How to Remove 9 Common Carpet Stains

Let’s face it: No matter how carefully you sip or how faithfully you remove your shoes, if your home has carpet, there will likely come a time when a stubborn spill, splatter or pet stain threatens to keep your floor from looking like new.

You shouldn’t have to choose between a swoon-worthy space and a practical place to live with kids and pets. That’s why the carpets in our ECHO and VERSO collections feature long-lasting, leading-edge soil- and stain-resistant technology that makes cleanup quick and worry-free.

Here’s how to spot clean and remove nine of the most common carpet stains:

BLOOD STAINS

How you remove blood stains from carpet depends on whether it’s wet or dry.

If the blood is WET, first blot thoroughly with a white cotton cloth or paper towel. Next, apply a solution of liquid dishwashing detergent to one quart of water. A spray bottle works well. Repeat until the stain is removed.

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This method of carpet stain removal also works well for other water-soluble stains such as alcoholic beverages, beer, berries, butter, cosmetics, excrement (poop), food dyes, furniture polish, grease (food), ink (washable), milk, mustard, paint (wet latex), soft drinks and tea.

If the blood is DRY, spot clean as detailed above, but treat with a household ammonia before using detergent.

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Use this extra step with other water-soluble stains with heavy colors like chocolate and wine.

COFFEE STAINS

For coffee spills and other water-soluble stains with odor, start by blotting thoroughly with a white cotton cloth or paper towel. Next, treat with white vinegar, followed by a solution of liquid dishwashing detergent to one quart of water (a spray bottle works well). Repeat until removed.

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You can also use this method to remove urine (pee) or vomit stains.

INK STAINS

Like blood stains, how you get ink stains out of carpet depends on the type of ink.

For WASHABLE ink, first blot thoroughly with a white cotton cloth or paper towel. Next, apply a solution of liquid dishwashing detergent to one quart of water. A spray bottle works well. Repeat until the stain is removed.

For BALL-POINT ink, first blot as much as possible with a white cloth or paper towel. Apply a volatile solvent such as perchloroethane (dry cleaning fluid) or a citrus-based solvent to a white cotton cloth. CAUTION: Do not apply the solvent directly to the carpet pile as permanent damage WILL result. Use it with rubber gloves and adequate ventilation.

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Use the directions for removing ball-point ink stains above for other grease stains like asphalt, crayon markers, furniture polish, grease (auto), lipstick, paint (dry latex) and paint (oil).

OIL STAINS

Treat oil stains from paint, lipstick and other spills as you’d treat a grease stain.

Blot as much of the stain as possible with a white cloth or paper towel. Then apply a volatile solvent such as perchloroethane (dry cleaning fluid) or a citrus-based solvent to a white cotton cloth. CAUTION: Do not apply the solvent directly to the carpet pile as permanent damage WILL result. Use it with rubber gloves and adequate ventilation.

POOP STAINS

Have a stubborn spot from a dog with diarrhea, or a baby blowout?

Treat it as a water-soluble stain: First, blot thoroughly with a white cotton cloth or paper towel. Next, apply a solution of liquid dishwashing detergent to one quart of water. A spray bottle works well. Repeat until the stain is removed.

RED STAINS

The trick to treating red stains is less about the color and more about the type of stain.

To spot clean a red stain from BERRIES or WET BLOOD, for example,  follow the directions for removing a water-soluble stain: Start by blotting thoroughly with a white cotton cloth or paper towel. Next, apply a solution of liquid dishwashing detergent to one quart of water (a spray bottle works well). Repeat until removed.

If your red stain is from NAIL VARNISH, blot it with nail polish remover.

Finally, if your stain is tinged with the rich red of your favorite WINE, first blot thoroughly with a white cotton cloth or paper towel. Next, apply a bit of household ammonia. Then, spray a solution of liquid dish detergent to 1 quart of water. Repeat as needed until the stain is removed.

RUST STAINS

Most rust stains can be removed from carpet with a 10% solution of citric acid.

More stubborn stains will require professional cleaning, as restricted chemicals may be needed. The use of citric acid is not recommended for solution-dyed products, as damage may result. Certain household cleaners contain citric acid and should be used with caution.

TEA STAINS

Like several of the stains above, you can remove tea stains from carpet by first blotting thoroughly with a white cotton cloth or paper towel. Next, use a spray bottle to apply a solution of liquid dishwashing detergent to one quart of water. Repeat until the stain is removed.

WINE STAINS

To get wine stains out of carpet, first blot thoroughly with a white cotton cloth or paper towel. Next, apply a bit of household ammonia. Then, spray a solution of liquid dish detergent to one quart of water. Repeat as needed until the stain is removed.

CARPET CARE TIPS

The best way to treat carpet stains is to prevent them before they happen. Here are a few of our favorite carpet care and maintenance tips from Engineered Floors:

  • Always have clean walk-off mats at all entrances to capture outside soil before it’s tracked inside.
  • Vacuum regularly with a Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) Seal of Approval vacuum cleaner.
  • Hire a CRI Seal of Approval professional to deep-clean every 12-18 months.
  • Blot accidents and spills immediately with a damp, white absorbent towel.
  • Have professionals remove stains caused by markers.
  • Only use CRI Seal of Approval spot cleaners.

For more spot-cleaning tips, see our VERSO COLLECTION warranty, care and maintenance guide.