HomeHome & leisureStain removalCarpet stains

In this report

Related Information

Reports:

close Print
- Print page
- Print whole report
print
comments (0)
share

Stain removal Updated 05 Mar 2009

Carpet stains

Treat the stain immediately.
First, remove as much excess as possible. For liquid stains, blot up as much of the liquid as you can. Dab the stain - don't scrub (it can damage the carpet pile and leave matted fibres). Next, dilute the stain with cold water and continue blotting until the stain fades. Don't saturate the carpet - if the backing becomes wet it can create new stains or even grow mould.
Candle wax, crayon and gum are easier to remove after being frozen with ice.
Treat the residue with an appropriate carpet spot cleaner. Test the cleaner first on an inconspicuous patch of carpet, to check that it won't affect the colour. To stop the stain from spreading, work from the outside edges in towards the centre. See our report on carpet cleaning for our recommended carpet spot cleaners.
Large or stubborn stains may need professional carpet cleaning. Some stains permanently change the carpet's colour, and are untreatable. These include types of dye (such as hair dye), chlorine bleach, mustard with turmeric, acid or alkaline cleaners, and plant fertilisers. You may need to get the stained section replaced. Our carpet cleaning article provides more help on hiring a professional cleaner.

IMPORTANT: if the stain isn't liquid and looks serious - for example, tracked in oily footprints - don't touch it until you've called your insurance company. You may find that repairing the damage is covered by your contents policy.