5 Stains You Didn’t Know You Could Get Out of Your Carpet

Most of us have had the misfortune of spilling something awful onto our carpets. From spilled wine to smashed pizza, sometimes it feels like no matter how hard we try, our carpets are doomed to a lifetime of stains. But did you know that you can defeat some seemingly impossible stains using common household items?

Many assume it’s impossible to get out once a stain has been set on the carpet. Fortunately, this isn’t always true.

In this article, we’ll discuss five common types of stains that you may have thought were permanent but can be easily removed from your carpet.

1. Coffee

Let’s start with the habitual culprit — Coffee. Many people who work from home in Birmingham or spend a lot of time at home may find that they’re drinking more coffee than ever. Chances are, you’ve spilled some on your carpet.

It happens to all of us. You’re enjoying your morning cup of joe, and suddenly it slips from your hands and lands with a splash on the carpet. You go into panic mode, trying to figure out how to get the coffee stain out without permanently damaging the fibers or color of your precious carpet.

Well, fear not! There are quite a few ways to tackle those pesky coffee stains. From baking soda solutions to club soda mixtures, you’ll be able to effectively remove that coffee stain in no time — allowing you more time for better activities like taking another sip of that delicious cup of java!

How to Use Baking Soda to Remove Coffee Stains from Carpet:

• Mix ¼ cup of baking soda with ½ cup of water.
• Pour the solution onto the coffee stain until it is saturated.
• Scrub gently with a toothbrush or your finger.
• After you have scrubbed the area, blot it with a clean cloth to absorb the mixture.
• Repeat if necessary.

2. Grease

Grease can leave big, dark stains on your carpets, making them look dingy and unappealing. But don’t worry – there’s hope! Hope may seem like too much of a word, but not for “Neat Freaks.”

You can easily remove those greasy patches from your carpet with simple household items and some elbow grease (pun indeed intended).

• First, start by blotting the grease with kitchen paper towels to absorb as much oil as possible.
• Then make a solution using warm water and laundry detergent, then use it to scrub the stain with a brush for extra effectiveness.
• If this doesn’t do the trick, spray a degreaser like WD-40 onto the affected area and let it sit for five minutes. You will find it in most hardware stores in Birmingham, AL.
• Scrub it off with a cloth dampened in hot soapy water.

3. Ink

Does it feel like you’ve been cursed with the eyes of a hawk, always spotting that one ink stain that won’t seem to go away no matter how hard you scrub and scour? If you spend your days counting down the minutes until the ink finally fades, take heed!

Here are some time-tested methods to help get those pesky ink stains out of your carpet in no time.

The first step is prevention. To prevent these rogue stains from appearing in the future, cover up your carpet with an old sheet or blanket when working on projects involving pens or markers (or, heck, even crayons!).

And when misfortune strikes, never fear! You can usually remove “most” ink stains from carpets with simple household items like rubbing alcohol, vinegar, hairspray, and shaving cream.

Alcohol

• Blot up as much ink as possible with a clean white cloth or paper towel.
• Apply some rubbing alcohol to the stained area and continue blotting until all of the ink is gone.

Vinegar

• Mix water and vinegar in equal parts in a bowl and use it to dampen a cloth before dabbing at the stain.
• Once the ink is gone, rinse any residue with lukewarm water.
• Let your carpet dry completely before putting any furniture back on it!

Shaving Cream

• Grab some shaving cream and spray it liberally over the stain.
• Use a dry cloth/paper towel to gently rub away at the stain until it has faded.

4. Mud

Mud stains on the carpet can be one of the most frustrating and embarrassing things to deal with. They’re stubborn, seem nearly impossible to get out, and make your living room look like a muddy mess. But fear not!

Here’s how to turn your carpet from mucky-muck back to squeaky clean in no time:

• First, ensure the mud is as dry as possible before removing it.
• Then create a mixture using one teaspoon of dishwashing detergent and warm water.
• Blot the solution onto the spot using a white cloth.
• Let the white cloth lift the stain.

5. Wine

You accidentally spill a glass of red wine on your rug and watch in horror as it soaks through the fibers, soaking in deeper and deeper. But don’t panic just yet! There are quite a few tricks that can make it look like nothing ever happened.

So pour yourself another glass of vino (just maybe not on your carpet this time) and read on for the following tip to help tackle that pesky wine stain.

• Mix one part of dishwashing soap with two parts of hydrogen peroxide.
• Apply the solution to the stain.
• Leave the solution for about 15 minutes.
• Blot the spot using soft paper or a white cloth.
• Repeat the steps for tougher stains.