Spot Treating Tips to Save the Day
14 February 2019You’re enjoying dinner or a glass of wine, something catches your attention and oops! you’ve spilled. The kids run in from outside and don’t take off their muddy shoes. You get the drift. Things happen! When they do, it’s important to treat the spill or stain immediately! The longer it sits, the harder it will be to remove. Although many things may require a deeper clean (for which we can help you fix it), there are some things you can do to help clean up spills and prevent staining. The first step is to remove excess material by blotting with a clean, white absorbent material or by scraping with a dull-edge knife or ruler. Absorbing or removing as much as the spill as possible will help the next steps go a lot better. The key with the following application is to not SOAK the area. Too much moisture from the removal agent will make your job even more difficult and can end up making the spill or stain worse than before. It is beneficial to test the removal agent on an inconspicuous spot, to ensure no discoloration will occur in your attempt to remove the stain. After your carpet dries, gently brush pile to restore texture. The following are only suggestions as some stains will require professional treatment. If you are unsure of the correct treatment or if one of these solutions doesn’t apply to you, please give us a call!
Our Favorite Spotting Solutions:
Ammonia Solution: Mix one tablespoon of clean household ammonia with one-half cup of water.
Bleach: Use hydrogen peroxide or sodium perborate, present in Snowy or Clorox II. DO NOT use chorine bleach.
Detergent Solution: Mix one teaspoon of a colorless, mild detergent or dishwashing liquid in a cup of lukewarm water.
Dry-cleaning Solvent: Volatile dry spotter or a commercial spotter such as Carbona, Energine, or K2R. Use in small amounts, can be harmful to sizings, backings or stuffing materials. DO NOT use gasoline, lighter fluid or carbon tetrachloride.
Enzyme Detergent: Mix a solution of enzyme detergent following the directions on the label. DO NOT SOAK. Allow the solution to remain on the stain for the recommended length of time before removing.
POG: Paint, oil, and grease remover, available in hardware stores.
Vinegar Solution: Mix one-third cup of white household vinegar with two-thirds cup of water.
What you can treat:
(Blood): 1. Apply cool detergent solution, blot. 2. Apply cool ammonia solution, blot. 3. Apply enzyme detergent, blot. 4. Rinse thoroughly with water, blot until dry. 5. If stain remains, apply rust remover or oxalic acid solution. 6. Bleaching with 3-5% hydrogen peroxide may be necessary.
(Butter/Margarine): 1. Apply dry-cleaning solvent, blot. 2. Apply detergent solution, blot until dry. 3. Apply vinegar solution, blot. 4. Rinse with water, blot until dry.
(Candle Wax): 1. Scrape off as much as possible with a spatula or a dull knife. 2. Apply dry-cleaning solvent. 3. Apply POG, blot. 4. Apply dry-cleaning solvent, blot.
(Catsup & Tomato Sauce): 1. Apply cool detergent solution, blot. 2. Apply ammonia solution, blot. 3. Apply enzyme detergent, blot. 4. If stain remains, bleach with 3-5% hydrogen peroxide or sodium perborate. 5. Rinse thoroughly with water, blot until dry.
(Chocolate): 1. Scrape off as much as possible with spatula or dull knife. 2. Apply cool detergent solution, blot. 3. Apply ammonia solution, blot. 4. Apply vinegar solution, blot. 5. Apply enzyme detergent, blot. 6. Rinse thoroughly with water, blot until dry.
(Coffee): 1. Apply detergent solution, blotting frequently. 2. Apply vinegar solution, blot. 3. Cover with dry towels until dry.
(Crayons): 1. Apply dry-cleaning solvent. 2. Apply POG, blot. 3. Apply dry-cleaning solvent, blot. 4. Apply detergent solution, blot. 5. Rinse with water, blot until dry.
(Food Coloring): 1. Apply detergent solution, blotting frequently. A dried stain will probably spread when wet. 2. Repeat step 1 until color is no longer transferred to the towel. 3. Apply ammonia solution, blot. 4. Rinse thoroughly with water and blot until dry.
(Furniture Stain): 1. Apply dry-cleaning solvent. 2. Apply POG, blot. 3. Apply dry-cleaning solvent, blot. 4. Apply detergent solution, blot. 5. Rinse with water, blot until dry. This stain is almost impossible to remove completely.
(Grass): 1. Apply amyl acetate, if available, to remove chlorophyll, blot. 2. Apply enzyme detergent, blot. 3. Rinse with water, blot. 4. Apply ammonia solution, blot. 5. Apply vinegar solution, blot. 6. Rinse with water, blot until dry. Bleaching (or professional stripping) may be necessary.
(Ink – Ballpoint): 1. Apply dry-cleaning solvent. 2. Apply POG, blot. 3. If stain remains, apply rust remover or oxalic acid solution.
(Ink – India): Apply dry-cleaning solvent. 2. Apply POG, blot. 3. Apply dry-cleaning solvent, blot. 4. Apply detergent solution, blot. 5. Apply ammonia solution, blot. 6. Rinse with water, blot until dry.
(Jam & Jelly): 1. Apply detergent solution, blot. 2. Apply vinegar solution, blot. 3. Rinse with water, blot. 4. Apply enzyme detergent, blot. 5. Rinse with water, blot until dry.
(Lipstick): 1. Scrape off excess with spatula or dull knife. 2. Apply POG, blot, making sure not to reapply stain onto fabric. 3. Apply dry-cleaning solvent, blot. 4. Apply detergent, blot. 5. Apply ammonia solution, blot. 6. Apply vinegar solution, blot. 7. Rinse with water, blot until dry. Try to avoid wet cleaning on wool. Use POG and dry-cleaning solvents as long as possible.
(Mildew): 1. Apply enzyme detergent, blot. 2. Apply ammonia solution, blot. 3. Rinse thoroughly with water, blot. 4. Apply solution of oxidizing bleach (chlorine or perborate). Do not use chlorine bleach on wool or silk. 5. Rinse thoroughly with water, blot until dry.
(Mud): 1. Brush or scrape off as much as possible. 2. Apply detergent solution, blot. 3. Apply ammonia solution, blot. 4. Rinse thoroughly with water, blot until dry. 5. If stain remains, apply POG and dry-cleaning solvent alternately, and blot until dry.
(Mustard): 1. Apply detergent solution, blot. 2. Apply vinegar solution, blot. 3. Apply enzyme detergent, blot. 4. If stain remains, rust remover (oxalic acid solution) or bleaching may be necessary. Do not use ammonia or alkalies.
(Nail Polish): 1. Apply dry-cleaning solvent. 2. Apply amyl acetate if available, or nail polish remover – PRETEST FIRST! 3. If stain remains, apply detergent solution, and blot until dry. 4. Apply ammonia solution, blot. 5. Apply vinegar solution, blot. 6. Rinse with water, blot until dry.
(Paint – Oil): 1. Apply detergent solution, blot. 2. Apply ammonia solution, blot. 3. Rinse with water, blot until dry. 4. Apply POG, blot. 5. Apply dry-cleaning solvent, blot.
(Paint – Water): Check label on paint or specific thinner or solvent, OR 1. Apply dry-cleaning solvent. 2. Apply POG, blot. 3. Apply dry-cleaning solvent, blot. 4. Alternate steps 2 and 3 until stain is removed. 5. If stain persists, weight down the stain with towels dampened with dry-cleaning solvent for several hours to loosen, blot with solvent. 6. Apply several drops of detergent solution and work into the stain, blot. 7. Apply ammonia solution, blot. 8. Alternate steps 2, 3, and 6 until stain is removed. 9. Rinse thoroughly with warm water, blot until dry.
(Shoe Polish): 1. Apply dry-cleaning solvent. 2. Apply POG, blot. 3. Apply dry-cleaning solvent, blot. 4. Apply detergent solution, blot. 5. Apply ammonia solution, blot. 6. Rinse thoroughly with water, blot until dry. 7. If stain persists, bleaching (or professional stripping) may be necessary.
(Urine): 1. Blot as much as possible, if still wet. 2. Apply detergent solution, blot. 3. Apply ammonia solution, blot. 4. Apply vinegar solution, blot. 5. Rinse thoroughly with water, blot until dry. 6. If stain remains, apply rust remover or oxalic acid solution. 7. Bleaching with 3-5% hydrogen peroxide or sodium perborate might be necessary. Urine stains may cause permanent dye removal from fibers.
(Vomit): 1. Blot up as much as possible. 2. Apply enzyme detergent, blot. 3. Apply ammonia solution, blot. 4. Apply vinegar solution, blot. 5. Rinse with water, blot until dry.
(Wine): 1. Apply detergent solution, blot. 2. Apply vinegar solution, blot. 3. Apply ammonia solution, blot. 4. If necessary, bleach with 3-5% hydrogen peroxide or sodium perborate. 5. Rinse thoroughly with water, blot until dry.