A carpet is an essential décor piece in your home as it accentuates your furniture and other items, giving a room its personality. Any stain, whether fresh or old, can make your carpet look unsightly and dirty.
Knowing how to get rid of old carpet stains immediately after a spill is the best way to keep your carpet looking clean and smelling good. Unfortunately, you may miss some stains until it’s too late, and sometimes, you may not even know the rug is stained until you move a piece of furniture.
If you don’t clean up stains the right way, they could end up damaging your carpet for good.
This article will address how to get rid of old carpet stains using some of the most effective methods today.
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The Simple Cloth and Water Method
You can use a mixture of soap and water in this method. This mixture works best on water-based spills and stains caused by liquids such as natural food coloring, fruit juice, jelly, milk, and fizzy drinks. You can also use this cleaning method on fresh spills.
For this method to be effective, ensure you have the following items:
- Cold water
- A spray bottle
- Tea towel or a microfiber towel
- A spare piece of cloth
- Mild soap
Remember, old carpet stains are much harder to remove than fresh spills because fresh stains are easier to soak up in the water and remove. Once you collect the above items, follow the below cleaning steps:
Soak up the Stain
Pour in some cold water in your spray bottle until it’s almost full, then add a spoonful of mild liquid soap. Spray directly onto the stained area, and be careful not to saturate it. Then, leave it to soak for five to ten minutes.
Use the Cloth to Blot the Liquid
Using a microfiber cloth, blot the stain from the outside in, and avoid wiping off the stain as it may spread to other clean areas of your carpet. Blotting encourages the liquid to transfer to the cloth instead of spreading to clean areas of the rug.
Avoid using tissue or paper towel to blot off the mixture from the carpet. While this may seem like a great idea, a paper towel can get wet and break up, leaving small chunks all over your carpet that can be hard to clean once they are stuck to the rug’s fibers.
If the cloth becomes too saturated, use the extra clean cloth and blot the stain until it’s gone.
Rinse Out the Stain
Take a damp, clean microfiber cloth and blot the area to remove any excess water. Keep blotting the area until all the moisture is removed from the carpet.
Dry and Hoover the Affected Area
Use a dry piece of cloth or a towel to soak up any extra moisture left on the affected area. Go over the stained area as many times as possible. After the carpet is completely dry, hoover it to revive the fibers.
Hoover your carpet regularly to keep it dust-free. Dust particles on your carpet give stains more surface to cling on.
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Use Club Soda
Club soda bubbles are quite effective in removing tough old water-soluble stains on carpets. This is especially true for stains that consist of blood, dirt, ice cream, gravy, and food dyes.
Pour some club soda on the stained area and leave it for a few minutes. After 5-10 minutes, gently work it in with a brush. After the stain is lifted, use clean water to rinse it off and blot the excess mixture with a clean microfiber cloth.
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How to Get Rid of Old Carpet Stains Using Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is the best stain remover for old tough stains. However, be very cautious when using it because it’s a bleaching agent, and it could easily remove color and dye from your carpet or floor.
According to Science Direct, hydrogen peroxide is the most used chemical in bleaching agents for secondary fibers.
If you suspect it might discolor your carpet, test it on a small, unseen area first. If it’s okay to use on the rug, put some in a spray bottle, then spray the solution directly on the affected area. Let the mixture sit for up to 15 minutes, then use some elbow grease and a stiff brush to scrub the carpet carefully.
After the stain has been lifted, use clean water to rinse off, then blot off any excess liquid using a clean cloth. It’s also advisable to sprinkle some salt over the affected area after spraying hydrogen peroxide to give the mixture more fighting power.
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Use Vinegar or Ammonia for Tough Stains
Vinegar and ammonia are helpful cleaning agents when removing tough water-soluble stains such as coffee, chocolate, tea, mustard, and wine.
Mix two cups of plain clean water with one cup of white vinegar and pour it into the affected area. Let it sit for a while, then slowly blot from the outside. Once the stain is out, use clean water and a cloth to rinse it off.
Ammonia is used to remove tough stains. To use it, you must follow the same procedures used for vinegar. However, you should only mix two tablespoons of ammonia with one cup of water for better results.
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Contact Professional Carpet Cleaners
Have you tried everything above, and nothing seems to work? It might be time to call in professional carpet cleaners such as Chem-Dry of Columbia to assist.
Professional carpet cleaners always know their way around tough stains. They will use safe, effective, non-toxic, and non-bleaching products to ensure your carpet is clean and free of old and new stains. They will also help you eliminate common stains, allergens, and bacteria that could be stuck in your carpet.
Are You Scared of Old Tough Carpet Stains? Don’t Be!
Carpets are not immune to stains; one way or another, you will find yourself dealing with an old forgotten or missed stain. If you wonder how to get rid of old carpet stains, use the above five tips, and your rug will be as good as new.
Remember to read some of the other posts on our site for more life-saving tips.
