If You Just Spilled Something
Do not scrub. Do not use random household cleaners. Do not soak the carpet.
Most permanent carpet damage happens when people panic and use the wrong product or scrub too aggressively.
If there is food or solid material, remove it carefully with a spoon or dull knife. Work from the outside toward the center.
Use clean white towels or white paper towels. Press and blot. Do not rub.
Many household cleaners contain chemicals that may permanently damage carpet.
Some stains require professional tools, training, and judgment. Call 408-448-2016.
Basic Spot Cleaning Kit
A good spill-response kit should include the following items:
- A mild liquid detergent solution: no more than 1/4 teaspoon of clear, non-bleach dishwashing detergent to 32 ounces of water.
- Use clear Dawn, Joy, or clear Ivory. Avoid cloudy or creamy detergents because they may leave sticky residue.
- A solution of 1 part white vinegar to 1 part water.
- Clean white cloths or white paper towels.
- An ammonia solution of 1 tablespoon ammonia to 1 cup water. Do not use ammonia on wool.
- Non-oily nail polish remover.
- Chewing gum remover, freeze spray, or ice.
- A spot remover specifically for grease, oil, or tar.
Bleach Warning: Do not use a bleach solution unless you are absolutely certain your carpet is 100% solution dyed. Carpet dyed by other systems can be permanently damaged. If in doubt, call Prestige at 408-448-2016.
General Spot Removal Rules
- Prompt attention is essential. No carpet is stain-proof, although many carpets are stain-resistant.
- Remove as much food or solid material as possible by gently scraping with a spoon or dull knife.
- Absorb wet spills quickly by blotting repeatedly with white towels.
- Always blot. Never rub or scrub. Work from the outside edge toward the center.
- Follow detergent use with clean water to remove residue that may become sticky and attract soil.
- Draw out remaining moisture by placing layers of white towels over the spot and weighing them down with a non-color-transfer object.
What Did You Spill?
Find your spill in the chart, then follow the matching procedure below.
| Stain | Removal Procedure |
|---|---|
| Alcoholic Beverages | A |
| Asphalt | B Prestige |
| Beer | A |
| Betadine | Prestige |
| Berries | A |
| Blood — Wet | A |
| Blood — Dry | A-2 |
| Butter | B |
| Chewing Gum | C |
| Chocolate | A-2 |
| Coffee | A-1 then D if necessary |
| Cola Drinks | A |
| Cosmetics | A then D if necessary |
| Crayon | B |
| De-icer / Calcium Chloride | Vacuum, then A |
| Excrement | A |
| Food Dyes | A |
| Furniture Polish | B Prestige |
| Glue — White | A |
| Gravy | A |
| Grease — Auto | B Prestige |
| Grease — Food | B |
| Ice Cream | A |
| Ink — Ballpoint | B Prestige |
| Ink — Permanent | B then D if necessary |
| Ink — Washable | A Prestige |
| Jelly | A |
| Lipstick | B |
| Milk | A |
| Mud | A |
| Mustard | A then D if necessary |
| Nail Polish | Non-oily nail polish remover |
| Paint — Latex, Wet | A |
| Paint — Latex, Dry | B |
| Paint — Oil | B Prestige |
| Rust | Prestige |
| Shoe Polish | B |
| Tea | A then D if necessary |
| Urine | A-1 Prestige |
| Vomit | A-1 |
| Wax | C |
| Wine | A-2 |
Removal Procedures
A: Water-Soluble Stains
Absorb as much as possible with white towels. Blot the stained area with white towels dampened with cool water until there is no more transfer onto the towels.
If any stain remains, use the mild detergent solution. Spray lightly onto the spot and blot repeatedly with white towels, working from the outside edge toward the center.
Rinse by spraying with clean water, then blot or extract. Do not use too much detergent because residue can contribute to rapid re-soiling.
A-1: Vinegar First
Follow procedure A, but before using detergent, apply the white vinegar solution to a white towel and blot the spot.
A-2: Ammonia First
Follow procedure A, but before using detergent, apply the ammonia solution to a white towel and blot the spot.
Do not use ammonia on wool or wool-blend carpet.
B: Oil-Based Stains
Blot as much as possible with white paper towels. Apply oil and grease spot remover to a paper towel and blot repeatedly.
Wear protective gloves. Do not pour or spray solvent directly onto the carpet pile, as damage to backing or adhesive may result. Use towels to transfer the solvent to the carpet.
Provide adequate ventilation. Do not use flammable solvents. Follow with procedure A.
C: Chewing Gum and Candle Wax
Freeze with ice or a commercially available freeze product. Shatter with a blunt object and vacuum before the chips soften. Follow with solvent as in procedure B.
D: Bleach-Responsive Stains
Mild bleach solution: one part chlorine bleach to five parts water.
Warning: Only solution-dyed carpets are resistant to bleaching. Do not use this procedure unless you are absolutely certain the carpet is solution dyed. Other carpets may be permanently damaged.
If in doubt, call 408-448-2016.
Prestige means call Bill Corridan at Prestige Carpet Care: 408-448-2016.
Improving Your Indoor Environment
Carpet and upholstery can play an important role in indoor air quality because they trap and hold soil, dust, and contaminants. But those trapped contaminants need to be removed through proper maintenance.
For a healthier indoor environment, vacuum frequently with a high-efficiency filtration bag or filter system, use entrance mats to reduce tracked-in soil, increase fresh airflow when possible, and schedule periodic professional cleaning.
Do not clean only for appearance. Carpet and upholstery can hide soil long before they look dirty. Regular cleaning helps remove trapped contaminants before they are released back into the indoor air.
Need help with a difficult spill? Call Prestige Carpet Care at 408-448-2016.
