DIY Solutions For Any Carpet Stain

by | Jun 14, 2021 | Carpets

DIY Solutions for Carpet Stains

The bad news is spills happen. At CFS Inc, we know whether it’s muddy paws, errant glasses of juice or slightly exuberant wine; no matter how careful you are, accidents happen. The good news, there are DIY solutions for any carpet stain. The best part, they can be whipped up at a moment’s notice with ingredients you likely already have on hand. Once you’ve determined what kind of carpets or rugs you are dealing with, clean up can be as close as your own kitchen. 

DIY Cleaning Solutions – Synthetic Carpets

  • Detergent Solution: 
    ¼ teaspoon of a translucent liquid dishwashing detergent, such as Dawn or Joy and
    1 cup of lukewarm water
    Mix together in a bowl or bucket and blot the stain with a clean cloth dipped in the solution. 
  • Vinegar solution:
    1 cup of white vinegar
    2 cups of water
    Mix together in a bowl or bucket and blot the stain with a clean cloth dipped in the solution. 
  • Solvent solution:
    Oil solvent or non acetone nail polish remover
    Blot the stain with a clean cloth dipped in the solvent

DIY Cleaning Solutions – Natural-Fiber Carpets

  • Detergent solution:
    1 teaspoon of translucent liquid dishwashing detergent, such as Dawn or Joy
    1 cup of lukewarm water

Place the solution in a spray bottle, mist the stain then blot dry. 

  • Vinegar solution:
    ¼ cup of white vinegar
    ¼ cup of water
    Place the solution in a spray bottle, mist the stain then blot dry. 
  • Ammonia solution: 

1 tablespoon of clear household ammonia
½ cup of lukewarm water
Place the solution in a spray bottle, mist the stain then blot dry. 

  • Solvent solution:
    Oil solvent or non acetone nail polish remover
    Blot the stain with a clean cloth dipped in the solvent

Food and Drink Stains 

  1. Dip a white cloth or print free paper towel into the DIY detergent solution for the type of carpet you have and dab the stain repeatedly. 
  2. Wait 15 minutes to break down the stain, then soak up the excess liquid with a dry white cloth.
  3. Next, Dip a clean white cloth into the vinegar solution and dab repeatedly.
  4. Wait another 15 minutes. The vinegar will remove the residual detergent to prevent it from attracting dirt, so don’t skip this step!
  5. Rinse the stain by blotting with a cloth soaked in lukewarm water. 
  6. As long as you see the stain lightening, repeat these steps until it is gone.

For ketchup, Gatorade, Kool-Aid, and tomato sauce stains:

Follow steps 1 through 5 (above), but substitute the ammonia solution for the vinegar solution in step two. 

For Oil and Grease Stains:

Follow the instructions below to treat butter, salad dressing, cheese, eggnog, cooking oil, tree sap, crayon, lotion, mascara, lipstick, and nail polish stains with your homemade carpet stain remover.

  • Synthetic-fiber carpets and rugs
    • Apply a small amount of homemade carpet cleaning solvent to a white cloth. Dab repeatedly, then blot the spot for a few seconds.
    • Rinse by blotting with a white cloth soaked in lukewarm water.
    • Wait one hour or until the carpet completely dries. If the stain is getting lighter, repeat until the stain is removed.
  • Natural-fiber carpets and rugs
    • Apply a small amount of solvent to a white cloth, then blot.
    • Spray the stain with detergent solution, then blot with a dry white cloth.
    • Spray the stain with lukewarm water, then blot with a dry white cloth.
    • Wait one hour or until the carpet completely dries. If the stain is getting lighter, repeat these steps until it is gone.

For Dirt and Mud:

  • Synthetic-fiber carpets and rugs
    • Vacuum or remove as much excess dirt as possible before cleaning spots. 
    • Dip a white cloth into the detergent solution for synthetic-fiber carpets and dab repeatedly, then press the cloth on the spot for a few seconds.
    •  Wait 15 minutes, then soak up the excess liquid with a dry white cloth.
    • Dip another dry white cloth in lukewarm water and dab repeatedly, then press it on the spot for a few seconds.
  • Natural-fiber carpets and rugs
    • Vacuum or remove as much excess dirt as possible before cleaning spots.
    • Spray the stain with the detergent solution for natural-fiber carpets, then blot with a dry white cloth.
    • Spray the stain with the vinegar solution for natural-fiber carpets, then blot with a dry white cloth.
    • Reapply the detergent solution, then blot with a dry white cloth.
    • Spray the stain with lukewarm water, then blot with a dry white cloth.

For Chewing Gum and Wax 

  • For any type of carpet or rug
    • Gently rub the spot with a Ziploc bag filled with ice cubes until the stain hardens. Shatter it with a blunt object, such as a spatula and vacuum up the chips.
    • Apply a small amount of solvent with a white cloth, then blot.
    • Rinse by blotting with a cloth soaked in lukewarm water.

For Ballpoint Ink and Markers :

  • Synthetic-fiber carpets and rugs
    • Apply a small amount of solvent to a white cloth, then blot. Wait 15 minutes to dry; repeat if necessary.
    • Dip a white cloth into the detergent solution and dab repeatedly, then press the cloth on the spot for a few seconds. 
    • Wait 15 minutes, then soak up the excess liquid with a dry white cloth.
    • Rinse by blotting with a white cloth soaked in lukewarm water.
  • Natural-fiber carpets and rugs
    • Apply a small amount of solvent to a white cloth, then blot.
    • Spray the stain with the detergent solution for natural-fiber carpets, then blot with a dry white cloth.
    • Spray the stain with ammonia solution for natural-fiber carpets, then blot with a dry white cloth.
    • Spray the stain with vinegar solution for natural-fiber carpets, then blot with a dry white cloth.
    • Reapply the detergent solution, then blot with a dry white cloth.
    • Spray the stain with water, then blot with a dry white cloth.

For Pet Messes:

  • Synthetic-fiber carpets and rugs
    • Dip a white cloth into the detergent solution for synthetic-fiber carpets and dab repeatedly, then press the cloth on the spot for a few seconds.
    • Wait 15 minutes, then soak up the excess liquid with a dry white cloth.
    • Dip the cloth into vinegar solution for synthetic-fiber carpets and dab repeatedly, then press the cloth on the spot for a few seconds. Wait another 15 minutes.
    • Wait one hour or until the carpet dries completely. 
    • If the stain is getting lighter, repeat the first three steps until the stain is gone.
  • Natural-fiber carpets and rugs
    • Spray the stain with the detergent solution for natural-fiber carpets, then blot with a dry white cloth.
    • Spray the stain with ammonia solution for natural-fiber carpets, then blot with a dry white cloth.
    • Spray the stain with vinegar solution for natural-fiber carpets, then blot with a dry white cloth.
    • Reapply the detergent solution, then blot with a dry white cloth.
    • Spray the stain with lukewarm water, then blot with a dry white cloth.

The Ultimate Stain Solution

Few things make a home look well cared for than clean stain free floors. If you’ve tried and tried but your carpet is beyond repair, give CFS Design Studio a call today. We have unique flooring solutions for every room in your home! From hardwood to carpet and tile, we’ve got you, and your floors covered.