Spot Removal

There is a right way and a wrong way to cleanup accidental spills on your carpet. What you should not do is just as important as what you should do. Today’s new carpets resist spots much better than those manufactured even a few years ago. However, they are still susceptible to spots and should be treated quickly to avoid a permanent stain.

Step 1: Blot up as much of the spill as you can. Make sure you blot - don’t scrub. Scrubbing will only work the spill deeper into the fiber, and may leave a wear mark. Use a white paper or white cotton towel to blot. Fold the towel and press it into the spill. Rotate the towel often so a clean surface is always against the carpet. Continue to blot until no more of the spill transfers to the towel. Remove any solid material with a rounded spoon or the edge of a dull knife.

Step 2: Cover the blotted area with a fresh white towel. Weight the towel with something that will not transfer color to the carpet or towel. Leave this in place for 15-20 minutes to remove any remaining spill. Should the carpet remain stained by the spill, go to step three.

Step 3: Spotting the remaining stain in your carpet requires care and patience. You cannot apply most household cleaners to the stain without further damaging the carpet. Many common cleaners contain dyes that will discolor the carpet, or chemicals that will permanently set the stain. If you can locate the literature you received when you bought the carpet it should contain spotting procedures for you to follow.

If not, you can attempt to remove most common household spills with the following procedure. Mix a teaspoonful of colorless, mild detergent in a cup of lukewarm water. To test the safety of the solution apply several drops to an inconspicuous area (closet, under a couch) and rub gently with a clean white towel. Do not proceed if any carpet color transfers to the towel or if the carpet’s color changes. Try an alternate cleaner, or call a professional.

If the test is successful, spot the stain by alternately applying a few drops of cleaner followed by blotting. Always blot, never scrub, and do not over wet. Work from the outer edge of the stain to the center. Continue this process until the stain is gone or no more color transfers to the white towel. The final step is to gently rinse the area with clear water, then absorb all the remaining moisture with absorbent towels.