Today’s carpets resist spots much better than those manufactured even a few years ago, but they’re still susceptible to spots and should be treated immediately to avoid permanent staining. “When a spot or stain occurs on your carpet or upholstery, it’s very important to act quickly,” confirms Curt Holman, owner of Precision Cleaning Services in Dublin. “The longer a spot or stain remains, the harder it is to get out.” Large stains should be handled by a professional cleaner, but to remove smaller, less serious stains from your carpet or upholstery, consider the following tips:
1. Blot up as much of the spill as you can. Don’t scrub—it’ll only work the spill deeper into the fiber and may leave a wear mark. Fold a white cotton towel, press it into the spill and rotate it often so a clean surface is always against the carpet. Continue to blot until the spill stops transferring to the towel. Remove any solid material with a rounded spoon or the edge of a dull knife.
2. Cover the blotted area with a fresh, white towel. Weigh the towel down with something that won’t transfer color. Leave it in place for 15 to 20 minutes to remove any remaining spill. If the carpet remains stained, proceed to step 3.
3. Spotting the remaining stain requires care and patience. You can’t apply most household cleaners without further damaging the carpet—many common cleaners contain dyes that will discolor the carpet or chemicals that will permanently set the stain. If you can locate the literature you received when you bought the carpet, it should contain the spotting procedures for you to follow. If not, you can attempt to remove most common household spills with the following procedure:
• Mix one teaspoonful of colorless, mild detergent in one cup of lukewarm water. To test the safety of the solution, apply several drops to an inconspicuous area (inside a closet, under a sofa) and rub gently with a clean, white towel. Don’t proceed if the carpet color changes or transfers to the towel.
• If the test is successful, spot the stain by alternately applying a few drops of cleaner followed by blotting, not scrubbing. Work from the outer edge of the stain to the center. Continue this process until the stain is gone or no more color transfers to the white towel.
• Gently rinse the area with clear water and absorb all the remaining moisture with towels.
