Certain types of fibers, such as wool, cotton, silk, and some nylons are particularly susceptible to permanent staining from coffee, tea, wine, etc. Be aware of hot liquids, especially. Of course, bleach and household chemicals (see below) can cause permanent staining as well.
Cocoa is made up of some of the world's toughest stains. It is essentially made from chocolate, which by itself is already a big culprit for dark stains. Apart from this, the drink also proves to be a tough stain to remove because it has the strong combination of proteins, fat, and sugar.
Combining baking soda with vinegar is one of the most versatile carpet cleaners for old stains. Measure a half cup each of baking soda and vinegar into a gallon of water and mix well if you're working on a large stain.
Carpets with a longer pile length are the hardest to clean due to the dirt and stains being harder to reach than carpets with a shorter pile length. Different cleaning methods work better on some carpet fibers than others, so knowing what's best for your carpet is the key to keeping it clean and looking its best.
Light colors like beige, tan, and white are good choices since they won't show any dirt or stains as easily as darker colors do. Patterned carpets with designs such as stripes or swirls can also help mask any messes while adding visual interest to your space.
Top Choice: Wool Carpet Fibers
Wool carpet fibers are so naturally stain-resistant that they don't even need to be coated with chemicals to prevent staining. Wool carpet fibers repel spills from red wine to mustard – and they also repel stains from oils.
Sprinkle a layer of dry baking soda on the stain. Then, mix a cup of white vinegar with a cup of water and a few drops of dish soap in a spray bottle. The vinegar will foam when it hits the baking soda which will clean the stain. Leave it to sit for a few hours.
There are two primary causes of carpet re-spotting: Wicking and Residue. One originates below the carpet fibers, in the backing or pad of the carpet. The other originates in the carpet fibers themselves. Stains that resurface as a result of wicking originate below the carpet fibers.
Mix 1/4 cup salt, 1/4 cup borax, and 1/4 cup vinegar, then apply this paste to deep stains or heavily soiled sections of carpet. Allow the paste to sit on the carpet for several hours until it dries completely, then vacuum it away.
The short answer is unfortunately no, not all stains can be removed, and here are three reasons why. The longer a stain is left untreated, the less likely it is to be removed.
The warm acid state of the urine offers a perfect breeding ground for bacteria, which begin to flourish almost immediately. In this original acid state the urine begins to oxidize and react with the carpet to create a color change, which will become permanent if the urine is not removed immediately.
Not necessarily. Often times what happens is that the liquid works its way past the carpet fiber, down to the backing of the carpet and often times even into the cushion itself. The Stain is now trapped under the carpet surface and can be very difficult to get out.
Mix 1 tablespoon of liquid laundry detergent with enzymes with 1 cup of water. Add 1/4 teaspoon of white vinegar and stir. Use a Dobie All Purpose Cleaning Pad to apply the detergent-vinegar mixture to your unidentified stain. Blot with the pad until the stain is gone.
Even if you have a pristine white carpet that has been splashed with juice, WD-40 is still a great option for removing the stain from the carpets. The first thing you need to do is blot the entire stain using a dry towel. Don't rub it as the stain will become larger and more difficult to remove.
Hot, vaporised water (steam) is blasted into the carpets at high pressure to clean them. The heat and moisture help to break down and loosen dirt, grime and oils. The suction from the machine removes this broken-down dirt. Sometimes mild cleaning chemicals can also be added to provide fragrance and an extra deep clean.
But why do some carpets look worse after cleaning? There isn't just one different reason they look worse, but typically you can attribute it to the carpet age and deep stains. To answer the question of why your carpet looks worse after cleaning, you'll need to look at wicking, residue, and worn pile.
Yes, vinegar and baking soda are a powerful combination that has been proven to remove old stains from carpet.
Carpet Wicking is the Culprit For Reoccurring Brown Spots
Carpet Browning is a directly related to the process of wicking. Wicking is when the carpet gets wet from cleaning, and the deeper parts of the carpet fibers absorb all that excess moisture.
Most stains fall into one of three categories: water-based, oil-based, or protein-based stains, depending on the makeup of the liquid or item that caused the stain.
Thankfully Vanish can help remove tough carpet stains as quickly as they appear. Read on to discover how our stain-busting carpet treatments and powerful Oxi Action formula can work wonders on even the most stubborn spots.
Though there's no general rule, the most pleasing schemes have a contrast of some kind between flooring and walls. So, a lighter carpet will work well with dark walls, and a darker carpet is a good option with lighter walls.