In the words of Macbeth: “Out, damn’d spot, out!” It’s one of the perils of home ownership: Getting an unsightly spot or stain on your carpet or upholstery. What’s to be done with this mess that’s slowly seeping into your home?
At Dr. Chem-Dry, spot cleaning and stain removal is one of our many specialties. If you’ve got a spot that you just can’t get out, don’t stand there shouting at it like Macbeth. Give our professional cleaners a call! But if you’re looking for ways to remove spots on your own, here’s a few tips and tricks that should help make your home spotless.
Related: Can an old stain still be removed years later?
The Golden Rule
“Think Fast, Act Faster”. The best way to remove any spot or stain in your home is to clean it up as soon as it happens. Once a spot sets in and dries, it becomes a part of your carpet or furniture. At that point, it’s still removable but will require a lot more work to pull it off.
When a stain happens blot it up with a clean cloth or paper towel. Do it gently and work from the outside in. Working from the outside in will keep the stain from spreading further. Do NOT rub or press hard on the spot you’re cleaning: That could end up pushing it deeper into the carpet fibers.
If the stain is a dollop of something heavy like mustard or salsa, you’ll want to scoop up the excess before blotting. When working with stains or spots, blotting with clean cold water is usually the best approach. It will lighten most stains, and in some cases remove them altogether.
What To Do When The Stain Is On Something That Isn’t Washable?
Sometimes you can get stains on clothing and furniture that isn’t washable. When this happens, you have two options. The first is to take the item to a dry cleaners, which is a good idea if it’s something small and easy to transport like clothing. If it’s a larger item or something that can’t be easily moved you’ll want to give us a call to handle it.
Cleaning Agents
When dealing with spot removal you want to be really careful with what kind of cleaning supplies you use. You don’t want to use bleaches or anything harsh. Chemical cleaners can be risky: They can have an effect on your health and could end up staining or damaging your carpets & furniture! When cleaning spots, consider using these cleaning agents:
Do:
- Chem-Dry’s World Famous Spot Remover
- Seltzer Water
- Baking Soda
- Be careful about store bought brands
Do Not:
- No Soaps or Detergents
- No Bleaches
- No Vinegar
Not All Spots Are The Same
An important thing to keep in mind is that you won’t be able to clean all stains and spots the same way. The strategy you’d use to clean a red wine spot isn’t the same as the one you’d use to clean up blood. Greasy stains need to be handled in a different way than you’d use for thinner liquid ones. If you don’t know how to clean a stain, call us. You don’t want to make a spot worse than it already is by cleaning it incorrectly.
Related: How to Get Out 5 Different Carpet Stains the Minute They Happen
Got a spot that you can’t get out? Need some help cleaning your carpets? Give Dr. Chem-Dry a call at 602-243-6379.
