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Stain Removal Tips And Myths
New carpet seems to be a magnet for spills. And everybody has their own little carpet care tips and tricks.
Spill a glass of red wine at a party, and the air is full of contradictory advice:
“Baking soda and cold water!”
“Hot water, hot as you can get it – and quick!”
“A couple of drops of bleach!”
“Rub it, don’t dab it!”
“Dab it, don’t rub it!”
So what actually DOES work in terms of getting stains out of carpet?
Well, the first tip is to deal to the spill straight away. Contain the stain by blotting it up with a clean cloth or paper towel. Pick up any solid matter such as food straight away, preferably by scraping it up with a spoon or dull-edged knife (try not to push it down any further into the fibres). If you’ve got a really stubborn solid stuck in the carpet like chewing gum or candle wax, freeze it first using ice cubes then shatter it with a blunt object, before vacuuming away the loose bits. You should NEVER rub or scrub at the carpet, especially when it’s damp.
Once the stain has been blotted up as well as possible, apply either a wet stain remover or a dry stain remover depending on the type of stain. If you don’t have these products on hand, the next best thing is to apply lukewarm water (not hot – you don’t want to set the stain). Then, re-blot the stain and repeat, as many times as required until it’s gone. This is a slow process, but your best shot of getting whatever it is out of the carpet without a trace. Be very careful not to add too much water, as it can leave water stains and even damage the carpet backing. If the water alone isn’t working, you can try a few drops of dishwashing liquid in a cup of lukewarm water, as long as you wash it away using the water blotting technique afterwards.
Approved carpet care products are the only substance you should ever really put on your carpet – forget all the home remedies and wives tales. If you can’t get the stain out using the methods detailed above, your best option is to then consult a carpet cleaning company.
The safest way to protect your carpet from permanent signs of spillage is to make sure you’ve got the appropriate cleaning products ready to go in case of emergency. A first-aid kit for your carpet, if you like!
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