How To Get Ash Out of Carpet | How To Remove Ash Stains

If you have mistakenly dropped an ashtray or your pet has dropped an incense holder off the table end, you may want to know about the methods of how to remove all the ash from the rug.

If you don’t possess a vacuum cleaner, this may seem as if it is a difficult task to be done. But surprisingly, the good news is that now using little hacks you will easily be able to remove most of this ash (and its scent) from your carpet. Anyway, we’ll take you down through everything that you need to know and do (with a vacuum cleaner or without a vacuum cleaner) to get your lovely carpet back in top original shape.

Although there are many ways available to remove ash out of carpet, but you must stay only with the working ways to get rid of the stains. Ash stain removal can be tricky depending on the type of your carpet, so instead of opting for dry cleaning solvent, you must follow a dedicated process for that.

We have searched a lot and found some working cleaning tips to remove stains from ash and other materials from the carpet.

Below we have mentioned some of the useful things and tools you might need to clean the carpet, and they will always come in handy to remove different types of stains.

• Rubbing alcohol.
• White vinegar.
• Cold water or warm water.
• Clean damp cloth.
• Paper towel.
• Spray bottle.

Ways To Remove Ash Stains From Carpet With Wet Cleaning & Dry Cleaning

1. Scoop Up Large Clumps of Ash.

If a considerable amount of ash has been spilled, scoop it up as much as possible. The more content you can scoop off before it has to be made wet, the better the results are. Take a spoon and kneel by the ash. Do your best and try not to touch, rub, or splatter the ash. Carefully scoop out as much ash content as possible and pour it into a small container or a small cup to be disposed of.

NOTE-

• This is only recommended to be done if there are tiny piles of ash over the ground. The situation can be exacerbated if the ash is uniformly spread or if a thin pile carpet is used.
• Don’t stick the spoon into the carpet. Place the bowl of the spoon over the fabric’s surface and remember not to rub anymore.
• Place the ash in a plastic bag and seal it to prevent the spread of dirt.

2. Try Tackling Up The Residue Using The Lint Roller

If you are in a situation where the ash is uniformly distributed all over, then it is advisable to run a lint roller over the carpet. If you have a pet that is amongst a cat or a dog, he probably already has one lying around. Take a lint roller and gently roll it well over the ash. Move the roller at a slow pace to slowly lift the debris. Once you have covered it with a layer of ash, discard each fluff sheet and continue picking up the ash successfully.

NOTE-

• Depending on the thickness of the carpet fibers, this may not be very effective. If you don’t feel like you’re getting enough ash, keep going.
• Pressing the lint roller too hard, can accidentally also crush the ash into the fibers which then would be difficult to take off.

3. Soak Up As Much Ash As Possible With A Damp Sponge

Take a clean cloth or damp sponge and gently wipe the carpet off. If you are picking up a lot of ash, wring a cloth or sponge over the sink or trash can and add a little water. Keeping the cloth or sponge clean is the most important thing to keep the ash from spreading.

Also, remember- do not wipe or rub the carpet in the horizontal direction with a cloth. Rather, pick up ash by tapping up and down. Repeat this process till the time only ash residue remains on the carpet.

NOTE- You can also make use of soapy water if you want, but the main goal here is to take up the ash. Deodorize/clean later.

4. Let The Rug Air Dry

Hand-drying the rug will penetrate the ash into the fibers deeply, so be patient. Let it sit for a few hours to let the air out of the carpet. If the ash has spread in a high-traffic area, place a coffee table over it to prevent people from passing over it and pushing the ash deeper into the carpet.

NOTE-

• It may be tempting to turn on a few fans, but it’s quite a better option not to blow the ash when you want to take it off. It’s simpler to keep all the ash content in one place.
• Additionally, inhaling the ash can cause damage and even may irritate your lungs, so it’s better to set it alone.

5. Sprinkle Baking Soda Over The Remaining Ash

Once the carpet gets dry, apply a thin layer of baking soda over the ash. This will not only deodorize the ash scent, but it will probably also soak some of the dirt and dust that is still there. Cover the entire ash area with a thin layer of baking soda.

NOTE-

• You can also make use of cornstarch in case you do not have baking at that time soda if you prefer. 
• You can also make use of a commercial carpet cleaning powder easily available in the market nowadays. 

6. Leave The Baking Soda On The Content For At Least 1 Hour

Give the baking soda a little time to set and absorb the ash smell. The more you leave the baking soda on, the more effective results you will notice. But at least you should wait an hour for it to set. In high-traffic areas, place tables and chairs on the carpet so people don’t walk on them. You can easily vacuum the ash and use paper towels until the liquid is absorbed. Still, you’ll notice that the foul smell of the ash stays on the carpet. Don’t forget to use cool water along with the baking soda until the stain disappears from the carpet. Repeat steps mentioned above, and you will end up with a clean carpet.

NOTE- 

If you can get a vacuum cleaner, do it now. Either way, you’ll have to wait at least an hour for the baking soda to come out. 

7. Wipe Off As Much As Possible

Make use of a hand brush, clean cloth, dustpan, or lint roller. This is where a vacuum is usually required. Using whatever is available, pick up as much of the baking soda and remaining ash as you can easily without making it wet. You can also tape the carpet to remove any residue if needed. Tackle off as much extra ash and soda as possible.

Note-

If you still see clumps of ash, be gentle. However, if the layer of ash and baking soda is thin, use a little more force to remove them.

I use the delete gesture here whenever possible, but it probably requires a little swipe, but that’s okay. Do not spread the ash too much.

8. Wipe The Area Again With Damp Cloth

Take a clean, damp sponge and start dabbing the affected area. The baking soda will harden when wet and there should still be some baking soda residue on the carpet, so any remaining ash can be easily removed. If necessary, squeeze the sponge and blot the area repeatedly. Continue blotting the affected area until the ash stain is completely removed. 

Note-

You can continue with this process using baking soda and a damp cloth as required until the stain or odor is completely removed.

9. Vacuum The Carpet For Deep Cleaning

Even if you don’t have a vacuum cleaner right now, try renting or buying one. It is very difficult to remove all ash particles without vacuuming, and even if your carpet looks clean after the first cleaning, there may still be ash particles on the fibers. Buy a vacuum cleaner or borrow one from a friend (a vacuum with a HEPA filter is ideal and clean the carpet as thoroughly as possible. 

Note-

If you don’t mind leaving an almost invisible layer of ash, leave the carpet alone. If you can’t see it with the naked eye, it may not matter.

10. Don’t Forget To Shake Off The Carpet or Rug

If a small rug happens to be covered in ash, shake it off. This comes handy when you have clean white carpet fibres from where the ashes don’t come out easily. Put the rug outside, close your eyes, and shake the rug back and forth. If necessary, the carpet can also be tapped to remove ash.

In any case, removing the ash is not a problem. If there is a small stain where the ash was, remove it with a damp sponge. Shake off the ashes and you’re good to go.

Note – If there is residue or you want to remove any lingering odor, sprinkle the area with baking soda and let it sit for at least an hour before shaking the carpet again. If the rug is easily washable, put it in the washing machine and let it air dry.

Some Other Useful Tips

1. Carpet deep cleaners are good for removing ash from carpets. Heated water and immediate removal promote pull-out stains on fabrics. You can also make use of soap additives for quick and efficient results.
2. If the soot breaks up, you can scrape it off with your trusty knife as well as spoon before vacuuming the dirt off.
3. If you don’t possess a dry cleaning solution, mix 1 tablespoon of water into 1 tablespoon of bleach-free dish soap and spread the paste to the affected area.
4. If you have parts that are very difficult to clean, hydrogen peroxide can help. Simply dab the stain with a damp cloth. Rinse well and dry.
5. You can also sprinkle some baby powder on the stained area and rub it with an absorbent cloth so it can take out the stains easily. Baby powder acts like an amazing absorbent substance which can be used to clean different types of stains stains out of carpet.

Final Words

It’s frustrating when your carpet gets dirty with anything, but it’s not impossible to remove the stain. With these above-mentioned tips on how to remove ash from your carpet, plus a few extra tips, your carpet should be fine in no seconds, leaving you mesmerized. You can follow this spring cleaning process to clean almost any type of carpet.

It really doesn’t matter if you want to clean cigarette ash from the carpet or from any other substance; a good carpet cleaner product can help you out. Also, prefer using a water soluble stain remover as it doesn’t damage the carpet fibers and if you want more help in cleaning the ashes stain, then don’t forget to connect with us.