Some kinds of dirt that get on your carpet are easy enough to deal with. Fluff and pet hairs are easy enough to vacuum up. So are crumbs and dust. These types of daily debris don’t cause any problems as long as you keep up a regular vacuuming schedule and get your carpets steam-cleaned yearly. However, other dropped and spilt things cause more problems. Blood, curry, coffee, wine and other intense liquid or semi-liquid substances can leave stains on your carpet.

The golden rule for dealing with any stain on your carpet is to get onto it and deal with it immediately (check this website for additional emergency carpet cleaning advice). If a stain is left on your carpet for too long, it can set into the fabric and be next to impossible to remove – even by a trained professional carpet cleaner or removal company. However, you must know how to remove the stain in question, as not all stains and carpets are equal.

Removing Stains From Wool Carpets

Wool is a natural fibre that is warm and lovely on the feet but needs some care if something is spilt. The following guide should help you deal with the most common stains in the home:

• Rust: This can only be removed with a special rust removal product. Best to call in a proper carpet cleaner, as the rust remover home car mechanics have is too strong for any carpet.
  
• Nail polish: Scrape off as much as possible while the nail polish is still liquid. Use a lanolin-free nail polish remover and apply it with a rag or cotton wool bud. Rub firmly until the stain is gone. Leave the residue of the nail polish remover to evaporate.
  
• Chewing gum: Apply ice cubes to the spot to freeze the gum, then pick off as much as possible. Then, use a small amount of wool-safe laundry detergent mixed with warm water and vinegar to dry the rest of the stain. Rinse with warm water and blot with a towel so the wool can dry. Do not walk on the spot until the carpet has dried. As wool can rot if wet for too long, you may wish to use a dehumidifier or a hair dryer on low to speed up the drying process.
  
• Vomit. Scrape up as much as possible with a dustpan – do not use the vacuum cleaner. Apply a disinfectant to the spot. Mix 1 teaspoon of wool-safe laundry detergent or soap gel in 1 litre warm water and a splash of white vinegar. Gently scrub the rest of the vomit stain away and blot up as much as possible. Rinse with warm water and blot thoroughly a second time. Again, make sure to dry the area quickly and thoroughly.
  
• Pet pee or poop: Scrape up as much solid as possible. Apply cold water to loosen any urine from the carpet fibres. Apply a little disinfectant and leave it to work to kill the germs. Mix wool-safe detergent, warm water and vinegar and apply this to the spot, working it up to a lather. Blot well, rinse with warm water and blot again. Be sure to dry the area thoroughly.
  
• Coffee: Wash the area with a mixture of wool-safe detergent, warm water and vinegar. Blot dry, then rinse with warm water. Blot again and dry very thoroughly.
  
• Blood. Rinse the area with cold water. Blot, and apply a mixture of wool-safe detergent, vinegar and COLD water. Blot and rinse with cold water. Blot again and dry thoroughly.

Removing Stains From Synthetic Carpets

Soot: Vacuum up as much as possible. If there is a black residue left, call a professional stain removing expert.

Latex paint

Scrape up as much as possible while it is still liquid. Apply cold water and remove as much as possible. Blot, then mix up detergent and warm water and scrub well. Rinse with warm water, then blot dry.

Coffee

Wash the area with a mixture of warm water and detergent, then blot up the residue or vacuum it up with a wet/dry vacuum cleaner. Rinse with warm water and blot again.

Blood

Apply cold water and blot up as much as possible. Rinse with more cold water, then blot again.

Urine

Blot up as much as possible, then apply a disinfectant to the spot. Mix detergent and warm water, then gently scrub the stain. Blot again, rinse with warm water, and then blot a third time.

Vomit

Scrape up as much as possible with a dustpan (never use the vacuum cleaner). Apply a liberal amount of disinfectant and leave it to work before using a mix of detergent and hot water to wash the stain. Blot well, then rinse with more warm water.

Nail Polish

Scrape up as much as possible. Patch-test nail polish remover in a hidden corner that doesn’t matter or on a scrap of carpet to ensure that it won’t hurt your synthetic carpet fibres – some nail polish removers do. If it’s OK to use, apply with a rag or cotton bud and rinse with warm water. If the nail polish remover isn’t OK, then immediately call a stain removal expert.

If In Doubt About A Stain…

If you have any doubts about a stain on your carpet, the wisest course of action is to call a trained expert in stain removal. A good carpet cleaning company should have same-day or next-day emergency stain removal services. It’s far better to be safe than sorry, and the cost of calling a professional is much cheaper than replacing your whole carpet.

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