Tips On Carpet Cleaning Solutions

Professional carpet cleaning can be very expensive. Here are some tips on using the right carpet cleaning solutions to get stubborn stains out of your carpet:

• Red Wine

Club soda works great for getting red wine stains out of your carpet. Pour club soda directly onto the stain and let it sit for a minute. Slowly dab the stain out with a wet rag. There is no need to vigorously rub the stain. You will end up wearing out your carpet and rubbing the stain more into the carpet.

• Red Dye

Red dye is a common carpet stain. Drink mixes, popsicles, and pet food can all contain red dye. The best way to remove red dye from your carpet is apply a peroxide/water solution. Mix peroxide and water in a 30/70 ratio respectively. Test the solution to your carpet first to check for colorfastness (peroxide is a bleach). Pour the solution onto the stain and let it sit for 30 minutes. Dry as much of it you can with a rag, then rinse the spot with a water white vinegar solution (just a splash of white vinegar needed in solution).

• Other Food Stains

Brake cleaner effectively removes most food stains. It contains the same chemical dry cleaners use to remove stains out of clothes. Pour a little brake cleaner onto a rag. Gently blot the stain until it is removed. Do not pour the brake cleaner directly on the stain. A great amount of brake cleaner could potentially dissolve the adhesive under your carpet!

• Oil, Grease, Ink

DeSolvit, Orange Clean, and WD40 are all great at removing grease/oil stains. Rubbing alcohol can also effectively remove ink stains. Blot the rubbing alcohol onto the ink stain, let it sit for 30 minutes, and then blot it again to dry. Rinse the spot with soapy water and dry it with a towel.

• Pet Accidents

Stains from pet accidents can be the most stubborn of all. The best way to remove a pet stain and its odor is a water/peroxide/baking soda solution. Add ½ teaspoon of baking soda to your 30/70 peroxide-water mixture (check for color fastness first). Pour the solution onto the stain and blot it with a dry rag. Rinse the spot afterwards with a white vinegar/water solution (1/3 cup/1 quart).