Spot Removal
Spot Removal

The key to successful spot removal is getting to it as quick as possible. Keep this page bookmarked, or make a copy of it so you will be able to refer to it when you need it. Be sure to let your friends and family know about this spotting guide so they will be able to use it as well.  Some stains require professional treatment.  If you are not sure of proper treatment please give us a call.  Keep the following items on hand so you will be prepared to handle fresh spills on your carpet: Neutral dish detergent such as Joy® or Dawn® (dilute 20:1); clear household ammonia; white vinegar (dilute 1:1); wet spotter such as Spot Gone®; dry spotter such as Dissolve®; paint thinner; hydrogen peroxide (3% solution) for bleaching; denatured or isopropyl alcohol; a good supply of white terry cloths; and a spotting brush. If you have pets, stock a bacteria/enzyme digester such as Liquid Alive®. A wet/dry vac is great to have as well.

 How To Remove 23 Common Stains

STAINS

SOLUTION

BLOOD

(1)  Apply cool detergent solution, blot. (2)  Apply cool ammonia solution, blot. (3)  Apply enzyme detergent, blot. (4)  Rinse thoroughly with water, blot until dry. (5)  If stain remains, apply rust remover or oxalic acid solution. (6)  Bleaching with 3-5% hydrogen peroxide may be necessary.

BUTTER & MARGARINE

 (1)  Apply drycleaning solvent, blot.  (2)  Apply detergent solution, blot until dry.  (3)  Apply vinegar solution, blot.  (4)  Rinse with water, blot until dry.

CANDLE WAX

(1)  Scrape off as much as possible with spatula or dull knife.  (2)  Apply drycleaning solvent.  (3)  Apply POG, blot.   (4)  Apply drycleaning solvent, blot.

CATSUP & TOMATO SAUCE

(1)  Apply cool detergent solution, blot.  (2)  Apply ammonia solution, blot.  (3)  Apply enzyme detergent, blot.  (4)  If stain remains, bleach with 3-5% hydrogen peroxide or sodium perborate.  (5)  Rinse thoroughly with water, blot dry.

CHOCOLATE

(1)  Scrape off as much as possible with spatula or dull knife.  (2)  Apply cool detergent solution, blot.  (3)  Apply ammonia solution, blot.  (4)  Apply vinegar solution, blot.  (5)  Apply enzyme detergent, blot.  (6)  Rinse thoroughly with water and blot until dry.

COFFEE

(1)  Apply detergent solution, blotting frequently.  (2)  Apply vinegar solution, blot.  (3)  Cover with dry towels until dry.

CRAYONS

(1)  Apply drycleaning solvent.  (2)  Apply POG, blot.  (3)  Apply drycleaning solvent, blot.   (4)  Apply detergent solution, blot.  (5)  Rinse with water, blot until dry.

FOOD COLORING

(1)  Apply detergent solution, blotting frequently.  A dried stain will probably spread when wet.  (2)  Repeat step 1 until color is no longer transferred to the towel.  (3)  Apply ammonia solution, blot.  (4)  Rinse thoroughly with water and blot until dry.

FURNITURE STAIN

(1)  Apply drycleaning solvent.  (2)  Apply POG, blot.  (3)  Apply drycleaning solvent, blot.  (4)  Apply detergent solution, blot.  (5)  Rinse with water, blot until dry.  This stain is almost impossible to remove completely.

GRASS

(1)  Apply amyl acetate if available to remove chlorophyl, blot.  (2) Apply enzyme detergent, blot.  (3)  Rinse with water, blot.  (4)  Apply ammonia solution, blot.  (5)  Apply vinegar solution, blot.  (6)  Rinse with water, blot dry.  Bleaching (or professional stripping) may be necessary.

INK (Ballpoint)

 1)  Apply drycleaning solvent.  (2)  Apply POG, blot.  (3)  If stain remains, apply rust remover or oxalic acid solution.

INK (India)

(1)  Apply drycleaning solvent.  (2)  Apply POG, blot.  (3)  Apply drycleaning solvent, blot.  (4)  Apply detergent solution, blot.  (5)  Apply ammonia solution, blot.  (6)  Rinse with water, blot until dry.

JAM & JELLY

(1)  Apply detergent solution, blot.  (2)  Apply vinegar solution, blot.  (3)  Rinse with water, blot.  (4)  Apply enzyme detergent, blot.  (5)  Rinse with water, blot until dry.

LIPSTICK

(1)  Scrape off excess with spatula or dull knife.  (2)  Apply POG, blot, making sure not to reapply stain onto fabric.   (3)  Apply drycleaning solvent, blot.  (4)  Apply detergent, blot.  (5)  Apply ammonia solution, blot.  (6)  Apply vinegar solution, blot.  (7)  Rinse with water, blot until dry.  Try to avoid wet cleaning on wool.  Use POG and drycleaning solvents as long as possible.

MILDEW

(1)  Apply enzyme detergent, blot.  (2)  Apply ammonia solution, blot.  (3)  Rinse thoroughly with water, blot.  (4)  Apply solution of oxidizing bleach (chlorine or perborate) DO NOT use chlorine bleach on wool or silk.  (5)  Rinse thoroughly with water, blot until dry.

MUD

(1)  Brush or scrape off as much as possible.  (2)  Apply detergent solution, blot.  (3)  Apply ammonia solution, blot.  (4)  Rinse thoroughly with water, blot until dry.  (5)  If stain remains, apply POG and drycleaning solvent alternately, blot until dry.

MUSTARD

(1)  Apply detergent solution, blot.  (2)  Aply vinegar solution, blot.  (3)  Apply enzyme detergent, blot.  (4)  If stain remains, rust remover (oxalic acid solution) or bleaching may be necessary.  DO NOT use ammonia or alkalies.

NAIL POLISH

(1)  Apply drycleaning solvent.  (2)  Apply amyl acetate if available, or nail polish remover - PRETEST FIRST.  (3)  If stain remains, apply detergent solution, blot until dry.  (4)  Apply ammonia solution, blot.  (5)  Apply vinegar solution, blot.  (6)  Rinse with water, blot until dry.

PAINT (Oil)

(1)  Apply detergent solution, blot.  (2)  Apply ammonia solution, blot.  (3)  Rinse with water, blot until dry.  (4)  Apply POG, blot.  (5)  Apply drycleaning solvent, blot.

PAINT (Water)

Check label on paint or specific thinner or solvent OR (1)  Apply drycleaning solvent.  (2)  Apply POG, blot.  (3)  Apply drycleaning solvent, blot.  (4)  Alternate steps 2 and 3 until stain is removed.  (5)  If stain persists weight down the stain with towels dampened with drycleaning for several hours to loosen, blot with solvent.  (6)  Apply several drops of detergent solution and work into the stain, blot.  (7)  Apply ammonia solution, blot.  (8)  Alternate steps 2, 3 and 6 until stain is removed.  (9)  Rinse thoroughly with warm water, blot until dry.

    SHOE          POLISH      


(1)  Apply drycleaning solvent.  (2)  Apply POG, blot.  (3)  Apply drycleaning solvent, blot.  (4)  Apply detergent solution, blot.  (5)  Apply ammonia solution, blot.  (6)  Rinse thoroughly with water, blot until dry.  (7)  If stain persists, bleaching (or professional stripping) may be necessary.

    URINE   

(1)  Blot up as much as possible if still wet.  (2)  Apply detergent solution, blot.  (3)  Apply ammonia solution, blot  (4)  Apply vinegar solution, blot.  (5)  Rinse thoroughly with water, blot until dry.  (6) If stain remains, apply rust remover or oxalic acid solution.  (7)   Bleaching with 3-5% hydrogen peroxide or sodium perborate might be necessary.  Urine stains may cause permanent dye removal from fibers.

VOMIT

(1)  Blot up as much as possible.  (2)  Apply enzyme detergent, blot.  (3)  Apply ammonia solution, blot.  (4)  Apply vinegar solution, blot.  (5)  Rinse with water, blot until dry.

WINE
(1)  Apply detergent solution, blot.  (2)  Apply vinegar solution, blot.  (3)  Apply ammonia solution, blot.  (4)  If necessary, bleach with 3-5% hydrogen peroxide or sodium perborate.  (5)  Rinse thoroughly with water, blot until dry.

 STAIN TREATMENT TIPS COME DIRECTLY FROM PCUCA (Professional Carpet & Upholstery Cleaners Association)

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Spotting Solutions

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.

DRYCLEANING SOLVENT -  Volatile dry spotter or a commercial spotter such as Carbona, Energine, K2R.  Use in small amounts ... can be harmful to sizings, backings or stuffing material.  Do NOT use gasoline, lighter fluid or carbon tetrachloride.

ENZYME DETERGENT -  Mix a solution of enzyme detergent following the directions on the label.  Do NOT SOAK.  Allow the solution to remain on the stain for the recommended length of time before removing. 

POG-  Paint, oil and grease remover, available in hardware stores.

VINEGAR SOLUTION -  Mix one-third cup of white household vinegar with two-thirds cup of water.

THE 6 STEPS TO REMOVING SPOTS

1. Catch it while it's fresh, when chances of removal are 75% better. Don't iron or hot-air dry until the stain is gone. Heat will set most stains.

2. First blot up all the liquid with a clean white absorbent material and scrape up all the solids you can with a dull edge knife or ruler. On a large liquid spill you can use a wet/dry vac. Be careful not to spread the stain.

3. Test any chemical you intend to use in a hidden area to make sure it won't discolor or damage the surface.  If it doesn't, then proceed with the removal of the spot or stain. 

4. Apply spotter and work from the outside of the stain in, to avoid spreading. DO NOT OVER WET .  Blot, don't scrub; strike with the flat face of a spotting brush if needed to help break up the stain.

5. Rinse chemical spotters out with water, blot the area dry and feather the edges. Brush or fluff up pile or nap to restore texture after the carpet dries.

6. On carpet and upholstery, put a thick pad of toweling over the spot, weight it down with books, and leave it there overnight to "wick up" any remaining moisture.