We all experience the occasional accidental spill, but what we don’t want is the stain that follows. The most common stains that occur in a home happen with red wine, fingernail polish, coffee, wax, and pet stains. It may seem daunting when accidents like this happen on your pristine carpets, but you don’t need to panic. Here are some tips on how to deal with each type.
The solution for wine, coffee, and any other staining beverage is the same. Soak up as much of the liquid as you can, blotting with a rag. You’ll then want to mix a solution of hydrogen peroxide (1 cup) and dish soap (1/2 teaspoon) to dab onto the stain. Let this mixture sit on the stain for 5-10 minutes and then absorb with a towel. If this doesn’t completely get the stain out, it may be time for a professional cleaning or DIY wet cleaning.
As with most spills, be sure not to scrub at the spill before it’s been treated; this will only spread the polish on more of your carpet. A non-acetone nail polish remover or rubbing alcohol might be your saving grace with a nail polish spill. Lightly dab the spill with a cotton ball filled with the remover or alcohol, alternating between dry cotton balls and wet ones. Be sure that you don’t over-saturate your carpet with either substance. You just want enough to dampen the area you are cleaning.
Hairspray is another good solution for stains. However, you should make sure your hairspray has alcohol in its ingredient list. If it does, you can spray it directly onto the spill and blot with a rag until you see improvement.
If some of the polish remains in the carpet (depending on the type of carpet you have), you may be able to trim the area a bit to cut off the leftover polish without it being noticeable.
Removing wax from your carpet is easier than it may seem. Place butcher paper on the wax and press a hot iron to it. You will see the wax melting. The butcher paper not only protects your carpet from the iron, but also will absorb the wax. You may need to replace your butcher paper a few times, depending on the amount of wax on the carpet. That’s all! If your carpet needs a further clean due to leftover grease from the wax, a dish soap and alcohol solution in a spray bottle will do the trick.
As with all liquid stains, soak up as much as possible with a towel as soon as you can. Then, apply a cleaning mixture. Combine vinegar, warm water, and baking soda and let it sit for 5-10 minutes, then blot it with a towel.
Handling spills and stains on your carpet can be simple, but stains build up over time. It’s often difficult to fully remove a stain, even with the best method. A professional cleaning may be the answer if your carpet has endured enough.
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