Many carpet stains

require a two solution spot removal process to be most effective.

EFFECTIVE TREATMENT FOR DIFFICULT STAINS

Animal Urine, Feces, and Vomit (Home Remedy)

There is no better product for urine than Odosolv/Fabrisan/Odaclean. 

It is the ONLY product that we have found that works consistently on urine. 

It not only removes most urine stains, but also odor and fluorescence left

by urine (urine glows white/yellow under ultraviolet/black light).

If odosolv is not available, try the following home remedy. 

Blot or extract the excess liquid and use a rounded spoon to scrape up semi-solids. 

Apply several applications of clean, lukewarm water.  Then apply a solution made as follows:

                           ½ cup white vinegar

       ½ cup lukewarm water

Mix the two in a cup or glass and apply to affect area

  Blot excess liquid and dry rapidly.  If the spot remains, apply a detergent solution

(see spot removal (carpet stain removal) Solutions).  Reapply the vinegar solution

and allow it to remain on the spot for about fifteen minutes.  Blot or extract the

excess liquid and dry rapidly.

  The preceding treatment is effective in the majority of fresh urine spots.

However, if a color change has taken place, no further treatment will restore

the color.   Consult a carpet-cleaning professional who may be able to redye

the area.  In the case of patterned rug or broadloom carpet, a professional may

be able to restore the appearance by spot dyeing the affected area.

  Normally, it is not possible to remove all traces of urine from carpet because

of the synthetic latex tendency to absorb wet spills.   Urine odor may be noticeable

during periods of high humidity.  If the odor does not disappear, you may want to

contact a cleaning professional. 

Acid Substances

Strong acids, such as battery acids and some tile cleaning compounds, if spilled

on a carpet, require prompt action to prevent serious damage.  First, flush the a

affected area with water.  Sponge up the excess and repeat the process several

times until the acid has been diluted and washed away.  Finally, sponge the

area with a solution prepared by adding one tablespoonful of baking soda to

a quart of warm water, and rinse again.  By this time, the carpet will be

very wet, so be sure to dry it as quickly and thoroughly as possible.

Blood

To remove blood, use only cold stain removal solutions to prevent setting the stain. 

Removal of bloodborne pathogens may require the assistance of a carpet-cleaning

professional.  Use all possible safety precautions in removing blood spills to

avoid possible infection or contamination.  Rust Subtractor is the best

product for blood removal, but most rust removers may work.  Hydrofluoric acid,

sulfamic acid, and oxalic acid, each have been effective in blood removal.  Many

of these products can be found in the hard surface cleaning chemical area at

your local Home Depot and are typically used for removal of grout or other

contaminants from brick.  Always pretest in an inconspicuous area.

Candle Wax

To remove candle wax from carpet, scrape as much hardened wax from the

carpet pile using a spoon.  Next use a detergent solution to remove as much discoloration

as possible, followed by rubbing alcohol.  Never pour any solution on the pile fiber!  Pour

onto a cloth and blot.  If residue remains, place a brown paper bag over the spill and press

with a hot iron.  Be careful not to melt the carpet fibers!  As the remaining wax is melted,

it will be absorbed by the brown paper bag.  Repeat detergent solution treatment

until the stain is removed.

Chewing Gum - Try this Home Remedy

  Equipment Required

          Hand held electric hair dryer

          Six to 12 (3"x3") squares of polyethylene (e.g., sandwich bags)

Extra strength liniment cream containing 30% methyl salicylate

(e.g. Extra strength Ben Gay®)

          Clear dishwashing liquid (1 teaspoon per cup of water) or Pet Eliminator

          White towels

  Heat gum residue with hair dryer on high for 30-90 seconds. Be careful

not to melt the fiber!  Hold the hair dryer 2-3 inches from the pile surface.

  Use the polyethylene (sandwich bags) to remove as much of the softened

gum as possible. Continue to repeat these steps several times.

  Rub (½ teaspoon) of the extra strength liniment cream into the affected area. 

Heat the area with the hair dryer again.  Wipe the area with the polyethylene squares.

  Soak a sponge in a mild detergent solution and partially wring out.  Blot the

area with this solution to remove the liniment.  Rinse with clear water several

times to rinse detergent solution and blot with paper towels.

  If possible, allow the carpet to dry in sunlight to gently bleach any

residual color from the gum.

  After drying, if the area still appears to be sticky, repeat heating

with hair dryer and wipe with polyethylene squares.

  Cigarette Burns

  Cigarette damage can be remedied only by reweaving or retufting. 

However, the appearance of an area of charred carpet can be improved

by carefully clipping off blackened ends of tufts using small, sharp scissors. 

Then trim surrounding tufts to minimize indentations.

  Dye Stains

  Many beverages, medicines, cosmetics, foods, and other liquids contain dyes. 

These dyes may be absorbed into the fibers making removal very slow or

impossible. Follow dye spot removal (carpet stain removal) procedures on

the spot chart.  If removal does not appear to be possible, call your carpet cleaner

for advice.  He or she may be able to tell you how to remove the spot;

but in some unfortunate cases the dye cannot be removed.  Sometimes the stain

can be hidden by spot dyeing, retufting, or by repairing the affected area.

Ink (Ballpoint Pen)

  Follow recommended procedures on the spot removal (carpet stain removal)

Procedures to contain the spill using alcohol as the dry cleaning solvent.  

Rubbing alcohol can be used as a dry cleaning solvent.  However, pouring

alcohol directly into the spill can allow the spill to spread.

Mustard

  Some mustards contain very strong dyes that are difficult to remove even

by carpet cleaner.  At times, with more difficult stains, it may be necessary

to remove the stained area and reinsert an undamaged section of carpet

from scrap material, or from carpet removed from an inconspicuous area.

In some cases the application of ultraviolet light will allow the dyes in

mustard to fade, but there is never any guarantee.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Rust

Rust almost always requires professional service because the chemicals

required are hazardous when used improperly.  In some cases, especially

if the stain is fresh, the spot removal (carpet stain removal) procedures on

the stain chart may be successful. The best rust removal solution available

is called Rust Subtractor and may be purchased from SteamWay International.