How to Get Stains Out of Carpet [Cheap and Quick]

Regardless of how careful you are or how often you clean your home; carpet stains happen. No matter what you do, at some point, you will want to tackle the stains you have put off for a while.

When it comes to cleaning stains out of your carpet; don’t panic and start scrubbing away because every stain is different and requires unique attention to draw it out of the carpet fibers. Specific stains only get worse with vigorous scrubbing whereas some need that. Some stains do best with oil or fat to remove it, and others go best with harsh chemicals.

Vinegar For All Purpose Stains

 Vinegar is great at removing a wide variety of stains from the carpet.  The acidity in vinegar allows it break up most kinds of stains ranging from light juice and soda to red wine and coffee. It’s always best to get a stain as soon as it happens but vinegar works excellent on accrued stains such as mud and dirt along heavily walked areas.

Here are a few different ways vinegar can remove stains from your carpet:

For red wine or dark juice

• Combine two tablespoons of salt with a half cup of white vinegar.
• Scrub the stains using a toothbrush for at least five minutes.
• Once, the stain has lifted, and the area has dried vacuum the area.
• If the stain persists – consider adding a small amount of cornstarch to the mixture to thicken it up.

For coffee

• Combine two cups of white vinegar with two cups of hot water and pat until the stain lifts entirely from the carpet.
• Continue this process until the stain is removed.

For dirt and mud

• Mix one tablespoon of vinegar and one tablespoon of cornstarch.
• Stir the mixture until it thickens up.
• Using a clean cloth, vigorously scrub the stain in up and down motions.
• Let the area rest for twenty-four hours and then vacuum it up.

Carpet Cleaner

The most obvious and effective way of getting a nice deep clean on your carpet is through a carpet cleaner machine.  This is useful for much larger stained areas and dirty carpeting.  If you have an older carpet and it’s been awhile since you’ve had it seriously cleaned, it might be beneficial for you to shampoo the entire thing, instead of spot cleaning the whole house.

Here are the steps you need to follow to shampoo your carpet:

• Consider moving your furniture out of the way. If the water or shampoo soaks into any wooden furniture, it could permanently damage it. You also have to work around the furniture so it’s best to move anything you can out of the room.
• If you decide to leave any furniture in the room, consider covering the legs of tables or chairs with garbage bags or plastic wrap. This strategy protects them while you shampoo the carpeting.
• Before shampooing makes sure, you vacuum the rug well. You do not want to shampoo over any debris or large patches of dirt. Once you have a clean carpet, you can also get an idea of where the worst stains are, so you can make sure to tackle those spots.

Now that you have done all the necessary preparations let’s look towards the shampooer:

• Review the manual, so you understand how everything works. Some shampooers operate similar to a vacuum, and some act entirely different, so it helps to know, so you get the most use out of it.
• Follow the instructions and fill the shampooer with water.
• Add the desired soap. Use the manual to decide what kind of detergent you should use for the type of shampooer you have. The manufacturers have recommendations.
• Start shampooing and be patient. Shampooers work best if you move slow and steady. When finished, empty the water wastebasket outside. If possible, try to avoid dumping the water down a sink or toilet – you can clog the drain by doing that.
• Ventilate the room and let it dry for a few hours before moving your furniture back in.

We covered the two best ways of removing stains from your carpet. For small spot stains, vinegar is an inexpensive way to pull stains from your rugs easily. For thick, more heavy stains a carpet shampooer is a worthwhile investment.

Follow the steps above, and you should have no problem getting your carpet back in tip-top shape.