How to Remove Old Carpet Stains Quickly and Easily

A carpet adds a lovely aesthetic touch to your home, but with carpeting comes the risk of staining. An important facet one should know is how to remove old stains from carpet. Whether it’s a home with pets, children or without them, at some point it is prone to at least one spill or smudge.

Sure acting instantly is one of the best things you can do for carpet stains, but let’s get real. Sometimes stains sit for ages before we attempt to clean them due to our busy lifestyles, and other times we only notice stains when we move the sofa for a deep clean- Frustrating isn’t it?

But we have some good news: you can remove old stains from carpet with some resourceful tips and methods that we are going to provide you in this blog. Keep reading!

Effective Methods to Remove Old Stains from Carpet

The Simplest Method to Remove Old Carpet Stains

Before reaching out for any carpet cleaning solution, try your luck with water. Sometimes that’s exactly what your old carpet stains need to vanish. Remember to not rub, but just blot the carpet gently with a slightly damn wet cloth.

Follow these three simple steps to effectively remove old stains from the carpet:

• Remove any excess stain as soon as possible by using a spoon or butter knife to scrape. Next, gently blot any liquid remaining with an absorbent cloth.
  Pro Tip: Work the cloth from the outside edge to the centre to ensure that the stain does not spread.
• If any stain remains don’t forget to spray a carpet stain remover. This could be a store bought carpet stain remover, or a natural homemade one with a vinegar solution. To make this homemade carpet stain remover, add a teaspoon of mild dishwashing soap into one quarter of warm water. Next, add one-fourth teaspoon of white vinegar and apply it directly to the carpet stain and let it sit for ten minutes.
  Pro Tip: Do not over-wet the stain, as this will damage the backing and fibres of the carpet. This also increases the chances of mould growth.
• Finally, blot the stain away with a clean, white absorbent cloth. Do this until you no longer see any stain on the cloth. Next, blot with cold water and then dry.
  Pro Tip: Drying is an essential part of the carpet cleaning process as this prevents mould growth. To dry the carpet thoroughly, cover it with a half inch thick cloth or paper towels. Place a heavy object on this cloth and keep changing until it is completely dry.

Ways to Remove Stubborn Old Stains from Carpet

Some old stains on carpet are stubborn and no matter how much water or carpet cleaning solution you use, you cannot seem to remove them, a.k.a they don’t budge. These top offenders are as follows:

• Water Based Stains
• Oil Based Stains
• Fat Based Stains
• Ink Stains
• Wax and Gum Stains
• Urine Stains

Here is how to remove these old stains from your carpet (in detail):

Stains like red wine, coffee and blood are water based and can leave a mark if they are merely treated with detergent and water. They require an additional active ingredient to get rid of.

In such a case, using a stain remover or soda water can be an effective way. Another great method is to pour salt all over these stains such that it soaks them up. If you want to know more ways on how to remove red wine carpet stains, read our previous blog.

Oil stains can look disastrous and be devastating if removed incorrectly. Here are a few steps you need to follow to remove them without further damaging your carpet:

• Take a paper towel, place it on the stained area on the carpet and blot as much as possible until the towel does not pick up any oil.
• Use a clean white cloth, pour some rubbing alcohol on it and blot the stained area. If this does not work, mix a small amount of washing liquid and water, dip this in the sponge and place directly on the stain.
• Finally, with the help of a damp sponge, rinse off any extra residue and leave your carpet to dry.

Butter, gravy or even margarine are considered fat-based stains. In order to remove these old stains from the carpet, sprinkle the baking soda on it and let it sit for a good six hours. Next, vacuum the carpet and blot it with a cloth that is made wet with rubbing alcohol.

To get rid of old ink stains from your carpet such as one from black pens or markers, make sure you spot treat.

• Start by first dabbing the ink spot with a dry cloth until the stain seems faded.
• Now, apply rubbing alcohol to a clean cloth and keep blotting the spot until it has come off. This is because alcohol loosens the stain. Make sure you don’t rub, just blot so you don’t risk spreading the stain.
• Finally, rinse the stained area with a clean and damp sponge, then blot with a dry cloth to soak up all the moisture.
• If this doesn’t work, try the salt method by covering the stain with a layer of salt and letting it sit for 8 hours or overnight. Lastly, vacuum the stained area the following day and much of the ink should be lifted due to the salt.

Tackling wax and gum stains is easy as long as you use the ice method.

• To do this, begin by wrapping some ice cubes in a thin cloth or plastic bag and press it on the stain. Leave this cloth or plastic bag full of ice in the same position as the wax or gum until it has frozen.
• Next, use a spoon or butter knife and scrape gently until you have peeled off the wax or gum from the carpet fibres.
• Specifically for the wax, place a cloth over the stained area and iron. You will notice the wax residue lift out of the carpet.
• Repeat this until all the wax has been removed.
• Next, rinse the stained area with a sponge dipped in a solution made with water and mild washing liquid to remove all the residue.
• Finally, pat the area dry with a clean cloth.

Old urine stains and odours are the hardest to remove from the carpet. Any natural homemade remedies might damage your carpet further which is why it is best to use an enzymatic cleanser, easily available at your local pet supply store or other natural retailers.

The Last Resort

You tried and tried and tried. But nothing seems to work, not the home remedies and not proven and tested methods. It can be really upsetting when old stains will simply not budge from the carpet. But fret not, that beautiful carpet of yours can be renewed and those ugly stains removed with our professional carpet cleaning service!

From the most advanced equipment to proficient experts to exemplary products, those stubborn stains don’t stand a chance with My Fair Cleaning. Contact us to remove them today!

Ali October 13, 2021 Carpet Stains