Carpet Care Spot Removal Tips:

1. Catch it while it's fresh, then first blot up all the liquid without spreading the stain.

2. Test any chemical you intend to use in a hidden area to make sure it won't discolor or damage the surface.

3. Apply spotter, and work from the outside of the stain in, to avoid spreading. Blot, don't scrub; strike with the flat surface of a spotting brush if needed to help break up the stain.

4. Rinse chemical spotters out with water, blot the area dry and feather the edges. Brush or fluff up pile or nap.

5. On carpet and upholstery, put a thick pad of toweling over the spot, weight it down with books, and leave it there overnight to "wick up" any remaining moisture.

Recommendations for a Few Common Problems:

Acid: Apply solution of baking soda and water until acid has been neutralized. Then apply ammonia solution and rinse with cold water.

Alcohol: Apply detergent solution. Blot. Apply vinegar solution. Blot. Bleach with hydrogen peroxide or sodium perborate if necessary. Rinse with cold water. Blot dry.

Blood: Scrape off dried blood and apply cool detergent solution. Blot. Apply cool ammonia solution. Blot. Rinse. Blot dry. If stain remains apply rust remover or bleach with hydrogen peroxide.

Candle Wax: Scrape off all you can. Ice cubes will make it brittle for easier scraping. Hot iron over absorbent cloth will melt and absorb remaining wax. Apply dry-cleaning solvent. Blot.

Chocolate: Scrape off all you can first. Sponge with dry-cleaning solvent. Blot. Sponge with detergent solution. Blot. Rinse. If stain remains, bleach with hydrogen peroxide.

Coffee: Blot with detergent solution. Rinse. Blot with vinegar; rinse; air-dry. If stain remains, sponge with dry-cleaning solvent. Bleach any remaining stain with hydrogen peroxide.

Crayon: Scrape off all you can. Hot iron over absorbent cloth will melt and absorb remaining wax. Apply dry cleaning solvent. Blot. Apply detergent solution. Rinse. Blot dry.

Grass: Apply detergent solution. Blot. Rinse. Blot. Apply ammonia solution. Blot. Apply vinegar solution. Blot. Rinse.

Gum: Use aerosol gum freeze or ice cubes to harden the gun and make it brittle, then strike and break into pieces. Scrape them up with a dull butter knife. Remove residue with dry-cleaning solvent.

Ink: Sponge with detergent solution; rinse. If stain remains, saturate with cheap hair spray and blot. If still there, try alcohol, acetone, or non-oily nail polish remover and a bleach safe for the fabric, in that order. If yellow stain remains, try rust remover.

Lipstick: Scrape off all you can, taking care not to spread the stain. Apply dry cleaning solvent and blot repeatedly until color is gone. Apply detergent solution. Blot. Apply ammonia solution. Blot. Rinse. Blot.

Mud: Allow to dry and vacuum or brush off as much as possible. Apply detergent or ammonia solution. Blot. Rinse. Blot dry. If stain remains, apply dry cleaning solvent. Blot dry.

Nail Polish: Blot acetone or non-oily nail polish remover through the stain into a clean absorbent pad. No acetone on acetate, modacrylic, silk, or wool... use amyl acetate, from a pharmacy. Flush with dry-cleaning fluid; air-dry.

Oil: Apply dry-cleaning solvent and work to the center to avoid a ring. Blot. Apply light detergent solution. Rinse. blot.

Paint/Varnish: Oil-based paint or varnish. If fresh, flush with mineral spirits; if dry, carefully soften it with lacquer thinner or paint stripper (test first for fabric damage) then flush with appropriate solvent.

Pet Stains: Blot out all liquid possible by placing a clean towel on the spot and standing on it. Apply bacteria/enzyme digester according to directions. When dry, remove any remaining stain with detergent solution; rinse.

Shoe Polish: Gently scrape off all you can, being extra careful not to spread the stain. Blot dry-cleaning solvent through the stain into a clean absorbent pad. Sponge with detergent solution; blot. Sponge with ammonia; rinse. If stain remains, try alcohol, then hydrogen peroxide.

Tar: Scrape up all you can, then remove residue by blotting with paint thinner or dry cleaning solvent. Blot with detergent solution; rinse, blot dry.

Shensco Disclaimer: If any of these "home remedy" techniques or cleaning solutions are used, user does so at their own risk, and Shen's is expressly released from any sort of liability arising from such use. Shen's does not recommend or suggest that any of these home remedies or chemicals be used on your carpets, upholstery or textiles. Every cleaning situation is unique and an IICRC Certified Professional Cleaning Technician should be hired to perform the removal or remediation of any problem.

4/3/00 Article Submitted by: Shen O, , Shen's Carpet Care