These simple cleaning tips and go-to carpet stain removers make it easy to eliminate stubborn stains from coffee, dirt, red wine, and more.

How to Get Rid of Carpet Stains, Including the Hardest Stains

Carpet is a fantastic insulator and source of warmth underfoot, but it also attracts stains. Even a home without children or pets may be stained by an accidental spill or smear, which can quickly seep into the fibres and become a set-in stain.

Cleaning carpet stains may appear hard, but with the proper technique and cleaning chemicals, stubborn spots come out easily. Regardless of the type of spill you’re addressing, removing carpet stains is usually similar.

Follow the three easy actions below to discover the fundamental carpet stain removal method. Continue reading for more on removing some of the most prevalent carpet stains, such as chocolate, coffee, dirt, red wine, and others. Your carpet will soon appear brand new again without the need for expert carpet cleaning with these expert recommendations.

Carpet Stains: How to Remove Them

You fought so hard to get people to take off their shoes and keep food out of your carpeted rooms. Then it happened: the coffee spill or the gravy boat going flying during Thanksgiving dinner. When it comes to carpet cleaning solutions, the best option is often water. Using a clean, somewhat damp white towel (don’t rub), blot (don’t scrub) the stain.

If plain water doesn’t get the stains out, try a carpet stain remover or do it yourself. The ideal carpet stain remover will be based on what caused the discoloration. Follow these three easy steps to learn how to remove carpet stains safely and effectively.

Step 1: Remove excess ASAP.

Gently blot away the extra liquid with a clean, white absorbent cloth, starting at the outside edge of the stain and working your way in toward the middle to prevent spreading. “Always blot, never rub, which may cause irreversible damage to carpet fibers,” cautions My Maid Service’s Derek Christian. Repeat until the cloth is free of any color.

Step 2: Apply a carpet stain remover.

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for application to spray any remaining stain with a carpet stain remover. You may also use a vinegar solution to clean the carpet. For a home remedy for carpet stains, combine 1 tsp. of mild dishwashing liquid with 1-quart warm water and add 1/4 tsp. white vinegar to the stain. Take care not to saturate the stain too much regardless of which carpet cleaner you choose, as this may harm the backing. Allow soaking for 10 minutes.

Editor’s Tip: Before using a carpet stain remover, check for colourfastness in an inconspicuous area.

Step 3: Blot stain away.

Blot the exterior of the garment with a clean, white absorbent cloth. Continue until the stain no longer transfers to the cloth. Blot with cold water and dry after. Cover the wet area with a 1/2-inch-thick layer of cloth or paper towels for thorough drying. Weigh them down with a heavy object and renew the paper towels until dry.

The Worst Carpet Stains and How to Remove Them

Try these treatments for common carpet stains.

Blood

To remove blood stains from the carpet, use cold water or club soda instead of warm. Blot with a clean cloth after applying cold water or club soda. Continue until the stain is gone.

Candle wax

Rub an ice pack on the wax until it hardens to remove candle wax from carpet. Break up the wax with a spoon, then vacuum up the pieces. Use a carpet cleaner on the stain, as directed by the manufacturer, or a white cloth dampened with a bit of rubbing alcohol. Blot the surface dry.

Chocolate

Use a dull knife to scrape away as much chocolate as possible from the carpet for chocolate stains. If the chocolate has melted, cover the stain with an ice-filled resealable plastic bag to harden the remaining chocolate before removing it. Rinse the floor with water to remove any loose flakes or shards. 1/4 tsp. liquid dish soap and one cup of warm water are used in this recipe, which is applied to the stain from the outside toward the centre using a clean cloth. Allow for at least five minutes before blotting until the spot is gone.

Coffee or tea

To remove coffee or tea stains from the carpet, cleaning professional Melissa Maker recommends combining 2 Tbsp. hydrogen peroxide with 1 Tbsp. dish soap. Blot the spill first, then apply the solution. Gently work in the solution with your fingers for a few seconds before sitting back. Rinse the stain with water, blot it dry, and repeat until the stain is removed.

Dirt

Before treating, wait for dirt and mud stains on the carpet to completely dry. Remove as much residue as feasible with a scraper before vacuuming. Apply a detergent solution (such as the mild dishwashing liquid, warm water, and white vinegar solution described above). Allow 10 minutes for the solution to work before blotting with a clean white cloth or paper towel.

Fat-based stains (butter, gravy, margarine, etc.)

Baking soda can be used to clean fatty spills from the carpet. For fatty stains, sprinkle the spot with baking soda and allow it to sit for six hours. Vacuum and then blot with a wet cloth after vacuuming. Following the manufacturer’s instructions, you may also use a dry-solvent spot carpet cleaner.

Gum

Take out as much gum as you can. Wrap the remaining gum in a resealable plastic bag of ice cubes to harden it. Chip gum away with a spoon or a dull knife. Vacuum and clean any stains that have remained using a dry-solvent carpet cleaner, following the product’s usage instructions.

Urine

To remove urine stains from the carpet, start by blotting up as much of the liquid as possible. Following the manufacturer’s instructions, use an enzymatic cleanser. Enzymes in this sort of carpet cleaning solution not only dissolve the stain but also eliminate both smell and odor.

Wine or juice

Start by spritzing with club soda if you spill any of these colors: red wine, white wine, grape juice, or another bright beverage. Blot the stain using a clean microfiber cloth until it is gone.