Over time, carpets inevitably get stained from spills, pets, kids, and regular wear and tear. While fresh stains can often be removed easily, old, set-in stains can be much more challenging to get out. However, with a little elbow grease and the right techniques, you can get your dingy, stained carpet looking like new again. Let’s take a look at how to get old stains out of the carpet.
Assess the Stain
Before doing anything, you need to assess the stain you’re working with. This will help you figure out the best way to tackle it.
Determine the Type of Stain
First, try to identify what caused the stain – was it food, dirt, pet urine, paint, etc? Different cleaners work best for different types of stains. Food and drink stains like coffee, wine, or juice respond well to chemical cleaners that break down the sugars and acids.
For oil-based stains like grease or tar, use a solvent-based cleaner. Organic stains like blood, vomit, or feces require an enzymatic cleaner that breaks down proteins. Mud and dirt stain carpets through abrasion, so vacuum thoroughly before using a cleanser.
Figure Out How Long the Stain Has Been There
A fresh stain will come out much more easily than one embedded in the carpet for months or years. So, for new stains less than a week old, homemade cleaners and spot removers may do the trick.
However, stains more than a month old are tougher to treat and may require repeated applications or professional cleaning.
Test Cleaning Solutions on a Small Area First
Before going all out, always spot-test your cleaner on a small, hidden carpet area, like behind furniture or under a throw rug. Check that it removes the stain without damaging or discoloring the carpet fiber. And test each solution you’re planning to use to determine the most effective method.
Prepare to Clean
At this stage, get everything ready to treat the stain efficiently.
Gather Cleaning Supplies
Assemble clean white cloths, paper towels, a scrub brush, rubber gloves, protective eyewear, an apron, and a bucket. Have your cleaning solutions ready too – homemade mixes, chemical spot removers, dish soap, etc. Trust me, you want your arsenal fully stocked before getting started.
Vacuum the Carpet
Thoroughly vacuum the area to remove surface dirt and debris. This allows the cleaner to penetrate the carpet fibers better rather than just coating the top layer. Also, make sure to get into the edges and corners. And change the vacuum bag or empty the canister so loosened dirt won’t get re-deposited.
Try Homemade Cleaning Solutions
Many household ingredients can be combined into effective, non-toxic stain-fighting solutions. Give these homemade remedies a shot first before resorting to harsher chemical cleaners.
Baking Soda and Vinegar
This classic combo works on many stain types, thanks to the natural deodorizing and disinfecting properties of both ingredients.
First, generously sprinkle baking soda on and around the stain. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes. The baking soda will begin soaking up any remaining moisture from the spill.
Next, slowly pour white vinegar over the baking soda until it bubbles. Let it fizz for a few minutes – this is the chemical reaction that lifts the stain.
Finally, use a scrub brush to work the paste into the carpet fibers. Wipe the area with clean water and dry it with a cloth. You can repeat the process for tough stains.
Hydrogen Peroxide and Dish Soap
The whitening power of hydrogen peroxide plus the degreasing ability of dish soap makes it an effective carpet cleaner.
To begin, mix 2-3 tablespoons of 3% hydrogen peroxide and 1-2 squirts of blue original Dawn dish soap in a small bowl. Use a sponge or scrub brush to work the solution into the stained carpet.
Let it sit for 5-10 minutes so the peroxide can bubble away at the stain. Then, blot and rinse the area thoroughly with clean water to remove all soapy residue. This works well on organic stains like wine, coffee, juice, vomit, blood, or feces. The peroxide whitens while the soap cuts through grease and proteins.
Lemon Juice and Salt
For tough rust stains on the carpet, this citrus-salt combo works wonders.
Start by slicing a lemon in half and rubbing it directly over the stain to soak it in acidic lemon juice. Let it sit for 5 minutes.
Next, liberally sprinkle table salt on top and let sit for 1-2 hours. Over time, the salt will begin to draw out and absorb the rust. After letting it sit:
- Scrape off the damp salt with a spoon and discard.
- Blot any remaining moisture with a towel.
- Scrub the area with a brush and rinse the carpet thoroughly with clean water to remove all traces of salt and lemon juice.
Use Chemical Cleaners
For tougher stains, break out big guns. Look for these powerful cleaners at hardware and grocery stores.
Carpet Spot Removers
Cleaners like Resolve, Capture Dry Carpet Cleaner, or Spot Shot are specially formulated to penetrate and lift stubborn stains that resist other methods.
So, check the bottle for the best cleaning method, whether spraying, scrubbing, or sprinkling on powder and vacuuming.
Then, follow the directions to see which type works best for your stain, whether it’s food-based, greasy, or pet-related.
Apply a small amount directly on the stain, let it soak in for 5-10 minutes, then blot up with an absorbent cloth, working from the outside of the stain inward.
Oxygen Bleach
Non-chlorine bleaches like OxiClean safely remove stains and whiten carpets using the cleaning power of oxygen.
Mix an oxygen bleach powder like OxiClean with warm water to form a thick paste. Gently spread the paste onto the carpet stain using a sponge or brush. Let it sit for at least 15 minutes (longer for tougher stains).
The oxygen bubbles will work to lift the stain over time. Once done, blot up any remaining moisture with a towel and rinse the area thoroughly with clean water.
This type of cleaner works well on food or drink stains, pet accidents, and ground-in dirt. The oxygen bleach whitens without the harshness of chlorine bleach.
Call in the Professionals for Difficult Stains
If you’ve tried every home remedy and commercial cleaner with no success, the stain may require professional carpet cleaning methods. These methods include:
Steam Cleaning
For deeply set-in stains, a professional cleaner’s high-pressure, high-heat steam can eradicate all kinds of tough spots and discoloration.
The intense scrubbing action also thoroughly lifts embedded dirt from deep in the carpet fibers. Hot steaming and strong suction extract years of accumulated stains and grime that regular cleaners can’t touch.
Carpet Dyeing
Professional carpet technicians can apply dye to mask and blend the stained areas for severe discoloration or permanent stains that can’t be removed fully.
They use special semipermanent dyes matched to your original carpet color. This evens out the color without having to replace the whole carpet.
Carpet Replacement
As a last resort for unsightly stains that cannot be removed by other means, sections of stained carpet can be cut out and replaced with a remnant patch to match the rest of the carpet.
This is an extreme solution, but sometimes necessary. A carpet repair specialist can seamlessly blend carpet remnants into the area for a uniform look.
Bottom Line
With persistence and the right techniques, you can get carpets cleaned and revitalized again, even with stubborn old stains. Just follow these tips to erase years of damage and give your carpets a new lease on life.