How to Get Rid of Stubborn Stains with Easy Remedies 

With products readily available at your home, you can get yourself a quality stain remover to wash away the toughest stains.

No matter how cautious you are, spills happen one way or another. It could be a coffee spill or muddy steps from your kids or carpets. While this might be exasperating if you have no mean of removing them, here are some good news for you.

There is an easy way to remove stubborn stains with homemade carpet cleaners. Even better, you don’t need to break a bank to get the raw materials. With only a few materials and a few coins, you can make some quality carpet cleaner.

The first thing you need is to know your carpet material. Is it synthetic or made from fiber?  With this information, you can choose the right materials to make a suitable cleaner that will work well with your carpet and the stains you want to get rid of. If you wish to know how to make these carpet cleaners, follow the guide below. Follow the step to step guide and have a sparkling carpet again.

 DIY Carpet cleaners for synthetic rugs

When dealing with synthetic rugs, you shouldn’t pour the cleaner on the carpet directly. Instead, apply the desired amount on a clean cloth and use it on the stained areas—three ways to make carpet cleaners for synthetic rugs.

• Detergent solutions: use ¼ teaspoon of your dishwashing detergent with one cup of water. The detergent should preferably be clear.
• Vinegar solution: for one cup of white vinegar, add two cups of water.
• Solvent solutions: an oil solvent works best. Alternatively, you can use polish remover.

 

DIY Carpet cleaners for Natural –Fiber rugs

The application method differs slightly from that of synthetic rug cleaners. Pour the cleaning solution in a spray bottle for natural fiber rugs and spray it on the stains. A slight mist should be enough. You can make carpet cleaners for natural rugs in four ways;

• Detergent solutions: for one teaspoon of clear washing detergent, add one cup of lukewarm water.
• Vinegar solutions: use a ¼ cup of white vinegar with ¼ cup of water.
• Ammonia solution: for one tablespoon of ammonia, add ½ cup of lukewarm water. Use household-friendly ammonia for this.
• Solvent solutions: oil-based solvents work best.

 

Removing food and drink stains

Synthetic-fiber rugs

Having trouble getting rid of wine, juice, ketchup, soda, or coffee stains on your rugs? Here is a step-by-step guide on how to go about it.

1. Dip a white paper towel or cloth into the synthetic carpet cleaner and squeeze lightly to remove the dripping solution
2. Pat the cloth on the stained area for a few seconds to wet the spots. Wait for about 15 minutes for the stain to disintegrate.
3. Dip another towel in the vinegar solution and use it on the stains. Let the solution sit for another 15 minutes. This is necessary since the vinegar solution will remove the detergent, which, when left, could attract more dirt on the carpet.
4. Rinse off the areas with a cloth soaked in lukewarm water. Do not step on the worked-on areas until it’s scorched, which takes about one hour.
5. If the stain does not go away with the first attempt, repeat the process until the stain fades completely.

Note: If you are working on stubborn stains, placing a half-inch of white paper towels after applying the vinegar solution and covering the area with a glass dish for 15 minutes will help you get better results.

Natural-fiber rugs

The following step by step guide should help you remove food and drink stains on your natural fiber carpet;

1. Mistake the homemade stain remover in the spots using a spray bottle and dry with a clean white cloth.
2. Mist some vinegar solution and dry with a white cloth.
3. Spray another layer of cleaning detergent and then dry with a clean cloth.
4. Spray some lukewarm water on the spots and dry with a white cloth.
5. If the stain does not go away, repeat the process until you get the desired results.

Note:

• Follow the same process when dealing with tougher food stains like juice, soda, chocolate, or milk. The only twist before step two, spraying the vinegar solution, spray some ammonia solution, and dry with a clean white cloth.
• When dealing with ketchup and tomato sauce stains, the same process applies but use white vinegar instead of ammonia solution before step 2.

 Removing oil and grease stains

Follow the stain removal process if you have some cheese, cooking oil, tree sap, lipstick, butter, or lotion stains on your carpet.

For synthetic-fiber carpets;

1. Apply some small amount of the homemade solvent solution on a white cloth, squeeze the excess solution.
2. Pat the soaked cloth on the stained spots.
3. Apply some lukewarm water on a white cloth and rinse the spots.
4. Give the carpet an hour to dry. Repeat this process until the stains wash off thoroughly

 For natural fiber carpets;

1. Apply some solvent solution on a white cloth and use a dry cloth to absorb it.
2. Spray some detergent solution on the stain and blot.
3. Mist some lukewarm water and blot with a clean white cloth.       
4. Leave the carpet for an hour to dry.
5. Repeat the process until the stains fade completely.

 

Removing dirt and mud

For synthetic-fiber carpets;

1. Vacuum the carpet thoroughly to remove as much dirt as you can.
2. Soak a clean white cloth with a detergent solution and squeeze to remove the excess solution.
3. Pat the cloth on the stains.
4. Wait for 15 minutes before blotting the excess solution.
5. Rinse the spots by pressing a cloth dipped in lukewarm water on the site.

 

For synthetic-fiber carpets;

1. Vacuum clean the carpet to get as much dirt out.
2. Spray the detergent solution on the stains and dry with a clean white cloth.
3. Spray some vinegar solution and use a clean cloth to blot.
4. Respray the detergent solution and dry with a clean piece of cloth
5. Mist some lukewarm water and dry with a white cloth.

 

Removing chewing gum and wax

For both types of carpets and rugs;

1.       Fill a Ziploc bag with ice cubes and use it to rub gently on the spots until you see the stains harden.
2.       Disintegrate the solid stains with a blunt object.
3.       Vacuum the carpet to collect all the scrapped dirt.
4.       Apply some solvent solution on a white cloth and blot it with a dry cloth.
5.       Soak a cloth a cloth with lukewarm water and rinse the spots.

 

Removing gravy and mayonnaise

For synthetic-fiber carpets;

1.       Spread some solvent solution on a clean white cloth and blot.
2.       Wait for about 15 minutes for the spots to dry.
3.       Soak a clean cloth in lukewarm water and use it to rinse the spots.
4.       Wait for another 15 minutes before using a dry cloth to absorb the excess liquid.

For natural-fiber carpets

Gravy and mayonnaise stains on natural-fiber carpets and rugs are handled differently.

Gravy:

1.       Mist some detergent solution on the stains and blot with a clean white cloth.
2.       Spray the homemade ammonia solution and use a white cloth to blot.
3.       Spray some vinegar solution on the stain and blot.
4.       respray the detergent solution and blot with a dry cloth
5.       Mist water on the stain and blot.

Mayonnaise:

1.       Spray the detergent solution on the stain and blot with a dry cloth.
2.       Spray some ammonia solution on the stain and blot.
3.       Spray some vinegar solution and blot.

 

Removing ink and marker stains

Ballpoint ink on synthetic-fiber carpets;

1.       Apply some solvent solution on a white cloth and blot.
2.       Leave for 15 minutes to dry.
3.       Repeat the process until you get the desired results.
4.       Soak a clean cloth in lukewarm water and use it to rinse the spots.

Permanent Felt-Tip Marker:

1.       Apply some solvent solution on a clean cloth and blot.
2.       Let it sit for 15 minutes to dry.
3.       Dip a clean cloth on the detergent solution and use it on the spots.
4.       Leave for 15 minutes to dry and use a dry cloth to absorb the excess liquid.
5.       Dip a white cloth in lukewarm water and rinse the spots.

 

For natural-fiber carpets

Ballpoint Ink:

1.       Apply some detergent solution on the stains and blot using a clean cloth.
2.       Apply some ammonia solution on the stains and blot using a clean cloth.
3.       Apply some vinegar solution and blot using a dry white cloth.
4.       Respray the detergent solution on the stain again and blot with a clean cloth.
5.       Spray some water on the stain to rinse the spot and blot.

Permanent Felt-Tip Marker:

1.       Spread some solvent solution on a white cloth and blot.
2.       Spread some detergent solution on the stain and blot.
3.       Mist some water on the stain and blot using a clean white cloth.

 Cleaning pet stains

For synthetic-fiber carpets;

1. Place the desired amount of detergent on a clean piece of cloth, then rub it severally on the dirty spot for few seconds.
2. Leave it for few minutes, then use a dry cloth to soak up excess liquid.
3. Apply vinegar solution and repeatedly rub, placing the cloth on the stained spot, and wait for 15 minutes.
4. Leave for an hour, wait to dry, solution, and observe if the stain is still there.
5. Repeat the steps above until the stain completely disappears.

For natural-fiber carpets and rugs

1. Mist some detergent solution on the stains and dab with a clean white cloth. 
2. Spray some ammonia solution on the stain and use a dry white cloth to dab. 
3. Spray the stain with vinegar solution and blot using a dry white cloth.
4. Mist the detergent solution again and blot with a dry cloth.
5. Mist some lukewarm water on the stain and blot with a clean cloth.

Getting paint out of the carpet (avoiding costly replacement)

Spills are inevitable, especially when working with paints, be it in a home renovation project or doing a creative project. Getting rid of paint stains is everyone’s nightmare since they can be very stubborn and sometimes will last on the surface forever.

However, this should no longer be a source of concern. Whether it is water-based or oil-based paints, there is a solution for it. It only requires a little patience and purchasing a few supplies to get started.

The stain removal steps you follow and the supplies you will get depends on the kind of paint you are working on and whether it is wet or dry. Paints are either water-based or oil-based.

How do I get rid of water-based paint stains?

If you are working with acrylic latex, watercolor, or finger paints, you are dealing with water-based paints. Here is a guide to help you get rid of these stains to earn you a brand new carpet.

The supplies you need:

• Dishwashing detergent
• White cloths or paper towels
• A blunt knife or unused credit card
• Vacuum cleaner
• A cloth steamer
• A soft brush

Instructions

On wet paint:

1.   Scrap off the wet paint: it is always easy to work on the paint while it is still damp and fresh. The blunt knife or credit card will serve this purpose perfectly.

Note: rubbing the wet paint with a cloth is never a good idea because it only smears on the rug and goes deeper into the fibers.

2.   Blot with a wet cloth or paper towel. This helps in removing the paint left after scrapping off with the knife. Ensure you cover the surfaces where the paint spreads. Keep doing this until the paint stain fades.

On dry paint:

1.   Remake the dry paint:

Steps:

Make a solution of hot water and a little amount of dishwashing detergent in a bowl.

Throw in the soft brush the solution. You can use an old toothbrush instead. 

Use the solution on the dry paint. 

1. Leave it for about five minutes for the paint to soften.

2. Scrape the paint and blot

Steps 

1. When the paint is light and manageable, use the blunt knife to scrape it away. Do it gently so as not to cause damage to the carpet fibers.
2. Use a dry cloth to blot the spots as the paint continues to fade.
3. Apply more of the soapy solution and use the soft brush to disintegrate the paint.
4. Keep doing this until the stain is entirely gone.

3. Introduce more heat

 Sometimes the paint stain is more stubborn and won’t soften with the hot water solution. If this is the case, use a clothes steamer to heat the paint stain. Heat the dye from a distance and not placing the hot iron directly on the carpet. This will damage the carpet fibers. Keep steaming the paint while scrapping and blotting till you get the desired results.

4. Dry the surface and vacuum 

Steps

1. Leave the carpet to air-dry for about one hour.
2. When fully dry, vacuum the carpet to lift the fibers while collecting the loose stains that are still present.

Oil-based

Compared to water-based paint, oil-based paints are more challenging to work on than water-based paint once they get to the carpet fibers. Luckily, here is a guide to help get rid of the stain, whether wet or dry.

Supplies you will need:

• Dishwashing detergent
• White cloths or paper towels
• A blunt knife or unused credit card
• Vacuum cleaner
• A cloth steamer
• A soft brush
• White cotton rag
• Paper clips
• Paint solvent

Instructions:

Scoop and blot the wet paint

Steps:

1. If you are working on wet paint, the first thing to do is scoop the paint with a blunt knife.
2. Use the clothing steamer to ensure the paint stays wet as you lift it and blot it.
3. Use a straightened paper clip to detach the carpet fibers and continue blotting the carpet. 

 a. Scrape and blot the dry paint

Steps:

1. Scrape away as much dry paint as possible.
2. Pick the dry paint particles using a vacuum or paper towels.

 b. Apply some solvent solution

Steps:

1. Read the label on the paint to know which solvent is ideal. If there is no recommendation, go for turpentine.
2. Test the solvent on a small carpet area to know whether it could have a color change effect on your fibers.
3. Apply some solvent on the white cotton rag and apply it to the stain.
4. Work on the stain gently moving towards the clean areas of the carpet.

4. Clean and rinse

Steps:

1. After removing most of the paint, mix a few drops of dishwashing detergent and hot water.
2. Dip the soft brush into the solution and scrub gently on the stain.
3. Dip a clean cloth into the water and rinse the area.
4. Dry excess water with paper towels.
5. Leave the carpet to dry and vacuum to lift the carpet fibers.

Sometimes the spills are too much to cover on your own, or the stains are too tough to get rid of with home remedies. Instead of ruining your carpet or rug, contact a professional carpet cleaner.