How to Remove the Top 5 Most Common Stains

How to Remove the Top 5 Most Common Stains

We get asked all the time, "what are the most common stains you deal with?" and "how can I try and get rid of them on my own?"... Well, here are the top 5 most common stains and our recommendations on how to try and remove them before giving us a call!

We can all imagine a time when we accidentally spilled something and dreaded looking down to see the damage left behind. If you're in between cleanings or want to try and clean up some stains left behind before bringing in an expert, here are a few tips to try!

TOP 5 STAINS

1. Kool-Aid

We can already see it now- a sticky, red sugary drink trying to be dabbed up with a towel… and then a faint red blob left behind to be covered by a couch or table. But it's still there. Here's how you can try and kick that stain to the curb:

• Blot the area first with a clean towel, but make sure not to scrub. This can ruin your carpet fibers.
• Mix 1/4 cup of white vinegar, 1 tbsp. of dish soap, and water in a spray bottle. Spray the area liberally and let soak for 5-10 minutes and then blot again with a clean, dry towel until stain is removed. Don't over soak the area because that can cause the stain to spread to other areas of the carpet!
• Once the stain is no longer visible, apply cold water directly to the area to rinse the carpet.
• Blot up any remaining moisture and avoid stepping on the affected area until the carpet is dry.

2. Pet Stains

Pet stains are just part of being a pet parent. We love them and no matter how much we don't like cleaning up after them, we do it anyway.

• Clean up the initial mess. If it's wet, blot up any moisture without smearing or rubbing. Blot repeatedly until the carpet is almost dry to the touch.
• Mix a solution of 2 cups of warm water, 1 tablespoon of salt, 1 tablespoon of liquid dish soap, and 1/2 cup of vinegar. Dip a soft cloth or sponge into the mixture and apply to the soiled area. Blot lightly. You may need to do this a couple of times to remove a tough stain.
• To neutralize odor, try using white vinegar (you may also substitute white vinegar for white wine). Mix 1/4 cup of vinegar with a quart of warm water and spritz on the stain. Allow the vinegar spray to soak for several minutes and then proceed to blot until dry to the touch.
• Another method is to mix a quart of water with a stain-fighting laundry detergent in a spray bottle, then spray it on the spot. Allow this mixture to soak for a few minutes, then blot, rinse with warm water, and repeat as necessary.
• Skip steps 2-4 and just call us :)

3. Coffee

There's nothing worse than spilling coffee when you're already late for work or dropping off the kids at school. Aside from trying to get it out of your shirt, try this tip for your carpet:

• Blot up as much of the coffee as you can.
• Mix 1/2 tsp of liquid dish soap and 1/2 tsp of white vinegar, and 2 cups of warm water.
• Using a clean, white cloth, sponge the stain with the mixture. Apply a little bit at a time, blotting frequently with a dry cloth until the stain disappears.

4. Blood

However it got there, blood is a pain to remove from carpet. You can try using hydrogen peroxide but if you don't have any in the house there are other alternatives, too!

• Test hydrogen peroxide in a hidden spot first to make sure it doesn't change the color of the carpet.
• If you don't notice any color changes, dip a cotton swab in hydrogen peroxide and apply it carefully to the stain.
• Rinse with a wet cloth and air dry.

Alternative:

• When treating blood spots on carpets, always use cold water instead of warm or hot water. Blood easily coagulates with heat and cold water will prevent the blood from permeating into the carpet fibers.
• Fill a spray bottle with 2 tsp. of a grease-fighting, liquid dish detergent, and cold water, then spray on the stain. Liberally moisten it so that the stain is entirely soaked. Then use a paper towel or a dry white cloth to blot the spot. Rinse with cold water and repeat if necessary.
• If the stain is pretty stuck you might try OxiClean^®. It's bleach-free and with its abilities to oxygenate most carpet stains, it is ideal for bloodstains. Although OxiClean^® needs warm water to be diluted, you can use cold water and mix as well as possible. Apply on the blood-stained carpet using a bottle or by dropping some on the spot. Blot until dry, rinse, and repeat if necessary.
• Bear in mind, removing blood stains may take persistence and a combination of all these steps. After several tries, your carpet should look like new again.

5. Ink

We've all been there when our kids' school project didn't quite make it onto the construction paper… but rather our white carpets. Here's how to easily remove marker and ink so your kiddos can score an A+ on their project and you can score an A+ for a clean home!

• Dampen a clean white cloth with isopropyl alcohol. The higher the percentage of the active ingredient, the better it will work.
• Dab the wet cloth on the stain and be careful not to rub or scrub! Let it stand for a few minutes and then use a liquid-friendly vacuum to remove the excess moisture.
• You may need to treat the stain with alcohol again. Some white wines and vinegars may be used as well.
• When using any of these options, rinse with water, then blot or vacuum dry until the spot is dry.
• Be sure to always perform a test on an out-of-sight area of carpet to make sure these cleaning solutions won't damage your carpet.

If the above solutions don't quite work out for you and you're still struggling to get out that stain, it may be time to call in the experts. At Zerorez, we pride ourselves on a cleaning and stain removal process that uses no harsh chemicals, soaps, or detergents. Give us a call today and let us tackle those tough stains!