Best Carpet Stain Removers
Perhaps you are wondering, “What is the best carpet stain remover?” If so, then this article is for you! Many people don’t realize how difficult it can be to keep your carpets clean due to all the foot traffic that they endure. In addition, not everyone knows what a great cleaner or carpet cleaner is. Sometimes spills and stains do happen no matter how hard we try to avoid them.
To have a clean home with spotless carpets, it’s important to have a good amount of knowledge about cleaning products and which ones work the best. This list will hopefully help you out when deciding on which one works best for your particular situation.
1. Baking soda: One of the simplest (not to mention cheapest) ways to remove stains from your carpet is through baking soda. Sprinkle enough baking soda onto the stained area until it is dusted with an even coating. Allow sitting for 15 minutes before vacuuming up.
2. Hydrogen peroxide: For light-colored carpets, hydrogen peroxide is an excellent choice as it reacts with the carpet’s fibers and lifts out dirt without adding any color change or other hint that you had a stain there in the first place. Once again, using a clean white cloth, apply directly to the affected area, dry overnight or at least 12-24 hours depending on traffic levels, and vacuum thoroughly.
3. Shaving cream: Similar to hydrogen peroxide, shaving cream also reacts to the carpet’s fibers and lifts out dirt while leaving a nice scent behind that won’t compete with your cologne or perfume. Spray the shaving cream onto the stained area and allow it to sit for 20 minutes before brushing off with an old toothbrush or fingernail brush, then vacuum up.
4. Comet powder cleaner: Mix equal parts comet powder cleaner with warm water in a bucket, apply directly to the affected area using a clean white cloth and scrub until removed, then allow to dry overnight or at least 12-24 hours depending on traffic levels, then vacuum thoroughly. Be sure not to use too much water as you want, just enough to be able to work it into the carpet and lift out as much dirt as possible without having puddles of water left behind.
5.Bissell Oxy Pro Heavy-Duty Oxygen Based Carpet Cleaner: Bissell makes a variety of carpet cleaners, and this one is their heavy-duty cleaner, which comes in powder form and, once added to waterworks, breaks down soil deep into the pile and scrubbing it away for a thorough clean. There is also an added oxygen action that will break down even the most difficult stains. It works by gentle abrasion to lift tough stains without damaging your carpet fibers, leaving it looking cleaner and feeling softer to touch.
It contains no harsh chemicals, so it is safe for all carpets and rugs, and you can use it on wool, cotton, etc., as well as colorfast fabrics too. You should notice a marked improvement in stain removal results after just one treatment with this powder, but for really stubborn stains, you may need to treat more than once. On lighter/older stains, you should be able to get good results by sprinkling directly onto the area, then brushing into the pile firmly using a stiff brush or cloth, leave for 20-30 minutes, then vacuum off. For tougher and fresher stains, you may need to soak the area first by soaking a cloth with cleaner and putting it directly onto the stain for around 30 seconds, blotting any excess away, and repeat if necessary.
6. Blot (don’t rub): This method works best for dried-in oil stains, grease, or other dark-colored stains that are easier to remove when gently lifted out rather than worked into the carpet fibers. Place an old white towel over the stain and press down firmly to blot up as much moisture as possible without rubbing it further into the carpet fibers. Once done, allow to sit for 10 minutes before repeating if necessary. Don’t be afraid of using multiple towels either, so long as you let them sit for a short period instead of aggressive rubbing.
7. Saltwater: The slight abrasive action of salt water can help lift out dirt and oil-based from your carpet, especially in conjunction with a scrub brush or towel. Start by mixing equal parts saltwater with enough hydrogen peroxide to create a nice thick paste. Then apply directly to the stained area before scrubbing gently until removed. Then allow to dry overnight or at least 12-24 hours depending on traffic levels, vacuum thoroughly.
8. Coffee: To get rid of coffee stains on your carpet, prepare a strong pot of coffee, let it cool for 10 minutes, pour some over the stain, and use an old toothbrush to scrub in a while, adding more coffee as needed so that it can soak through the fibers. Allow sitting for at least one hour before using the above shaving cream method, followed by blotting up excess moisture without rubbing it into fibers. Once done, air dry overnight or at least 12-24 hours depending on traffic levels, then vacuum thoroughly.
9. WD40: Works much like the shaving cream but for oil stains and can be used along with a scrub brush to maximize both cleaning efforts and drying time. It makes it ideal for a quick carpet fix before a party or other event where people will be walking across your carpets in heels, and possible spills could occur. Spray enough WD40 onto the stained area to saturate through all layers, then use a clean white towel to rub into the fibers before allowing them to sit for 20 minutes, blotting up as much excess moisture as you can without overly rubbing into fibers. Then, allow airing to dry overnight or at least 12-24 hours depending on traffic levels; vacuum thoroughly.
10. Vacuum cleaner: For stains that won’t come out, remove as much of the excess as possible with a shop vacuum cleaner or other suction-based machine and use this to suck up anything else stuck to the carpet fibers, such as dry debris, dirt, and grime. It’s also worth noting that using a shop vacuum cleaner before any of these methods can help loosen up tough old stains, so they’re easier to work out once scrubbed after being mixed into the cleaning solution.
You have to be careful when choosing a carpet stain remover. If you choose the wrong one, it will damage your carpet because of the chemicals in them.