How To Get Stains Out Of Carpet | Remove Carpet Stains

Keeping your carpets clean not only makes your home more attractive but also prolongs the life of your carpets. Vacuuming or using a carpet cleaner restores the shine of your carpets, it also removes dust and allergens. Even regular healthy cleaning can undo all the work if you’ve got some sort of stains on it.

There come many times when someone has spilt something on the carpet/rugs and now it’s your turn to remove those stains before they leave their mark permanently. It doesn’t matter if you want to remove pet stains or something you’ve got from food, there’s always a workaround to get it done.

Unless you know how to remove stains from your rug, the pristine and beautiful look of your rug can be ruined in an instant. Removing stains from carpet is easy only when you know about the proper techniques. Commonly used household carpet stain removers such as hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and white vinegar are safe and effective natural remedies. For stubborn stains, you need a carpet stain remover that can get the job done without damaging your carpet. Knowing how to clean your carpet can help you act quickly when the inevitable happens. In this ultimate guide about homemade carpet cleaning, you can learn about some best strategies to get the work done.

How To Get Carpet Stains Out: Common Method

You reminded people to remove their shoes and worked hard to keep food out of your carpeted room. Before you reach for your next bottle of cleaning solution, remember that the best carpet cleaning solution is often cool water. Wipe (do not rub) with a clean, slightly damp white cloth on the stained carpet and it will take away most of the stains easily. If plain water doesn’t work, go for a carpet stain remover or DIY solution. We will suggest the best carpet stain remover according to the cause of the stain. Follow these three steps, and you’ll know exactly how to remove stains from your carpet.

Step 1: Remove Excess Stains Out of Carpet

Scrape off excess solids with a spoon or butter knife as soon as possible to prevent spillage from becoming a permanent stain on the stained carpet. To prevent the stain from spreading, gently blot excess liquid with a clean white absorbent cloth ($5, Target) from the outer edge of the stain toward the center. Don’t rub, this can permanently damage the carpet fibers.

Step 2: Apply Carpet Cleaning Stain Remover

Spray the leftover water soluble stains with Carpet Stain Remover according to the manufacturer’s instructions. You can also remove the stain from the carpet with a baking soda and vinegar solution. For a home-prepared carpet stain remover, mix 1 teaspoon of mild dish soap in 1 quart of warm water, add 1/4 teaspoon of white vinegar and spread uniformly to the carpet stain. Be careful with any carpet cleaner, as overwetting the stain can damage the lining. Let rest for 10 minutes and then rinse with clear water.

Pro Tip: Always test color fastness on an inconspicuous area before applying Carpet Stain Remover.

Step 3: Dab The Stain With Water Soluble

Blot the area from outside with a clean white absorbent cloth. Repeat until no more dirt is transferred to the cloth. Rinse the area with cold water and pat dry. To dry it completely, try this trick: Cover the damp area with a 1/2-inch cloth or paper towel. Weigh them down with something heavy and change the paper towels until they are dry.

How To Remove Old Stains Out of Carpet

Remove Grease and Oil Carpet Stains

Don’t bother yourself hard with stains caused by grease and oil. It doesn’t matter what type of carpet you have, they can be easily treated with baking soda. Baking soda also removes odors present because of the fat stains on carpet. Grease stains can be frustrating to remove as you will have to blot the stain multiple times to remove it. But with his four easy steps, you can say goodbye to once-ugly stains and say goodbye to carpets that are as fresh as new.

• Liberally sprinkle baking soda over the grease stain and use a spoon to work the baking soda into the fibers of the carpet.
• Let the baking soda sit on the carpet for a few minutes.
• Then use the dry setting on your wet/dry vacuum to vacuum the baking soda from the carpet.
• Repeat as necessary until liquid grease is absorbed.

How To Clean Ink Stains

We’ve all had accidents with leaking pens. Ink stains are difficult to take off from carpets as they contain dyes, pigments, and lubricants. Therefore, if the ink on the pen gets on the carpet, act immediately and follow these steps to remove the stain. Ink stains are not easy to remove due to their chemical nature. But with a little patience and perseverance, the carpet stains will disappear before your eyes.

• Dab the new stain, being careful not to push the ink into the carpet.
• Soak the stain in denatured alcohol for at least 5 minutes.
• Apply enough alcohol to cover the stain and get it about half an inch into the carpet.
• Make use of an old toothbrush to rub off the alcohol into hard-to-reach fibers.
• For stubborn dirt, pour alcohol and let it set for 5 minutes before you vacuum it using wet/dry vacuum cleaners.

How To Remove Coffee Stains

There’s no point in crying over spilled coffee. Coffee’s stubborn stains can be taken off carpets using a few common household items. If you want to remove coffee stains from carpet, then make sure you don’t use any bleach detergent solution as it can react with caffeine and will make it worse for the entire carpet.

• Soak up as much of the coffee as you can with a towel, rag, or white paper towel.
• Do not scrub the carpet. Work from the outside to the inside to avoid spreading the liquid.
• Soak up stains with a solution of 1 cup hydrogen peroxide and 1/2 teaspoon dish soap.
• Let the solution stay on the stain for 5-10 minutes, then use a clean white cloth or paper towel to soak up both the cleaning solution and the coffee.
• If the stain persists, repeat the process and let the solution set longer.
• After that, make use of a wet/dry vacuum cleaner to remove all liquid and excess moisture too.

How To Remove Wine Stains

Hosting a movie night, party, or something to relax with a glass of red wine over your favorite couch? Your carpet is in danger, dude! Yes! Red wine stains are notoriously hard to take off, but by knowing the right technique and proven stain remover products, you can get the job done. We will recommend you to treat the wine spills before they go deeper into the carpet. White wine won’t cause much damage as it will not be as visible as stains caused by red wine. To remove wine stains from carpet, you will need the following: 

1. Baking soda
2. Cold water
3. Stain remover
4. Clean white wet cloth

Step-by-Step Guide

• Using a clean white cloth, immediately soak up as much red wine as possible.
• Do not rub the stain as it can make it go deeper into the carpet.
• Pour a little cold water over the red wine stain and continue to blot.
• The water will dilute the red wine, making it easier to pick up more dirt.
• In a small bowl, mix baking soda and water in a ratio of 3 to 1 to form a paste.
• Apply the paste to the carpet stain and work it gently into the carpet fibers with your finger.
• Wait for it to dry, and blot the dry paste. If the stain is still visible, rehydrate the stain and repeat this step.
• Wipe dry with a clean, dry cloth. Alternatively, you can use a wet/dry vacuum cleaner.

Remove Stains Caused By Urine

Dogs and cats are a part of most families these days. If your beloved pet can’t wait to pee on your rug, you may have to reach professional carpet and upholstery cleaning to tackle the stain because of the strong, noxious odor. No! According to the CRI, making use of a steam mop to treat cats’ or dogs’ urine stains is not recommended. The high temperature of the steamer allows stains and odors to settle. Here’s how to properly remove urine stains from your carpet. What you need to carry out this stain-cleaning procedure:

1. Dry clean white or paper towels.
2. Baking soda.
3. Cold clean water.
4. White vinegar.
5. Hydrogen peroxide.
6. Cotton ball.

Step-by-Step Guide

• Absorb urine stains with paper towels or a dry cloth. Press firmly into the stain to soak as much urine as possible.
• Use another dry cloth to wipe off any leftover urine.
• Mix equal parts white vinegar and a few ounces of water in a small container.
• Pour a solution of vinegar and water onto the urine stain to saturate it.
• Use a scrubbing brush to work the stain remover deep into the carpet and scrub vigorously.
• Scrubbing is not recommended for most stains, but this time it needs to be scrubbed. 
• Leave Stain Remover on for about 10 minutes.
• White vinegar cleans the area and also neutralizes ammonia present in the urine.
• Sprinkle off a good amount of baking soda to completely cover the damp area.
• After the baking soda has absorbed the excess water and dried, vacuum it up. 
• Absorb the remaining moisture with a dry cloth.

How To Remove Old Stains From Carpet and Rugs

Though carpet stain removal is not hard with a few cups of warm water and white vinegar but for some, it can be a challenging task. No stain causes more anxiety than an old, dry stain that’s been sitting out for long. And if you can’t identify the stain, how do you know which carpet stain remover to use? Before you throw in the towel and set the price on your new carpet, here are some tried-and-true tips to help you remove old carpet stains. is to be removed with a compatible carpet cleaner. Here’s what you need for this method:

1. White vinegar
2. Hydrogen peroxide
3. Cold water
4. Clean white cloth
5. Dish soap
6. Spray bottle

It can be difficult to determine which type of stain you are dealing with. You can also guess from the color and composition of the stain, but that’s dangerous. Luckily, the types of stains most homeowners encounter are numerous, and most of them are water-soluble.

• Fill cool tap water in a spray bottle and spray on dry stains. The key is to “revive” the stain without soaking the carpet.
• If you do it repeatedly, water can seep under the carpet and into the upholstery and spread to the floor below.
• Allow the staining solution to rehydrate for at least 30 minutes.
• For water-soluble stains, you can use a simple cleaning solution that uses equal parts white vinegar to rinse water and liquid.
• The additional cleaning power of hydrogen peroxide may be required for more stubborn stains.
• Pour a small amount of the stain into the stain, but don’t soak it.
• Softly work the solution into the fabric with a clean cloth. If the stain is still noticeable, rehydrate and repeat the process.
• Use a clean, dry cloth or wet/dry vacuum to remove any remaining excess moisture.

How To Clean Stains Caused By Blood

Do not use warm water to remove blood stains from the carpet. The stain will stick to the material more easily. Apply cold or soda water and wipe with a clean cloth. Repeat until the stain is gone. You can also take help of professional carpet cleaning services or steam cleaning company, but they might ask you to real cause of the blood stain. Instead of that, you can use a cup of white vinegar and baking soda and use it with cold water for removing blood stains.

NOTE: Allow the baking soda to treat the stain by letting it sit for a few minutes. It doesn’t matter which stain removing method you are following, if you want to clean the stain completely, then you will have to mix baking soda in a few cups of water before pouring it on the stain.

Get Candle Wax or Polish Out of Carpet

To take off candle wax from the carpet, rub an ice pack in until the wax hardens. Gently crush the wax and then vacuum it up. Treat the area with carpet cleaner or a white cloth moistened with a little rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover according to the manufacturer’s directions. Using hot water or dishwashing liquid will not help in case of wax or oil stains because they will dissolve faster when treated with heat. Unlike ice cream stains that require wet towels, you will have to use dry white towels to remove wax or polish.

Remove Carpet Chocolate Stains

If the carpet is stained with chocolate, use a blunt knife to scrape off as much of the chocolate as possible. Once the chocolate has melted, place a sealable plastic bag with ice cubes over the stain to allow the remaining chocolate to harden before scraping. Vacuum the affected area to pick up loose flakes and debris. Mix 1/4 teaspoon of liquid dish soap with 1 cup of warm water and use a clean cloth to apply the stain to the stain from the outside. Let the solution sit for at least 5 minutes, then blot until the stain is gone completely.

How To Remove Pet Stains & Dirt

All types of carpet dirt and mud stains should be thoroughly dried before treatment. Scrape off as much residue as possible, then vacuum. Apply a cleaning solution (white vinegar and baking soda, mild dish soap, warm water, etc.). Let the solution sit on the stain for at least 10 minutes before blotting the stain using a clean white cloth or paper towel.

How To Remove Food and Drink Stains

Making use of baking soda to remove carpet stains is the best solution that you can opt for to get a clean carpet without damaging the fibers. Sprinkle baking soda on the stain and leave it to sit for 6 hours. Vacuum and blot using a damp cloth moistened with rubbing alcohol. You can also make use of a dry, solvent carpet cleaner for rug cleaning as most food items comes with washable ink or chemicals. You can also add a few drops of dish liquid along with baking soda to remove stains from carpet easily.

Additional Tips To Remove Chewing Gum

Remove as much chewing gum as possible and it will make cleaning carpet easier. Place a resealable plastic bag with ice cubes over the remaining gum to harden. Slice gum with a spoon or blunt knife. Vacuum any remaining stain with a clean dry, solution-based carpet cleaner, following the label directions.

Take A Professional’s Help

Carpet Cleaning is a great skill but only when you have access to the best cleaning solutions. If you can identify the stain, you’ll be much better off removing it. Plus, you save money by not having to strip the carpet and buy new flooring. However, some stains require professional reinforcement. If you’re dealing with tough stains or dirty carpets, many cleaning services can help. Call some professional cleaners and let them do the hard work of stain removal from your carpets and rugs.

Conclusion

It doesn’t matter if you want to remove old stains from carpet or fresh ones; cleaning your carpet isn’t hard if you are aware of what you’re doing. Most of the carpet cleaners and stain removal tools you need are already available out there. Now that you have it at home, you’re ready to keep your carpet looking its best original color and looks.

The next time someone drops cereal or popsicles on your carpet, relax. You can follow our carpet cleaning tips shared above to get rid of the stain and odor without much effort. If you know about some other cleaning solutions or cleaning products that can help in cleaning the stained area of the carpet, then do let us know about them so we can include them in this post.