Get Rid of Those Stubborn Stains in Your Carpet

Do you have some stains in your carpet you just can’t seem to get rid of? Most people do and the lighter the color of the carpet, the more stubborn the stains seem to be. Wouldn’t it be nice to have an inexpensive method to clean those stains that works? It definitely would.

Many of us have always thought that it took commercial cleaners to adequately clean carpet stains and if those didn’t work, the stain couldn’t be gotten out at all. Well, there is a homemade stain remover that works well on most carpet stains and deodorizes as well.

The recipe is simple. In fact, it is so simple, it is hard to believe how well it works. Simply mix a tablespoon of white vinegar and a tablespoon of liquid dish soap with two cups of warm water. Pour a little onto the stain, let it sit for a minute and then scrub it with a washcloth. Follow this up by blotting it with a towel to dry it. Repeat if necessary as some stains may need it done a few times, depending on what caused the stain and how old it is.

Usually, it does not take much scrubbing to get the stain out. One of the nice things about this recipe is that it removes pet odors as well as stains. Not only will the carpet look cleaner, it will also smell cleaner.

A variation of this recipe is to use equal amounts of dish soap, vinegar and hydrogen peroxide mixed together. This recipe and the first one should be tested in a small hidden area of the carpet first to make sure it will not harm the carpet. This is especially necessary with some types of carpet such as wool carpeting.

With these recipes, you will not only be able to clean stains from carpet but will also be able to clean stubborn stains in clothes. Having an inexpensive stain remover that works on both carpet and clothing is a great money saver, especially when it works as good as or better than the more expensive commercially made stain cleaners.

Spot Cleaning Your Carpet

Very few things can add beauty to your home more than new carpeting. It can brighten a room and give it a sense of warmth to any who enter. Likewise, there are very few things that can detract from a room like a dingy, worn, or dirty carpet. While vacuuming helps to keep your carpet looking good and extends its life, vacuuming alone is not enough. Your carpets need a deep, thorough cleaning at least once or twice a year, more often if you have children, pets, or smokers in the home. While most people have a rug shampooer in their homes, it is recommended that you have the job professionally done at least once in a while. A professional carpet cleaner can get the job done in about half the time it would take you and they have specialized equipment to make sure that the carpet is truly clean. In addition to that, most professional carpet cleaners are able to treat your carpets so that they remain stain resistant. However what do you do if spills or accidents happen between cleanings?

Having a carpet cleaning machine in your home is a good start, but you can’t always drag it out immediately to deal with stains. In cases like this, it is helpful to know how to spot clean your carpet, or at least treat the stain immediately so that it doesn’t become permanent before you can clean it properly. If you have a bottle of commercial spot remover you can use, then by all means do, but if you don’t have any on hand there are some common household items that will work just as well. The easiest and gentlest on the carpet is cream of tartar. Mix about ¼ cup cream of tartar with enough lemon juice or vinegar to moisten it Using clean, dry towels, blot up as much of the spill as you can and then spread the paste over top of the stain and work it in thoroughly. Allow the paste to dry completely and then vacuum any residual powder out of the carpet. This works very well on stains like red wine, grape juice, or spaghetti sauce. Much as you would with a commercial spot cleaner, test the cream of tartar paste on an inconspicuous area to make sure that the carpet is colorfast. While this will remove small stains completely, you should still clean the area thoroughly as soon as possible.