Family homes can get messy, especially in households with young children and pets. If your family home features carpeted floors, then you need to step up your cleaning game and know precisely which homemade cleaning solutions to use on everyday stains like juice, wine, and coffee. Here's a short but sweet list of the most common carpet stains and how to treat them.
The objective of cleaning is not just to clean, but to feel happy living within that environment."-Marie Kondo, Organizing Consultant
Before we start, you may want to consider purchasing the materials I'm about to list. You don't necessarily need to have these, but it will make the stain removal process a lot easier. First, you'll need a large spray bottle. You may want to purchase a new one or use an old Windex bottle that's been adequately rinsed. Also, consider buying a wet/dry vacuum to cut the drying time in half and extend the life of your carpet. The rest of the necessary materials are things you'll find around your home:
- White vinegar
- Dishwashing liquid
- Baking soda
- Rubbing alcohol (91% isopropyl alcohol)
- Hydrogen peroxide
- WD-40 lubricant
- Discarded white hand towels, full-sized towels, or rags (clean ones!)
- A clothes iron
1. Fresh Wine Stains
Wine stains are among the most common types of stains in both family homes and bachelor pads. These can be tough to remove once dry, so it's best to clean them up the moment they happen. This method may also work with red juice and Kool-Aid stains.
Cleaning Solution:
- 1 cup of vinegar
- 2-4 tbsp of baking soda
- 1 cup of water
First, blot the wine stain with paper towels or a clean towel to absorb as much liquid as possible. Then, apply one or two cups of white vinegar, depending on the size of the stain, and blot the area again with a clean cloth or towel. Add two tablespoons of baking soda or more, depending on the size of the stain, and add a few drops of clean water at a time to create a paste. Scrub the baking soda paste into the carpet with a small toothbrush or cloth. Finally, blot the area with a clean, damp cloth or paper towels and vacuum to remove all baking soda residue.
2. Dry Wine Stains
Dry wine stains are trickier to clean, but they may still be removed. Several sources state white wine can remove red wine stains. However, that method is not recommended, especially for dry stains. Once the stain has settled, your best bet is hydrogen peroxide.
Cleaning Solution:
- 1 part hydrogen peroxide
- 1 teaspoon (or less) of dishwashing liquid
Mix the hydrogen peroxide and dishwashing liquid and apply to the stained area either with a spray bottle or by pouring the mixture directly over it in small amounts. Dab at the stain to get the product into the fabric and let it sit for about 30 minutes. Finally, rinse the area with clean water either with a sponge or cloth and pat dry with a clean towel. If you have a wet/dry vac, go ahead and vacuum the area. You may have to repeat this process for old stains.
3. Coffee
Coffee, that sweet elixir that fuels our mornings, is another common stain that can be difficult to remove once dry. For darker stains like these, the best cleaning solution should contain liquid dishwashing soap or a mild detergent.
Cleaning Solution:
- 1 part liquid dishwashing soap or a mild detergent
- 1 part lukewarm water
- 1 cup (or less) of white vinegar
If you've already blotted out the coffee spill, pour a mixture of water and dishwashing liquid over the stain. Refrain from using more than a teaspoon of dishwashing liquid at any given time, as this could create too much lather and be much more difficult to remove. After applying the solution, blot the area with a clean cloth to remove as much of the coffee stain as possible. Add a cup of white vinegar, or as much as you need, over the stain and scrub the area with an old toothbrush. To clean, blot the area with a damp cloth or sponge and then dab at it with a dry hand towel or paper towels to wick away the excess moisture. Again, if you have a wet/dry vac, go ahead and vacuum the area until it's dry and fluffy.
4. Dirt
Surprisingly, dirt stains are some of the easiest to remove. Before you apply the cleaning solution to the stained area, make sure to vacuum the spot and brush off any residual dirt particles.
Cleaning Solution:
- Dishwashing liquid
- Water
Once you've vacuumed the stained area, pour a mixture of water and liquid dishwashing detergent to the spot. Scrub with a small brush, toothbrush, or soft sponge (without a green scrubbing pad) until the stain is no longer visible. To clean, wet the area with clean water using a sponge or cloth and then dab dry with a dry towel. Use a wet/dry vac if you have one to ensure the back of the carpet won't rot due to the excess water.
5. Chocolate
Although these types of stains aren't all that common, parents may want to remember how to treat them, especially around October. Regardless of whether the stain is milk chocolate or 90% cocoa, you can use the same cleaner and obtain good results.
Cleaning Solution:
- Dishwashing liquid
- Water
Before applying the cleaning solution, make sure to scrape off any leftover chocolate from the area. Once you've removed all chocolate residue, spray or slowly pour the water and dishwashing liquid mixture over the stain. This time, scrub very gently from side to side, being careful not to rub the stain any further into the fabric. To clean, apply a damp cloth or sponge over the area and dab. Finally, pat down the wet area with a dry hand towel or paper towels.
6. Oil
This one is another not-so-common stain unless you're an accident-prone heavy coconut oil user like me. Regardless of how it happened, an oil stain can be among the easiest ones to remove.
Cleaning Solution:
- Cornstarch
- Liquid dish soap
- Water
Apply cornstarch to the oil stain and let it sit for at least 30 minutes. Then, vacuum the out the cornstarch and apply a few drops of dishwashing liquid to the stain. Rub the spot with a wet cloth or sponge. Blot with a damp cloth to clean out the soap. Vacuum dry or dab with a clean towel to finish.
7. Ink
As an amateur fountain pen collector, this is the most common type of stain in my home. Ink stains are some of the toughest to remove, even harder than wine stains. Two products may be used to remove ink stains from hands, rubbing alcohol or acetone. For carpets, however, rubbing alcohol is your safest bet. Since they're tough to remove once dry, it's best to treat these stains as soon as they happen.
Cleaning Solution:
- WD-40 Lubricant
- Dishwashing liquid
- Water
- Rubbing alcohol
- White vinegar
- Warm water
Spray the ink stain with a lubricant like WD-40 and let it sit for a little while. After a few minutes, soak a clean cloth or sponge in a mixture of water and dishwashing liquid and gently dab at the ink stain. Once the stain has been lifted, rinse with warm water and vacuum dry. If you don't have a wet/dry vac, try to apply the warm water with a spray bottle to keep from soaking the carpet and dab with a clean towel to dry.
Is the stain persists, soak a clean cloth in rubbing alcohol and apply to the area a dabbing motion. Start at the corners of the stain and work your way to the center. Keep soaking the cloth in alcohol once it dries and continues doing this with a clean portion of the cloth until the stain is gone or significantly reduced. Then, mix a couple of ounces of white vinegar in a cup of warm water and either spray or pour directly over the area. Dab at it with a clean towel or paper towels and do the same again, this time only with clean water. If you have a wet/dry vac, go ahead and vacuum the area until it's completely dry.
8. Pet Urine
Pet urine stains are really common and only slightly less disgusting than the last one on our list. These stains should be treated as soon as you notice them. Old pet urine stains can be almost impossible to remove completely, without damaging the carpet fibers, once they set.
Cleaning Solution:
- 1 part white vinegar
- 1 part warm water
- 4 tablespoons of baking soda
First, use paper towels to soak up the pet urine by placing them over the spot and threading over them. Discard the used paper towels and mix equal parts white vinegar and warm water in a spray bottle. If it's a small stain, mix in 4 tablespoons of baking soda into your cleaning solution. For tougher stains, sprinkle the baking soda directly on the stain and spray your cleaner over it. Once you've sprayed the area, let it sit for at least 10 minutes and blot clean with a cloth or towel. You may also vacuum the area to lift off any excess cleaning product.
For old pet urine stains, you may mix equal parts water and ammonia and spray unto the spot. Then, place an old towel over the area and iron over it with a clothes iron, making sure you don't burn the carpet by lingering over any one spot for too long. Repeat this process until the stain lifts. We don't recommend this method for those who have new carpets or little experience handling an iron. Results may vary depending on the age of the stain.
9. Blood
Blood is yet another type of stain that is best lifted when fresh. Dry blood is harder to remove, but not impossible. My go-to product for blood stains on most fabrics is hydrogen peroxide, yet that trick works best on fresh stains.
Cleaning Solution:
- 1 teaspoon of dishwashing liquid or liquid detergent
- 1-2 cups of cold water
Mix the dishwashing liquid or liquid detergent with cold water. Never use warm or hot water on blood stains, as they bond to the carpet fabric permanently. Apply the cleaning solution to the stain in a blotting motion with a rag or sponge until it lifts. To clean, blot again with a wet cloth and vacuum the area dry to finish. Oder stains may be removed with hydrogen peroxide and a clothes iron. First, apply hydrogen peroxide directly to the stain and blot with a clean cloth. Apply more hydrogen peroxide to the area and let it sit for five to 10 minutes while your clothes iron heats up. Apply the hot iron to the wet stain being careful not to linger in the same spot for too long. Continue applying hydrogen peroxide and the hot clothes iron until the stain lifts.
10. Vomit
Our last stain on the list is the worst kind of all to clean, but this type of stain is relatively easy to lift if done as soon as it happens. The acid in vomit can cause carpets to discolor quickly, so clean up as fast as you can, especially if you have a dark, natural fiber carpet.
Cleaning Solution:
- 2 cups of warm water
- 1 tablespoon of salt
- 1 tablespoon of dishwashing liquid
- ½ a cup of white vinegar
First, scrape off all solids from the area and blot with a wet cloth. Mix the above ingredients and apply to the stain in a botting motion using a rag or sponge. Use a wet towel to clean the area and blot with a dry rag or towel to dry. Again, if you have a wet/dry vac, go ahead and vacuum the area until dry.
These tips may help when you have small accidents at home and need to treat spots and stains as soon as they happen. For older or very large stains, it may be best to consult a professional carpet cleaner. These services can be much more accessible than one would imagine and can take care of both stains and persistent odors. Check out our Top 10 Carpet Cleaning Companies for more information on these services.