Removing Pet, Ink and Alcohol Stains on Carpets
When the carpet gets stained, you need to act immediately. But that doesn’t
mean you have to rush to the retail store and buy some specialized cleaning
product. Right at your home, you may have most, if not all, of the stuff you’ll
be using for the cleanup. These include such regular household chemicals as
rubbing alcohol, vinegar, baking soda, detergents and lemon juice.
Below are some tips for removing pet stains and two other common types of
spatters on carpets, ink stains and beer or wine stains
Pet Stains
You can use any of the following three solutions.
Your first option is to spray or apply a mixture of one teaspoon of clear,
household ammonia and half a cup of cold water on the affected area. Take care
not to wet the carpet’s backing. Blot with paper towels and allow the carpet to
dry thoroughly.
You can also use a solution of hand or dish soap, instead of ammonia. Mix a
quarter of a teaspoon of the soap to one quart water. Use detergent that doesn’t
have lanolin or bleach as an ingredient.
Your third, and possibly best option, is to rewet the stain with plain water to
make removal possible. Steam cleaners do well on most types of pet stains. Then
let the area you worked on dry completely.
Ink Stains
Pour some isopropyl rubbing alcohol onto a clean white cloth or towel and blot
the stain using the cloth or towel. Paper towels will do as well, as long as
they are white. If the area covered by the stain is small, blot only in one
direction to prevent horizontal spreading.
Beer and Wine Stains
Spray a mixture of one part water and one part white vinegar onto the stain
until saturated. Let the stain with the solution sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Rub
with a sponge, then rinse with warm water. Comb the carpet pile back to the
original direction of its bend with a brush. Cover the stain with several layers
of paper towel and place a flat weight on to. Give time to allow everything to
dry. |
