The vast majority of us have, at some point, spilled something on our flooring. Luckily, floor covering like tiles, wooden floors and laminate flooring are good as new after a quick wipe with a cloth or mop, and some cleaning solution. Unfortunately, the resolution isn’t always quite as easy when it comes to carpets.
Although some spills and stains will no doubt have to be corrected by a carpet specialist, there are a number of things you can try and some tips you can follow to clear up most stains by yourself. So don’t panic! See our advice below for more information:
First – The tools:
- It’s helpful to have a clean cloth at hand, to help wipe up any spillages
- Detergent solution can be mixed with water, and will often bring up any remaining marks
- If a simple detergent solution doesn’t do the trick, you can try a dry cleaning solution, detergent vinegar solution or ammonia solution.
Just remember – don’t use anything that is likely to damage or further stain / bleach your carpet. The last thing you want to do is make it any worse!
Helpful Tips:
- Always make sure to avoid over-wetting your carpet. This can cause any remaining liquid or other substance to leak into surrounding material, and can damage underlay and other backing materials if they are made too wet.
- If you are using a solution or detergent that you haven’t used before, make sure you test it on a smaller area of carpet first – ensure that it won’t damage your carpet any further.
- Use any cleaning products at the diluted rate stated on the packaging.
- Blot the stain with the cloth and cleaning liquid you are using. Never rub or scrub, this will only make the problem worse.
- Always work from the outside of the stain, slowly moving in to avoid spreading it into the surrounding carpet.
- Apply your cleaning solution to the material or cloth you are using to clean the spill or stain, not directly to the carpet.
- It always helps to make sure the carpet dries out quickly – you can even use a hairdryer on a low heat.
- Finally, always deal with stains as quickly as you can. The longer you leave them, the harder they will be to remove.
For more tips and advice on carpets, please see the rest of our website.
