Unfortunately, not all carpet stains can be removed. Some oil-based stains, such as tar or gasoline, will be considerably harder to remove when it is already dried into the fibers of the carpet. These stains will also require some heavy-duty cleaning, which may even destroy the carpet if the fibers are too worn out. Therefore, it is best to act before the stain completely dries up, as most stains can be removed without heavy cleaning.

Most Common Types of Stains

Flavored drink stains (from juice, kool-aid, etc.) can be removed through the following steps:

1. Dab the stain with a dry towel without rubbing it in or spreading it around. Absorb as much of the liquid as you can.

2. Mix together 1/4 cup of white vinegar, one tablespoon of liquid dish soap, and one cup of water in a sprayer and spray on the stain. Let it sit for about 10 minutes.

3. Wipe the stain with a new dry towel.

* Warning: if the carpet is old and valuable, consult a professional as to not damage the carpet.

Coffee stains can be dangerous, meaning they can leave a permanent mark on your carpet unless they are treated before the coffee dries into the fibers. Follow these steps:

1. Dab the stain with a dry towel without rubbing it in or spreading it around. Absorb as much of the liquid as you can.

2. Mix together 1/4 cup of white vinegar, one tablespoon of liquid dish soap, and two cups of water in a sprayer and spray on the stain. Let it sit for about 25 minutes. Diluting the coffee stain works well in most cases, which is why you should add more water to the solution and wait a bit longer.

3. Wipe the stain with a new dry towel.

* Instead of trying the entire solution, try a little to see if there is any effect on the carpet. If you find that it does not help, run to the nearest store and buy a commercial mix for your type of carpet.

Additional Help

Can all carpet stains be removed? No, but most can be. If you feel like you need professional help, TalkLocal can help with finding the correct local experts in this case, saving you time and energy in what may be a stressful situation.

This entry was updated on Tuesday, July 7th, 2015 at 10:16 am. This entry was originally posted on Monday, December 31st, 2012 at 2:00 pm and is filed under Carpet Cleaners. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.