Carpet Spot Cleaning Procedures Guide

You are throwing a very successful party and everyone is having a fabulous time on the new light gray carpet in your home (the kind that shows stains real easy). Of course, someone will inevitably spill something that immediately stains it. You have to do something in this event quickly.

Successfully removing carpet spots requires prompt action—as prompt as possible. So how do you get that spot out? The answer is, “it depends.” It depends on what was spilled on the carpet. It also depends on how long it has been on the carpet.

If you don’t know what caused the spot, then you need to first try to remove as much of the substance as you can by scraping it with a dull knife (if it is caked on) or by blotting with a white paper towel. Make sure the paper towel is white as any other color might bleed onto the carpet when it contacts with the substance.

Next, apply some isopropyl alcohol to a white clean cloth, cotton ball, or white paper towel. Don’t soak too much alcohol into the spot as some could get on the latex bond in the carpet and destroy it. Rub the spot in a unidirectional motion (never circular as this could do more damage). Stop when the spot is gone.

If you know the spot is water-based, blot up as much of the spot as you can. Wet vacuums are good if the amount of liquid spilled is large. If it so happens that the spot has already dried you will need to wet it again with tap water. Don’t use too much tap water and allow what you use to remain on the spot for one minute. Blot it with a white cloth or white paper towel after one minute. Use a brick and paper towel on the spot after blot drying.

This last procedure is used if the two above do not work. You will once again have to blot the spot up with a white paper towel if wet or scrape with a dull knife if caked and dry. Next, you will use a small amount of detergent on the spot and blot (using a blotting motion) until the spot is gone. Keep using either a white cloth or white paper towel for the blotting and do not use a circular motion. Then take a spray bottle with tap water and apply to the location blotting it to remove the excess moisture. Spray again lightly and the apply paper towels and a brick to let it dry.

If a stain is left on the carpet, then you can take a three percent solution of hydrogen peroxide and water and rewet the stain. Keep blotting and applying the solution until the stain is gone. No need to rinse the peroxide since light will turn it into water. Dry by putting a brick on top of a padding of paper towels.

The above procedures should work in most cases. Just remember to be very careful to test your solutions of detergent or peroxide in a small area. If it still doesn’t work then you may need to bring a professional.

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