No matter how conscientious you may be about carpet care, accidents are bound to happen! You’ll want to act fast, so the more informed you are ahead of time, the less likely you are to accidentally make the stain worse.
In general, you’ll want to remove as much of the stain as possible, blot (don’t scrub) the spill, apply a homemade or store-bought cleaner, then blot again and dry. However, your specific cleaning method will vary, depending on the substance you’re cleaning. Here are tips for how to best clean 5 of the most common stains:
Chewing gum
Peel away as much of the gum as you can, then harden the remaining gum by applying a plastic bag of ice over it. The rest of the gum should chip away easily with a spoon or blunt knife. Run a vacuum over the spot to clean up the debris- and viola!
Urine
Even the most well-behaved house pet might have an accident on the carpet. Stay prepared by keeping an enzymatic cleaner on hand. An enzymatic cleaner is the only product that can break down the non-water-soluble components found in urine, such as uric acid. Apply the cleaner liberally, then allow proper ventilation to air dry. You can find an enzyme cleaner at the pet store. Be sure to purchase a quality one, which may be more expensive, but it’ll be more effective at removing the stain and odors.
Blood
For fresh stains, blot with cold water only. Warm water will set the stain. If the blood is already dried, we suggest using an enzyme cleaner.
Oil & Grease
After blotting away excess grease, try sprinkling salt, baking soda, or cornstarch on the affected area. Allow this to settle anywhere from 15 minutes, to overnight (the length of time varies on the extent of the spill). Vacuum the spot the next day.
Wine & Juice
In the event of a wine or juice spill, immediately pour club soda over the spill and blot with a clean paper towel. Repeat until the stain is gone.
In the event of a larger, more stubborn stain, remember to call you local steam cleaning company! Using professional-grade equipment and over a decade’s worth of experience, The Steam Team will work diligently to remove any stain that’s plagues your carpet- just make the call!
Expert Carpet Cleaning in the Central Texas and Austin Area
The Steam Team ( A Division of TST Restoration ) has been proudly serving the Austin and Central Texas area as part of the The Steam Team companies since 1983. We provide professional steam carpet cleaning services and a full range of residential and commercial cleaning and restoration services, including hard surface floor cleaning, fabric and upholstery cleaning, air duct cleaning and restoration and construction. We use the latest methods, including quick-dry steam carpet cleaning and state-of-the-art cleaning and drying equipment to provide you with a clean, healthy, and comfortable home or office that is Steam Team Clean. Because the next best thing to new is The Steam Team Clean!
