No matter how careful you are, accidents happen from time to time. When something falls onto your fluffy new carpet flooring, we know how stressful it can be. Carpets are comforting in a home, office, or apartment. There’s no other flooring that makes a room feel so cozy. If your home has carpet floors, you’ll need to know the carpet stain removal basics.
Carpet flooring is ideal for various families, but especially for those with young kids or elderly members who benefit more from having a soft surface beneath their feet. The biggest downside to carpets is how easily they can get ruined. Occasionally, food, drinks, mud, and other substances create stains that can be tricky to remove without further damaging or discoloring the fibers.
Professional Carpet Systems is here to help you tackle even the most stubborn carpet stains! Try the techniques we discuss in this blog. Remember, our team is here to help when nothing seems to work. Depending on the carpet material and the source, stains can sometimes be challenging to eliminate. Use the following information to handle the common stains on your home’s carpet flooring, and never hesitate to contact Professional Carpet Systems for more!
Treating Carpet Stains
Your home may be spotless—not a speck of dust on the shelves, effective organization, and floors that are vacuumed daily. Just one unsightly stain can turn it all around. How frustrating! You put in a lot of hard work to keep things tidy, but accidents happen to everyone. That’s why it’s essential to learn all the carpet stain removal basics to protect your plush and cozy floors.
The tricky part of stain removal is dealing with the various carpet materials and many sources of stains. When you treat the carpet, you must consider the material, so you don’t damage it. On top of that, you also need to use the most effective method to remove the particular stain.
We’ve got you covered! Below we will first discuss the different stains and how to treat them in general. Then, we’ll explore the most common types of carpet materials and what to do to prevent ruining them and properly remove discoloration and blemishes.
Read on to learn everything there is to know about carpet stain removal basics!
Eliminating Different Types of Stains
A stain can result from many different things. Maybe your potty-training puppy had an accident. Or perhaps your toddler spilled juice on your luxurious new carpet. The following five stains are some of the most common ones homeowners deal with.
- Oil-Based Stains- These are tricky stains to erase. Oil-based stains often source from food spills, oily perfumes, or makeup products. Depending on the carpet’s material, a mix of mild dish soap and water tends to treat oil-based stains the best. Keep in mind not all carpets will react well to moisture.
- Beverage Stains- Luckily, most beverage stains are water-based, making them easier to eliminate. If you spill your coffee, tea, soda, or wine on the floor, the best thing you can do is soak it up immediately by dabbing the spot with gentle yet firm pressure. Then, apply diluted dish soap to remove the remaining stain, if possible.
- Food Stains– Food stains are primarily protein-based. So, you may use water and dish soap or add ammonia to the spot, depending on the carpet’s material.
- Dirt and Mud Stains- Dirt or mud is some of the most common sources of stains on carpets. It’s easy to forget to brush off your shoes before stepping on your soft and vulnerable carpet. And dirt and mud stains are even more common if you have kids or pets in the home. They are made of organic materials like food and protein-based stains. Therefore, your approach will be similar. However, the first thing you should do is use a vacuum to remove the loose debris. Then, apply the soap and water mixture to eliminate the stain.
- Stains from Bodily Fluids- Pet owners and parents are very familiar with these stains. Unfortunately, your carpet may experience a urine, blood, vomit, or feces stain from time to time. Act as quickly as possible to tackle these stains, and use a cold, damp cloth to absorb them. Then, soak and ring out the cloth with a mixture of white vinegar and water to remove the stain.
5 Common Carpet Materials
1 | Nylon
Nylon carpeting is silky-soft and often resistant to stains, wear, and tear. This material is ideal for homes with pets, young children, or even messy adults. It’s no wonder why nylon is one of the most common carpet materials in the standard home.
Here are some tips to help remove stains from your nylon carpet:
- First, vacuum the affected area to remove loose debris. Depending on its source, this often removes most of the stain.
- Consider having your nylon carpet flooring treated with a stain-resistant coating.
- Avoid using harsh chemical treatments and sprays. Instead, try DIY remedies, like baking soda and warm water, to absorb and remove the stains on your nylon carpet.
2 | Wool
Wool carpets are beautiful, natural, and incredibly soft on your feet. However, such a luxurious material comes with drawbacks. Wool carpets are easily stained, expensive, and difficult to treat without damage.
Try the following when tackling stains on your wool carpets:
- Avoid using alkaline substances or bleach-based products, as wool often reacts poorly to them.
- Use minimal moisture because wool is absorbent and takes much longer to dry.
- Consider professional carpet cleaning to prevent ruining your stunning and soft wool carpets.
- Having your wool carpets treated with a stain protector is vital, so you avoid replacing them sooner than needed.
3 | Polypropylene (Olefin)
This carpet material continues to grow in popularity. Olefin is almost as soft as nylon and is generally easy to maintain. Many people choose olefin carpeting because it appears similar to natural wool fibers but has the convenience and ease of a synthetic material.
Here’s what you need to know when treating stains on your polypropylene carpets:
- Baking soda and warm water are usually successful in treating mild stains.
- Rinse the fibers thoroughly before allowing the affected area to air dry.
4 | Acrylic
Acrylic has decent resistance to moisture, fading, and stains. However, certain substances, like wine or grease, may still be challenging to eliminate from the fibers. You may know acrylic carpeting better as “synthetic wool” because of how it feels and looks like the natural material but costs significantly less and is easier to clean.
Eliminate stains from your acrylic carpet flooring by using the following tips and tricks:
- Have a carpet protector professionally applied to the flooring to prevent major stains and discoloration.
- Avoid harsh chemicals and try mild mixtures of soap and water first.
- Baking soda and water also work well to remove certain stains from acrylic fibers.
5 | Polyester
Polyester carpets are often advertised as stain resistant. So, you mainly need to focus on routine care and cleaning when you have this material on your floors. Of course, there’s always a chance for a stubborn stain to occur.
In that case, use a mixture of mild dish soap and cool water to treat the stain. First, soak up any excess liquid or vacuum the loose solids. Then, apply the mixture by dabbing a damp cloth onto the affected area. After rinsing with minimal water, let the spot air dry.
Know When to Hire the Professionals
Treating stains is one of the most frustrating parts of having plush carpet flooring in your home. Knowing the carpet stain removal basics can make tackling stains much more manageable.
However, there are times when the stain won’t budge, no matter what you try.
In that case, you have a couple of options— Do you replace the carpet or hire professionals to treat the stains? Replacing the carpet is rarely necessary and much more expensive. Instead, call a trusted professional carpet cleaning team to eliminate stubborn stains!
Professional Carpet Systems has seen it all! Work with our friendly team and experience all the benefits of a thorough and effective carpet cleaning:
- There’s no better way to DEEP clean!
- Save money in the long run with routine treatments.
- Success is guaranteed, as opposed to DIY trials and errors.
- Eliminate the chance of damaging expensive and sensitive materials.
- Carpet treatments are less expensive than an entire replacement.
Save yourself stress, frustration, and time by trusting your local professionals. Call Professional Carpet Systems to get started today.