Carpet Stain and Spot Removal Guide
Guidelines for Stain and Spot Removal from Carpets and Rugs
Blot thoroughly using a clean white terrycloth towel or absorbent blotting material. Continue shifting to clean dry areas of towel, applying downward pressure.
Though most of the carpets produced today are treated with stain-resistant treatments, no carpet can be said to be completely stain-proof. And the longer the stain remains in the carpet, the more permanently it sets in.
Never scrub or brush a stain
Scrubbing can harm the fibers and have the adverse reaction of making the stain set into the carpet or rug.
Scrape away the solid or semi-solid stain using a blunt spatula, bone scraper, or spoon.
Scrape and remove excessive stain using a blunt spatula, spoon, or bone scraper. Never use a knife because it might harm the fibers.
Vacuum carpet surface using a canister vacuum and hose (do not use an upright type of vacuum with a rotating brush, this only spreads the stain). Using the hose or hose end, gently work from the outer perimeter of the stain towards the center. Effectively reducing the diameter and eliminating the likelihood of spreading the stain. *Never use water to clean toner or soot from carpet because it only spreads and embeds the stain.
Follow the instructions carefully. Apply a few drops to each color in the carpet. Press a clean, white towel or napkin lightly over it for approximately 30 seconds. Check both the towel (or napkin) and the carpet for color transfer, color change, or any other damage. Try another spot removal product if you don’t notice any change.
To remove the stain, apply a small amount of stain remover to the soft, white, absorbent cloth and gently apply to the stain, working from the edges towards the center of the spot to prevent it from spreading. Continue as long as the stain is getting transferred onto the towel. Apply more solution to a fresh area on the towel and repeat the process as long as the stain is being removed.
In cases where you need to apply more than one stain remover in a sequence, continue applying the first spot removal agent as long as there is any improvement; then move on to the next one.
After the spill has been removed completely, rinse out the affected area with water and blot dry to remove the cleaning solution completely as any residue may attract soil and cause damage to the carpet. To effectively blot up the water, you may use clean, dry towels weighed down by flat, heavy objects like a book or block of wood; keep changing the towel as they become saturated.
Over-wetting of carpets while cleaning may cause damage to the carpet.