Cleaning Carpet Stains

While a very durable floor covering, carpets get stains on them from time to time. This is a guide about cleaning carpet stains.

Solutions: Cleaning Carpet Stains

Read and rate the best solutions below by giving them a "thumbs up".

Rubbing Alcohol for Carpet Stains

Alcohol rubbed on carpet using white paper towels (no colors) has removed rust stains, coffee stains, and pet stains containing multi-colors from food. My husband dropped a glass of purple grape juice on a light gray carpet. I immediately blotted it up with white paper towels to remove liquid. I applied pressure to get up the rest, then I used alcohol and white paper towels. It completely disappeared!

Source: I saw a carpet cleaner remove rust stains from a light grey carpet using this method

By Lucy C. from Marathon, FL

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Club Soda for Carpet Stains

I recently had my carpets professionally cleaned and I asked what is the best thing to use to clean spots without leaving a residue that actually attracts more dirt (such as Resolve and Oxiclean). He told me the best thing to use was plain old club soda. He said to pour it on let it sit a few minutes and then use a shop vac or wet dry vac of some sort to suck up the excess liquid. He said for most stains you shouldn't even have to rub at all. He said this will work on pet stains also.

By D.Bulanda

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Dove Liquid Soap For Carpet Stains

I have used Dove soap on carpets to remove all kinds of stains. Plus, it leaves the room with a beautiful clean scent. You only need a small amount of Dove liquid soap and water in a spray bottle.

Spray and clean carpets with a hand held scrubbing broom brush. Remember, just a few drops of Dove in the spray bottle.

By fefehubby

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Window Cleaner for Red Carpet Stains

To take fresh red stains out of a carpet: My grandson spilled over half a glass of red punch onto my beige carpet. I immediately sprayed window cleaner over the stop and started blotting. I repeated the process until there was no stain left.

By Marty from Tell City, IN

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Removing Carpet Stains and Burns

When I have carpet issues, I first use some Dawn detergent on a microfiber cleaning cloth. When that does not work, I get out my acrylic craft paint, some Q-tips and dot the paint over the stain until it matches the carpet. Use minimal paint and work slowly. With carpet burns, you may have to take manicuring scissors and cut out some of the burned/frayed fibers; then paint. Use blow dryer to dry.

By Jeanne from Elysian Fields, TX

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Questions

Here are questions related to Cleaning Carpet Stains.

Carpet Stains

I have an old, white carpet, but it doesn't look white anymore. It has many different dark spots which show up out of nowhere. How can I make it cleaner and whiter in general?

By Lilly

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Most Recent Answer

By bkvander05/04/2010

Mix up a strong solution of Oxy Clean in a bucket of water. Wet the area well with a mop and let it sit for 30 minutes. Use a wet-vac cleaner to clean and remove excess moisture.

Removing Carpet Stains

How do you get stains off carpet?

Dave from San Diego, CA

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Most Recent Answer

By Colorful Carpets (Guest Post)07/25/2007

If you use Spot Shot or Oxyclean (or any other similar type of product) be SURE to rinse out ALL residues of these chemicals as they WILL cause the carpet color to fade in the areas where they have been used. These products are designed to remove stains (specifically the colors associated with stains). Unfortunately these chemicals don't know the difference between the color of the stains and the carpet's own color! The resulting effect is carpet that has faded spots.

Simply stated, chemicals do NOT belong in carpet! Be sure to rinse out any chemical residues using warm water. Extract the water thoroughly using a portable wet-dry type of vacuum cleaner.

Good luck!

Sincerely,

Chris Howell
www.colorfulcarpets.com
Maryland, USA

Reappearing Carpet Stains

Have you steam cleaned the carpet and had that stain reappear? As the carpet begins to dry, the residue wicks up in the fibers and goes to the surface. To prevent this: stack several paper towels on top of the damp area and place a heavy pot on top. The towels should soak up the remaining stain overnight.

By Linda from Oceanside, CA

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Blue Loo Stain on Carpet

I have spilt Blue Loo toilet bowl cleaner on a synthetic mocha coloured carpet. How can I remove the stain?

By C Falk from Victoria, Australia

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Cleaning Carpet Stains

What can you use to remove red stains from carpet?

By beaver from Seminole, FL

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Removing Pink Vodka Stain on Carpet

I dropped a pink vodka sidekick on the carpet last night. I need help on how to get it out?

By Anthony

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Mystery Stain on Carpet

There is an old stain, it might be lipstick on a white carpet. They have tried to remove and there is still a large spot. If anyone has an idea I would really appreciate it. Thanks.

By Jackie from North Powder, OR

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Most Recent Answer

By WIsgal04/13/2010

Mix white vinegar and liquid dish soap in small container. Use a brush to apply to spot and scrub. I have found this takes a lot of small spots out.

Carpet Stains

I need help removing old stains in the carpet in the house I am renting. I don't know what types of stains they are, but they are blue, red, green and one brownish one. I have a steam cleaner so some type of solution would be good. The carpets are sculpted dark and light grey. HELP!

RE: Carpet Stains

I have used the Oxi-clean powder mixed into a thin paste on kool-aid type stains in my carpet and it worked wonderfully. Just remember that anything you use should be tried in an (b)INCONSPICUOUS(/b) area first or you might create more problems than you already have! (03/19/2003)

By addh2o

RE: Carpet Stains

Check with your local hardware store, there are many products in the "housewares" department for removing stains from carpet. I can't remember the name of the one most apartment complexes use it would remove any stain including red koolaide, it has been many years since I worked at the hardware store. Greasy stains, including lipstick can be removed with lighter fluid for zippo lighters. (03/20/2003)

By Jackie11065

RE: Carpet Stains

DD7 has been a great help (this can be purchased at your local Walgreen's drugstore or hardware) but make sure to test it as it will remove some color. It removed red juice stain from my cream colored carpet, no residual stain can be seen. (04/08/2004)

By Colleen

RE: Carpet Stains

When we owned our fourplex, we would steam clean the carpets first with about 1 c. Pine-Sol mixed in the water and then go back over it with regular carpet cleaner. (05/07/2004)

By Tawnda

RE: Carpet Stains

We had dumped register ink on carpet once and used rubbing alcohol to get it out. You soak the spot with rubbing alcohol and blot, soak, blot, works great. Do not rub. (08/15/2004)

By amoush

RE: Carpet Stains

Try Simple Green first. If that doesn't work, try things like hairspray, alcohol, or a mixture of 1/3 wisk, 1/2 vinegar, 1/2 ammonia. (05/28/2006)

By call4cathy

Removing Carpet Stains

If the carpet stain is still wet, try pouring a little club soda on the stained area. Wait a moment and blot until moisture is absorbed.

If you don't find the stain right away, mix a diluted solution of vinegar, soap and water. Dampen a cloth with this solution and press firmly against the stain for several moments. Blot dry with a rinse cloth.

Shaving cream is a great emergency carpet stain remover. Use on ketchup, chocolate, tea, coffee, wine and even blood.

Salt is also a great for absorbing mud stains. Sprinkle it liberally on fresh stains and allow to soak up the moisture. Then vacuum.

Never rub a carpet to soak up liquid that has been spilled. Using as much dry cloth as you need, blot the area until most of the liquid has been absorbed.

If your first treatment fails, let the carpet dry before you try something else. You'll have a better idea how much of the stain remains once the carpet is dry.

By Donna

Reappearing Carpet Stains

I have tried all the tips and formulas listed here and even resorted to bleach but the stains in my carpet always reappear about a week after I shampoo. I have a steam cleaning shampooer and have tried everything. It looks really good for about a week and then the stains reappear as if the carpet had never been cleaned. I would appreciate any new methods that work for these type of stains.

SNIGDIBBLY

RE: Reappearing Carpet Stains

I have had some big trouble with this too, and finally found something that works for me. Pour small amount of CLEAR shampoo on stain, then sprinkle salt over shampoo. I then took an old hairbrush and rubbed in all over the stain. Left all night, and then next morning, vacuumed all up. It really worked well on my carpeting, which is a Berber. Give it a try, it is really cheap too. (09/20/2005)

By Trishcardmaker

Rubbing Alcohol for Carpet Stains

Always keep a bottle of rubbing alcohol (very cheap). When you get a stain or spot on your carpet, dip a toothbrush in the alcohol and rub it out. Not only does it take out just about everything, because it is alcohol, it dries immediately.

By sandis3

Carpet Stains

How do I remove old stains from carpet?

Summer from Ava, MO

RE: Carpet Stains

I just used carpet cleaner "bissell fiber cleansing" liquid to take out 100% dark red pomegranate juice. It worked amazingly well. (02/15/2008)

By Sue

Cleaning Carpet Stains

Someone came in from the outside and left snow prints on our carpet. When the snow melted it left dried salt footprints.

Rubbing Alcohol for Carpet Stains

Straight rubbing alcohol will remove any stain from your carpet. It does not discolor the carpet and will remove poo, pee, pink sticky stuff, absolutely anything.