Getting Rid of that Spot on Your Carpet



If you've ever installed carpets in your home, you know what an expensive and difficult task it can be. Carpet can make your house feel warm and cozy, as well as being a practical floor covering and great alternative to expensive hardwood flooring. Keeping your new carpet clean, however, can be an even greater task than installing it. Aside from regular vacuuming and shampooing, there are also times when a stain can really affect the look of your floor.

Cleaning spills can be tricky, especially if you're unsure of the colorfastness of your carpet, or if you don't know how old the stain is. One of the first things you need to do, before even attempting to clean it, is to determine what kind of liquid or material made the stain. Your treatment for red wine stains, for example, is going to be different than if your child went crazy with a permanent marker. If the stain is older, you can usually still see what kind of stain it is by checking the color, and sometimes even smelling the stained area.

The second trick to cleaning that carpet stain is to blot. Never rub or brush a stain, no matter what it's made of. This will only serve to push the stain further into the nap of the carpet, as well as possibly spread the material further. If you're dealing with a red wine stain, here's a good process for removing it: blot up as much of the wine as possible with an absorbent cloth or paper towel. Then, purchase one of the many wine stain removers available at stores such as Wal-Mart, Target or home stores. Use according to directions, making sure not to brush the stain.

For families with kids, cleaning problems made with markers or other indelible inks may be a common occurrence. To get rid of these stains, fill a spray bottle with rubbing alcohol and spray onto the ink. Blot up until it's dry. You will have to repeat this process until the ink is gone (persevere and you will be rewarded!). As always, do not rub or brush the alcohol into the carpet, because this can just make the situation worse. Keeping your carpets clean and free of stains can be easy if you follow specific steps for getting rid of stains.