How to Take Care of Your Carpets

Tips on Keeping Your Carpets Clean

Placing area rugs at entryways is a great way to keep your carpet clean.  Many people don't realize just how important regular vacuuming is if you want your carpet to look great for a long time.  Over time, carpets that are not vacuumed regularly will have damaged fibers.  The dirt and debris on the carpet are ground in by foot traffic which frays the tips of the carpet fibers and causes permanent discoloration.

Many people use their own carpet cleaning machine.  These are great if you have pets as it's a great way to attack pet stains right away.  While they work great for stains and small areas, it doesn't offer the deep cleaning ability of a truck-mounted steam cleaning service.

How to Remove the Most Common Stains

No matter how much you try to protect your carpet and keep it clean, accidents are bound to happen.  It is good to have a plan of attack for any stains or spots that find their way onto your carpet.  Remember to test all of these methods on an inconspicuous area to make sure there will be no negative reaction from using any of these substances.

How to Remove Kool-Aid Stains From Carpet

Kool-Aid stains can be quite an eyesore, especially on lighter colored carpets.  Don't worry it's not the end of the world.  Try these steps to help get rid of the unsightly stain or stains.

  1. Gently blot the stain with a clean white cloth and avoid rubbing the stain as this could cause further penetration into the carpet.
  2. Try using Dawn dish soap and white vinegar in a spray bottle to get rid of the Kool-Aid.  Use 1 Tbsp of Dawn dish soap, 1/4 cup of white vinegar and fill with warm water.  Spray the solution onto the stain and allow to sit for 5-10 minutes then blot with a clean dry towel until the stain is removed
  3. Oxiclean is a wonderful product that you can try if the Kool-Aid stain remains after trying the vinegar and Dawn solution.  After using Oxiclean, use the vinegar and Dawn method again until the stain disappears.

How to Remove Pet Stains From Carpet

Dealing with pet messes can be difficult and frustrating.  Finding a surprise on the floor can make you feel helpless but there are methods to use which can remove the stain and associated odor completely.

  1. Clean up the initial mess with a towel and remove any debris that maybe there.  If it is wet try to soak up as much of the moisture as possible by blotting the stain until dry then apply a carpet stain cleaning product specifically for pet stains.
  2. If the stain has already dried then it would be best to moisten it before applying the pet stain carpet cleaning product.
  3. You must neutralize the odor and spot after using the stain cleaning product.  You can try using a 1/4 cup of white vinegar in a spray bottle and spraying it onto the stain.  Allow it to dwell for 5-10 minutes and then blot the stain away until dry.

How to Remove Coffee Stains From Carpet

Coffee stains can leave a carpet looking filthy and can often be mistaken for a pet stain due to its yellowish-brown color.

  1. Clean up the initial mess by blotting with a dry towel.  Be sure to use multiple towels if there is a significant amount of spillage as using an over-saturated towel can spread the stain further.
  2. Try using a mixture of white vinegar, non-bleach detergent, and water to spray onto the stain and blot away.
  3. Oxiclean would be a good product to use for stubborn stains which won't easily come out.  Use OxiClean as directed and then repeat the white vinegar, non-bleach detergent and water method until the stain disappears.

How to Remove Blood Stains From Carpet

Removing blood from carpets can be stressful due to the nature of blood itself.  It is important to remember to act quickly when treating blood stains from the carpet.

  1. Always use cold water when treating blood stains because warm water can cause the blood to coagulate and could cause it to permeate into the carpet fibers.
  2. Fill a spray bottle with 2 tsp. of Dawn dishwashing soap and the rest with cold water.  Spray the blood stain until it is completely saturated and then blot the stain away with a clean towel.  If necessary repeat the process until the stain is completely gone.
  3. For stubborn spots use Oxiclean.  While the directions for Oxiclean say to mix with warm water you should mix with cold water to prevent coagulation.

How to Remove Ink Stains From Carpet

Ink can be very tough on fabrics and carpets and to have a reasonable chance of removing the stain you must treat it quickly.

  1. Use isopropyl alcohol on a clean cloth to blot the stain.  rubbing it or scrubbing it will cause the stain to spread further.
  2. It may be necessary to treat the stain more than once with alcohol.  Some hairsprays and nail polish removers also work well to remove ink stains due to their high alcohol content.
  3. Be sure to rinse as much of the product out of the carpet as possible after removing the stain.