Spot Removal Guide for Carpet

Step by step advanced treatment recommendations see bottom for spotting solutions.

Blood Cleaning

• Apply cool detergent solution, blot.
• Apply cool ammonia solution, blot.
• Apply enzyme detergent, blot.
• Rinse thoroughly with water, blot until dry.
• If stain remains, apply rust remover or oxalic acid solution.
• Bleaching with 3-5% hydrogen peroxide may be necessary.

Butter and Margarine Cleaning

• Apply dry-cleaning solvent, blot.
• Apply detergent solution, blot until dry.
• Apply vinegar solution, blot.
• Rinse with water, blot until dry.

Candle Wax Cleaning

• Scrape away as much wax as possible with spatula or dull knife.
• Apply dry cleaning solvent.
• Apply POG, blot
• Apply dry-cleaning solvent, blot.

*Refer to general recommendation for hot iron treatment of wax.

Ketchup and Tomatoe Sauce Cleaning

• Apply cool detergent solution, blot.
• Apply ammonia solution, blot.
• Apply enzyme detergent, blot.
• If stain remains, bleach with 3-5% hydrogen peroxide or sodium perborate.
• Rinse thoroughly with water, blot dry.

Chocolate Cleaning

• Scrape away as much as possible with spatula or dull knife.
• Apply cool detergent solution, blot.
• Apply ammonia solution, blot.
• Apply vinegar solution, blot.
• Apply enzyme detergent, blot.
• Rinse thoroughly with water, blot until dry.

Coffee Cleaning

• Apply detergent solution, blotting frequently.
• Apply vinegar solution, blot.
• Cover with dry towels until dry.

Crayon Cleaning

• Apply dry-cleaning solvent.
• Apply POG, blot.
• Apply dry-cleaning solvent, blot.
• Apply detergent solution, blot.
• Rinse with water, blot until dry.

Food Colouring Removal

• Apply detergent solution, blotting frequently. A dried stain of food colouring will most likely spread when wet. Repeat until colour is no longer transferred to towel.
• Apply ammonia solution, blot.
• Rinse thoroughly with water, blot until dry.

Furniture Stain Removal

• Apply dry-cleaning solvent.
• Apply POG, blot.
• Apply dry-cleaning solvent, blot.
• Apply detergent solution, blot.
• Rinse with water, blot until dry.

Unfortunately, a furniture stain is nearly impossible to remove completely.

Grass Stain Cleaning

• Apply amyl acetate if available to remove chlorophyll, blot.
• Apply enzyme detergent, blot.
• Rinse with water, blot.
• Apply ammonia solution, blot.
• Apply vinegar solution, blot.
• Rinse with water, blot until dry.

Bleaching or professional stripping may be necessary.

Cleaning Ink (Ballpoint)

• Apply dry-cleaning solvent.
• Apply POG, blot.
• If stain remains, apply rust remover or oxalic acid solution.

Cleaning Ink (India)

• Apply dry-cleaning solvent.
• Apply POG, blot.
• Apply dry-cleaning solvent, blot.
• Apply detergent solution, blot.
• Apply ammonia solution, blot.
• Rinse with water, blot until dry.

Cleaning Jam and Jelly

• Apply detergent solution, blot.
• Apply vinegar solution, blot.
• Rinse with water, blot.
• Apply enzyme detergent, blot.
• Rinse with water, blot until dry.

Lipstick Removal

• Scrape off excess with spatula or dull knife.
• Apply POG, blot making sure not to reapply stain into fabric.
• Apply dry-cleaning solvent, blot.
• Apply detergent, blot.
• Apply ammonia solution, blot.
• Apply vinegar solution, blot.
• Rinse with water, blot until dry.

Try to avoid wet cleaning on wool.

Use POG and dry-cleaning solvents as long as possible.

Mildew Cleaning

• Apply enzyme detergent, blot.
• Apply ammonia solution, blot.
• Rinse thoroughly with water, blot.
• Apply solution of oxidizing bleach (chlorine or perborate) Do not use chlorine bleach on wool or silk.
• Rinse thoroughly with water, blot until dry.

Removing Mud

• Brush or scrape away as much excess mud as possible.
• Apply detergent solution, blot.
• Apply ammonia solution, blot.
• Rinse thoroughly with water, blot until dry.
• If stain remains, apply POG and dry-cleaning solvent alternately, blot until dry.

Mustard Removal

• Apply detergent solution, blot.
• Apply vinegar solution, blot.
• Apply enzyme detergent, blot.
• If stain remains, rust remover (Oxalic acid solution) or bleaching may be necessary.

Do not use ammonia or alkalies.

Nail Polish Removal

• Apply dry-cleaning solvent.
• Apply amyl acetate if available or nail polish remover -PRETEST INCONSPICUOUS AREA FIRST.
• If stain remains, apply detergent solution, blot until dry.
• Apply ammonia solution, blot.
• Apply vinegar solution, blot.
• Rinse with water, blot until dry.

Removing Paint (Oil based)

• Apply detergent solution, blot.
• Apply ammonia solution, blot.
• Rinse with water, blot until dry.
• Apply POG, blot.
• Apply dry-cleaning solvent, blot.

Removing Paint PAINT (Water based)

• Check label on paint or specific thinner or solvent OR
• Apply dry-cleaning solvent.
• Apply POG, blot.
• Apply dry-cleaning solvent, blot
• Alternate steps 2 and 3 until stain is removed.
• If stain persists, weight down the stain with towels dampened with dry-cleaning for several hours to loosen, blot with solvent.
• Apply several drops of detergent solution and work into the stain, blot.
• Apply ammonia solution, blot.
• Alternate steps 2 and 3 and 6 until stain is removed.

Rinse thoroughly with warm water, blot until dry.

Shoe Polish

• Apply dry-cleaning solvent.
• Apply POG, blot.
• Apply dry-cleaning solution, blot.
• Apply detergent solution, blot.
• Apply ammonia solution, blot.
• Rinse thoroughly with water, blot until dry.
• If stain persists, bleaching or professional stripping may be necessary.

Cleaning Urine

• Blot as much as possible if still wet.
• Apply detergent solution, blot.
• Apply ammonia solution, blot
• Apply vinegar solution, blot.
• Rinse thoroughly with water, blot until dry.
• If stain remains, apply rust remover or oxalic acid solution.
• Bleaching with 3-5% hydrogen peroxide or sodium perborate might be necessary.

Urine stains may cause permanent dye removal from fibers.

Vomit Cleaning

• Blot as much as possible.
• Apply enzyme detergent, blot.
• Apply ammonia solution, blot.
• Apply vinegar solution, blot.
• Rinse with water, blot until dry.

Wine Removal

• Apply detergent solution, blot.
• Apply vinegar solution, blot.
• Apply ammonia solution, blot.
• If necessary, bleach with 3-5% hydrogen peroxide or sodium perborate.
• Rinse thoroughly with water, blot until dry.

(If all else fails, switch to Chardonnay)!!

Spotting Solutions

• AMMONIA SOLUTION

- Mix one tablespoon of clean household ammonia with one-half cup of water.

• BLEACH -

Use hydrogen peroxide or sodium perborate (present in Snowy or Clorox II).

DO NOT use chlorine bleach.

• DETERGENT SOLUTION -

Mix one teaspoonful of a colorless, mild detergent or dishwashing liquid in a cup of lukewarm water.

• DRY-CLEANING SOLVENT -

Volatile dry spotter or a commercial spotter such as Thoro, Energize, K2R. Use in small amounts…can be harmful in sizing, backings or stuffing material.

DO NOT use gasoline, lighter fluid or carbon tetrachloride.

• POG -

Paint, oil and grease remover; available in hardware stores. Use extremely small amounts with extreme caution!