How to clean spots from carpet

Most household spills can be easily removed using the steps below.

Treatment of the stain should begin immediately upon discovery, as stain removal becomes more difficult with time. ​
​When shampooing your carpet do not use a Rug Doctor® or any kind of rental unit. Only hire a professional carpet cleaner.

To start, locate your stain on the common stains chart below and follow these steps:

• lift out as much solid material as possible
• Blot, don't scrub or use a brush
• Work on the outside first to the middle to prevent spreading
• Blot up liquid spills with a white towel or paper towel

For best results, try to remove the remaining stain with warm water only.

Procedure A (For water based, special water based and greasy, oil based stains)

• Mix a solution of 1/4 teaspoon of clear hand washing detergent with 1 cup of water.
• Apply directly to a white cloth and wipe on damped carpet. Avoid saturating the carpet by using small amounts and blotting frequently.
• Use warm water to rinse.
• Cover the spot with an absorbent white towel and apply pressure.
• Repeat all the rinsing and blotting with towel until all the detergent is removed.

If stain remains, Preform Procedure B (Procedure C is for coffee, tea, or urine)

Procedure B (Do NOT use on coffee, tea, or urine)

• Mix 2 tablespoons of non bleaching, non sudsing, household ammonia with 1 cup of lukewarm water.
• Apply, rinse and blot as outlined in procedure A.
• Do not dry with towels, but follow procedure C to neutralize the ammonia solution.

Procedure C (For coffee, tea, or urine)

• Mix 1/2 cup of white vinegar with 1 cup of lukewarm water.
• Apply, rinse and blot as outlined in procedure A.

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Common Stains Chart

Most Common Water Based stains
For these stains, start with Procedure A. If stain remains, complete Procedure B and C.
Alcohol - Baby formula - Beer - Blood
Candy - Chocolate milk - Clay - Cola
Cologne - Cranberry juice - Feces
Felt-tip marker - Food stains (general)
Fruit juice - Fruit punch - Furniture
polish (water-based) - Grape juice 
Graphite - Ice cream - Jelly Ketchup
Latex paint - Liquor - Milk -  Soft drinks
Soil spots - Syrup - Tomato juice - Vomit
Water colors - Watermelon - Whiskey Wine 

Special Water-Based Stains​
For these stains, start with Procedure A. If stain remains, complete Procedure C. Omit Procedure B. 
Coffee - Tea - Urine

Greasy, Oil-Based Stains
For these stains, use Goo Gone®. Follow directions on package, then complete Procedures A, Band C.
Butter - Chocolate - Cooking oil - Cosmetics
Crayon - Furniture dye - Furniture polish (oil-based)
Glue* - Gravy - Grease (black) - Gum*
Hand cream - Ink - Lipstick - Margarine
Mascara - Mayonnaise - Nail polish - Oil
Oil paint - Ointment - Peanut butter - Rouge
Salad dressing - Spaghetti - Varnish - Wax* 
*Freeze and remove solid materials before using cleaning fluid.
​Important: Do not use any cleaner with a pH of 10 or higher. Before using, always test cleaners on a small, non-visible area for any discoloration of the pile. Abnormally large or excessive stains may require hot water extraction method. Professional cleaning is recommended.