How to Remove Carpet Stains

No matter the kind of spill or carpet, these treatments will lift up whatever's underfoot.

Food and Drink
See Homemade Carpet-Cleaning Solutions for recipes for all solutions below.

Synthetic-Fiber Rugs
Wine, ketchup, chocolate, coffee, tea, beer, milk, tomato sauce, berries, hard candy, juice, soda, Gatorade, Kool-Aid
1. Dip a white cloth (or a white paper towel with no printing) into the detergent solution and dab repeatedly, then press the cloth on the spot for a few seconds. Wait 15 minutes (it takes time to break down the stain), then soak up the excess liquid with a dry white cloth.
2. Dip a cloth into the vinegar solution and dab repeatedly, then press the cloth on the spot for a few seconds. Wait another 15 minutes. (This is an important step, because white vinegar removes residual detergent, which will attract dirt if left in the carpet.)
3. Rinse by blotting with a cloth soaked in lukewarm water. Wait one hour or until the carpet dries completely. For bad spills, place a 1/2-inch-thick stack of white paper towels over the stain after step 2, then lay a glass baking dish on top for 15 minutes.
4. As long as you see the stain lightening, repeat these steps until it is gone.

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Natural-Fiber Rugs
Beer, coffee, tea
1. Spray the stain with detergent solution, then blot with a dry white cloth.
2. Spray the stain with vinegar solution, then blot with a dry white cloth.
3. Spray the stain with detergent solution, then blot with a dry white cloth.
4. Spray the stain with lukewarm water, then blot with a dry white cloth.
5. Repeat steps 1 through 4 until the stain is removed.

Hard candy, chocolate, berries, juice, wine, soda, milk
Follow steps 1 to 5 (above), with one addition: Before applying the vinegar solution in step 2, spray the stain with ammonia solution, then blot with a dry white cloth.

Ketchup, Gatorade, Kool-Aid, tomato sauce
Follow steps 1 to 5 (above), but substitute ammonia solution for the vinegar one in step 2.

Oil and Grease
See Homemade Carpet-Cleaning Solutions for recipes for all solutions below.

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Synthetic-Fiber Rugs
Butter, salad dressing, cheese, eggnog, cooking oil, tree sap, crayon, lotion, mascara, lipstick, nail polish
1. Apply a small amount of solvent to a white cloth. Dab repeatedly, then press the cloth on the spot for a few seconds.
2. Rinse by blotting with a white cloth soaked in lukewarm water.
3. Wait one hour or until the carpet completely dries. If the stain is getting lighter, repeat until the stain is removed.

Natural-Fiber Rugs
Butter, salad dressing, cheese, eggnog, cooking oil, tree sap, crayon, lotion, mascara, lipstick, nail polish
1. Apply a small amount of solvent to a white cloth, then blot.
2. Spray the stain with detergent solution, then blot with a dry white cloth.
3. Spray the stain with lukewarm water, then blot with a dry white cloth.
4. Wait one hour or until the carpet completely dries. If the stain is getting lighter, repeat these steps until it is gone.

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Dirt and Mud
See Homemade Carpet-Cleaning Solutions for recipes for all solutions below.

Synthetic-Fiber Rugs
Dirt, mud
1. Vacuum any dry dirt to remove as much as possible.
2. Dip a white cloth into detergent solution and dab repeatedly, then press the cloth on the spot for a few seconds. Wait 15 minutes, then soak up the excess liquid with a dry white cloth.
3. Dip another dry white cloth in lukewarm water and dab repeatedly, then press it on the spot for a few seconds.

Natural-Fiber Rugs
Dirt, mud
1. Vacuum any dry dirt to remove as much as possible.
2. Spray the stain with detergent solution, then blot with a dry white cloth.
3. Spray the stain with vinegar solution, then blot with a dry white cloth.
4. Reapply the detergent solution, then blot with a dry white cloth.
5. Spray the stain with lukewarm water, then blot with a dry white cloth.

See More: Carpet Stain Solutions

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