The Specialist's Free Guide to Stain Removal Red Wine, Coffee, and Pet Stains No More! The Specialist Complete Carpet Care Expert Carpet, Upholstery & Area Rug Cleaning (714) 350-9290 info@thespecialistccc.com thespecialistccc.com
Introduction We've all had those moments. It's a wonderful party and everyone is having a great time. Then, over the laughter and buzz of conversation you hear it: "Oh, no! I can't believe I did that!" As the room goes quiet you rush over to see that there's a small splash of red wine or coffee on your carpet and a horrified look on your friend's face. Or, maybe your new puppy or kitten had an "accident" on your carpet. They didn t mean to do it, but now you've got a mess. What can you do? The best solution is calling a professional. But, in the midst of a party or during the middle of the night, that's not the most likely solution available. That's why I want to share a few handy tricks for taking care of life's little "accidents." Not all stains are created equal; what works on one type of stain may not work on another. In some cases, certain treatments may actually make the stain worse! This free guide shows you how to handle the most common, and most difficult, stains: red wine, coffee, and pet stains. There are some basics to treating every type of stain; we'll cover those first.
Basics The most important thing to remember is to act quickly! Waiting until the party's over may allow the stain to become permanent. The most common mistake people make when cleaning up a stain is to grab a cloth and start rubbing and scrubbing. This only spreads the fluid around and may even force it into the carpet's backing. The best method is to blot liquids with a dry, white absorbent cloth; paper towels work well, too. White is the suggested color because you'll be able to see the liquid being absorbed, and when the cloth no longer changes color, you're done cleaning. You can use a rounded spoon to scrape up semi-solid spills. Solids should be broken up and vacuumed. Even though time is of the essence, it's always wise to pretest the proper solution in an inconspicuous area. Lightly apply the solution to a dry, clean white cloth. Gently work the solution into the carpet by blotting remember no scrubbing! Look for color transfer from the carpet to the cloth or lightening of the test area. If you see this, it means the solution is too powerful and is damaging your carpet and you need to choose another solution. Watch for other signs of damage, too, such as fiber damage. Once you're sure the solution is safe, it's time to tackle the stain. As you did with the pre-test, lightly apply the solution to the cloth. Always start at the edges of the stain; this prevents spreading of the stain. Work the solution into the carpet moving toward the center of the stain. Remember: Blot, don't scrub! Allow the solution to remain for a few minutes and then gently blot it up. You should see a transfer of the stain to the cloth; this means it's working! This takes time, so you have to be patient. You can't hurry the process. Continue the blot-wait-blot process with the solution until there is no more transfer of the spill to the cloth. If, after several repetitions there is no more transfer, but there's still a stain you need to move to the next choice of solution. It's always best to start with the mildest option as it's easier on your carpet. When the stain is completely gone, use the same process with a new cloth and cold water to rinse the solution out of your carpet. Then blot it with a dry cloth until all the moisture is gone.
Solutions These are the recommended solutions for handling stains and the proper method of mixing them. Detergent Solution Mix ¼ teaspoon liquid dishwashing detergent for every one cup of lukewarm water. Don't use a stronger concentration as it may damage your carpet. Don't use laundry detergents as they may contain optical brighteners (fluorescent dyes) that will dye your carpet. Likewise, don't use automatic dishwashing detergents; some of them contain bleaching agents that ruin your carpet's colors and sometimes the fibers. Vinegar Solution Mix one cup of white vinegar for every two cups of water. White vinegar is a solution of 5% acetic acid. Hydrogen Peroxide Use a 3% solution, available at most pharmacies. Use at full strength. Ammonia Solution Mix one tablespoon of household ammonia for every cup of water. Do not use a stronger ammonia solution as it may cause a color change in your carpet. NEVER use ammonia on wool as it can destroy the fibers. If you have wool carpet and an acidic stain, dilute the stain with plain water using the same technique described in "Basics." Caution: Ammonia is toxic. Never use with any bleach products. Use only with good ventilation.
Solutions Continued Hot Water Use the hottest tap water you can handle to rinse the cleaning solutions from the fiber unless otherwise specified. Solution Residue Several spot removal solutions leave residues. These residues may attract soil resulting in accelerated soiling. Rinse the area several times using lukewarm tap water and a mist type sprayer; this prevents overwetting. Blot dry after each rinse. Many commercial spot removers like those at your grocery store remove the protective coatings on your carpet or break down the dyes. In fact, we don't recommend using off the shelf spot removers at all. Most of these products cause more problems than they claim to "resolve". At The Specialist Complete Carpet Care, we provide our clients with a complimentary bottle of "Spot Pro", this is the same product we use on our clients carpets.
Red Wine, Beer, and Mixed Drinks Just as all stains aren't created equal, neither are all alcoholic drinks. Wines and most mixed drinks are acidic in nature, whereas beer is alkaline. Different solutions are needed for each type of stain. Red Wine & Mixed Drinks Since these stains are acidic, an alkaline cleaning solution is needed as it neutralizes acids. Recommended solution: Ammonia Method: 1. Blot up the liquid spill. 2. Using a clean white cloth or a spray bottle, apply the solution. 3. Blot any excess solution/moisture with a dry towel. 4. Rinse with lukewarm tap water. If you don t rinse out the solution, it may cause accelerated soiling. 5. If there's no more color transfer but the stain remains, substitute soapy water for ammonia and repeat steps 2-4. 6. If the stain is still not gone, switch to a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution and repeat steps 2-4. NOTE: This solution also works on ketchup, cough syrup, soy sauce, and watercolor paint.
Beer Since these stains are alkaline, an acidic cleaning solution is needed as it neutralizes alkaline spills. Recommended solution: White Vinegar Method: 1. Without a solution, blot up the beer and rinse your carpet. 2. If the stain is still present, use soapy water, then rinse. 3. Repeat until spot is gone. 4. If the stain is still present, switch to a vinegar solution using a spray bottle or saturated towel. 5. Blot the area with a dry towel and rinse. 6. Repeat until the stain is gone.
Coffee Coffee is an organic stain. Hydrogen peroxide is best for handling organic stains as it bleaches the stains and doesn't harm the dyes. Recommended solution: 3% hydrogen peroxide solution Method: 1. Scoop up solids with a rounded spoon. 2. Blot up coffee. 3. Rinse repeatedly. 4. If the stain is still present, switch to soapy water, then rinse. 5. If the stain is still present, switch to hydrogen peroxide. 6. Wait one hour and then blot up. 7. Repeat as needed. NOTE: This solution also works on other organic stains such as, blood, berries, candy, chocolate, soft drinks, gravy, and ice cream.
Pet Stains The first and most important thing to remember is what NOT to do. Do not use a steam cleaner for urine spots. The heat sets the stain in your carpet as well as the smell. If you have a wet-vacuum, extract the urine and then rinse with cool water; this helps reduce the odor. Getting rid of the odor is crucial; if your pet can smell urine at that spot he or she may think that it's OK to "go" there again. If you don't have a wet-vacuum, use the following methods. Urine The best way of handling pet urine stains is to clean up the "accident" when it's still fresh (wet, right after it happens). Recommended solution: Vinegar Solution, Soapy Water, 3% hydrogen peroxide solution Method: 1. Blot the area with a clean, dry white cloth. Press down firmly no scrubbing - for 30 seconds. 2. Repeat until the area is dry. 3. If you can put newspapers under the wetness so it can absorb the urine from the bottom, too. Unlike many other spills, pet urine often goes through the carpet to the padding and sometimes to the floor itself. a. If it's soaked through to the padding, you may need to replace that portion of the padding. 4. Once the urine is blotted up, clean the area with vinegar solution following the blot, rinse, blot method. 5. If the stain is still present, clean with soapy water, following the blot, rinse, blot method. 6. If the stain is still present, use a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution. Let it sit for a few minutes and then press firmly with a clean, white dry cloth for 30 seconds. 7. Cover the cleaned area with baking soda and leave it overnight to neutralize the odor. a. Vacuum up the baking soda the next day.
Feces Follow the same method used for urine with the exception of cleaning up the solids first. NOTE: If the stain has already set by the time you discover it, you need to use an extractor vacuum to get it and the odor out completely. Summary You may experience a different kind of "spotting" after using any of these methods. These are all good for removing stains; however, if it's been a while since your last professional carpet cleaning, the newly cleaned area may appear "brighter" or cleaner than the rest of your carpet. You'll want to have the whole carpet cleaned soon after. A professional carpet cleaner can handle all of the stains in this guide for you, too. I have the ability, experience, and equipment to get even the most stubborn stains out of your carpet. Call at (714) 350-9290 to learn more today!