Of course, it can happen that you accidentally spill something on a carpet. Once the accident has happened, the stain should be removed as quickly as possible. If you wait, there is a risk that the stain will set into the carpet and become more difficult to remove.
Here are some tips on how you can proceed.
Here are 10 things you should bear in mind:
- Try to remove the stain immediately.
- For liquids etc.: carefully pick up with a spoon.
- Dilute the stain with cold water if necessary.
- Dab the stain with a clean cloth or tissue. Remove the paper towel – do not rub on the spot!
- Work from the edge of the carpet towards the center.
- If necessary, use a little washing-up liquid and cold water.
- If necessary, treat the stain carefully with a clothes brush.
- If necessary, repeat the process from point 2.
- Then dry the affected area with a hair dryer or a fan at low speed.
- Restore the pile using a clothes brush (in the direction of the pile).
If you want to be on the safe side, it’s good to have a gentle and effective stain remover at home. If you act quickly, the chances are that your carpet will not be affected and the stain will be completely removed without the need for carpet cleaning. Please note that a stain remover should be gentle on the fabric so that the fibers are not damaged.
Examples of impurities and their removal:
Alcohol: Soak up as much of the stain as possible with undyed kitchen paper or a cloth made of undyed cotton. If the stain is still there, dab it again with a weak ammonia solution and wipe dry.
Asphalt: Scrape off as much of the stain as possible with a spoon. Moisten an undyed cotton cloth with a mild solvent and carefully dab the stain with it. Repeat this process until the stain has disappeared, then wipe dry.
Blood: Soak up as much of the stain as possible with undyed kitchen paper or a cloth made of undyed cotton. Dilute any residue with lukewarm water and soak up the rest of the stain. Apply a little lukewarm water and washing-up liquid to a cloth and dab carefully. If the stain is still there, dab it again with a weak ammonia solution and wipe dry. Attention! Use cold water for fresh blood.
Burn marks: Check how deep the burn mark is. You may be able to carefully cut off the burnt part of the pile with nail scissors.
Coca-Cola: Soak up as much of the stain as possible with undyed kitchen paper or a cloth made of undyed cotton. If the stain is still there, dab it again with a weak ammonia solution. Treat with a weak vinegar solution if the stain has not disappeared. Dry wipe.
Ice: Scrape off as much of the stain as possible with a spoon. If the stain is still there, moisten a cloth made of undyed cotton with a weak ammonia solution and dab the stain again. Treat with a weak vinegar solution if the stain has not disappeared. Dry wipe.
Vomit: Scrape off as much of the stain as possible with a spoon. Moisten a cloth made of undyed cotton with a mild detergent and carefully dampen the stain. If the stain is still there, dab it again with a weak vinegar solution. Dry wipe.
Grease: Scrape off as much of the stain as possible with a spoon. Moisten a cloth made of undyed cotton with a mild detergent and carefully dampen the stain. If the stain is still there, dab it again with a weak vinegar solution. Dry wipe.
Fruit juice: Soak up as much of the stain as possible with undyed kitchen paper or a cloth made of undyed cotton. If the stain is still there, dab it again with a weak ammonia solution. Treat with a weak vinegar solution if the stain has not disappeared. Dry wipe.
Coffee: Soak up as much of the stain as possible with undyed kitchen paper or an undyed cotton cloth. If the stain is still there, dab it again with a weak ammonia solution. Repeat this process until the stain has disappeared. Dry wipe.
Chewing gum: Put pieces of ice on the chewing gum. This makes the chewing gum hard and can be removed. Then use a stain remover to remove any remaining traces of chewing gum.
Ketchup: Scrape off as much of the stain as possible with a spoon. Moisten a cloth made of undyed cotton with a mild detergent and carefully dampen the stain. If the stain is still there, dab it again with a weak ammonia solution and wipe dry.
Adhesive: Soften the stain with a cloth made of undyed cotton soaked in vinegar or alcohol. Then dab carefully and wipe dry.
Lemonade: Soak up as much of the stain as possible with undyed kitchen paper or a cloth made of undyed cotton. If the stain is still there, dab it again with a weak ammonia solution. Treat with a weak vinegar solution if the stain has not disappeared. Dry wipe.
Lipstick: Scrape off as much of the stain as possible with a spoon. If the stain is still there, moisten a cloth made of undyed cotton with a weak ammonia solution and dab the stain again. Treat with a weak vinegar solution if the stain has not disappeared. Dry wipe.
Paint: Scrape off as much of the stain as possible with a spoon. Moisten a cloth made of undyed cotton with a mild detergent and carefully dampen the stain. If the stain is still there, dab it again with a weak ammonia solution. Treat with a weak vinegar solution if the stain has not disappeared. Dry wipe.
Milk: Soak up as much of the stain as possible with undyed kitchen paper or a cloth made of undyed cotton. Moisten a cloth made of undyed cotton with a mild detergent and carefully dampen the stain. If the stain is still there, dab it again with a weak ammonia solution. Dry wipe.
Nail polish: Scrape off as much of the stain as possible with a spoon. Use a cloth made of undyed cotton and dab carefully with a little nail polish remover. If the stain is still there, add some detergent, dab carefully and treat with a weak ammonia solution and then with a mild vinegar solution until the stain has disappeared. Dry wipe.
Soot: Carefully vacuum up the soot with the vacuum cleaner and do not pull the suction nozzle over the carpet.
Chocolate: Scrape off as much of the stain as possible with a spoon. Moisten a cloth made of undyed cotton with a mild detergent and carefully dampen the stain. If the stain is still there, dab it again with a weak ammonia solution and wipe dry.
Shoe polish: Scrape off as much of the stain as possible with a spoon. Moisten a cloth made of undyed cotton with a mild detergent and carefully dampen the stain. If the stain is still there, dab it again with a weak ammonia solution. Treat with a weak vinegar solution if the stain has not disappeared. Dry wipe.
Mustard: Scrape off as much of the stain as possible with a spoon. Moisten a cloth made of undyed cotton with a mild detergent and carefully dampen the stain. If the stain is still there, dab it again with a weak ammonia solution. Dry wipe.
Cooking fat: Scrape off as much of the stain as possible with a spoon. Moisten a cloth made of undyed cotton with a mild detergent and carefully dampen the stain. If the stain is still there, dab it again with a weak ammonia solution. Dry wipe.
Stearin: Place pieces of ice on the stearin. This makes the stearin hard and can be removed. Then use a stain remover to remove any remaining traces of candle wax.
Tea: Soak up as much of the stain as possible with undyed kitchen paper or an undyed cotton cloth. If the stain is still there, moisten it with a weak vinegar solution and carefully dab and wipe dry.
Ink: Spray the stain with hairspray and leave to dry, then brush carefully with a solution of water and wine vinegar.
Urine/stool: Soak up as much of the stain as possible with undyed kitchen paper or a cloth made of undyed cotton or scrape off as much of the stain as possible with a spoon. Then rinse the stain with a mixture of water and distilled white wine vinegar (1 tablespoon of wine vinegar to 20 cl of water). Then wipe off as much of the carpet as possible. For dry urine stains: Take the carpet to a special carpet cleaner for oriental carpets. Attention! Do not use urine remover as this will damage the carpet wool.
Wax: Place blotting paper or brown wrapping paper over the stain. Then soak up the wax by running a warm iron over the blotting or wrapping paper. The iron must be constantly moved back and forth to avoid burn marks on the carpet.
Wine: Soak up as much of the stain as possible with undyed kitchen paper or a cloth made of undyed cotton. If the stain is still there, moisten it with a weak vinegar solution and carefully dab and wipe dry.
Oil: Soak up as much of the stain as possible with undyed kitchen paper or a cloth made of undyed cotton. Add a little mild detergent and dab carefully. If the stain is still there, dab it again with a weak vinegar solution and wipe dry.
Attention!
- Use all the tips above at your own risk! If you want to be on the safe side, you should contact a professional carpet cleaner immediately.
- Always select the cleaning agent according to the material from which the carpet is made.
- If possible, test the cleaning agent on a concealed part of the carpet.
- Don’t forget to dry the underside of the carpet as well.