HOW TO REMOVE OLD CARPET STAINS
Keeping carpets clean and stain-free in a home with toddlers is a big undertaking. Every parent knows that messes with little ones are inevitable no matter how hard we may try, they’re just bound to happen. And, if you have carpet in your house, those areas seem to be a magnet for all the spills and mishaps!
But, just because a carpet gets stained doesn’t mean it’s time to panic. There are tons of products and DIY hacks that will clear those stains right up, which is why I’m sharing my guide on how to remove old carpet stains. Let’s make them look brand new again (or, at least as close as we can get)!
How To Remove Old Carpet Stains
Method One: White Vinegar and Lemon Juice
If your little one just spilled their grape juice (or other kinds of juice) everywhere, take a deep breath and be thankful that juice is a water soluble stain! This just means that using water to clean it up helps bring the stain to the surface.
Blot up as much of the juice as you can with paper towels, but do so gently so you don’t press the juice further into the carpet fibers.
Once you’ve gotten up as much as you can, put some white vinegar directly onto the stain, and use a bristle brush to scrub the area. If you’re not seeing the results you hoped for, squeeze some lemon juice onto the stain, add a little bit more white vinegar, and scrub away.
Method Two: Miss Mouth’s Messy Eater Stain Treater Spray
For more stubborn stains like pizza sauce, we’re pulling out the heavy hitters. Miss Mouth’s Messy Eater Stain Treater Spray is fantastic for getting out those tougher stains, and it’s perfectly safe to use on carpet!
The process is super simple. You just spray the solution on the carpet stain, let it sit for a few seconds, and then blot the stain with a paper towel. This may take a few tries, especially for darker stains like spaghetti sauce, but I swear by this product for carpets (and clothes)!
Method Three: Warm Water and Dishwashing Soap
Rainy days can be a parent’s worst nightmare for carpets, but it doesn’t have to be! Warm water and dishwashing soap works perfectly for removing old stains from muddy rain boots.
Before cleaning anything, you’ll need to let the mud dry (painful, I know), but letting it dry allows you to vacuum up some of that mess! After you’re able to vacuum, create your homemade solution by mixing up some dishwashing soap and warm water.
Then, just dab the mixture onto the mud stain, use some elbow grease to scrub it, and ta-da! Like it never even happened.
Method Four: Dish Soap, Baking Soda, and Citrus Juice
Oil and grease stains are some of the hardest to get out. Whether it’s reside from dropped greasy food or the remains of spilled cosmetics, restoring carpet or fabrics after a mess like this can be intimidating.
However, Dawn dish soap is all-powerful when it comes to oil-based stains. So on that note, heavily apply the dish soap onto the stain and scrub it in well. After you’ve scrubbed in the soap, generously sprinkle baking soda on the area, and then top it with some lemon or lime juice.
You’ll notice that when it begins to foam, it’s working! You can use a soft bristled brush or a sponge to work that mixture in, and then just fill up a spray bottle with water to cover the area once you’re finished scrubbing your mixture. Dry with a clean cloth until it’s damp, then voila!
Method Five: Folex
If you notice that your kiddos got permanent marker on the carpet, this is surprisingly an easy fix! White vinegar can be a good trick when you need to act fast, but Folex Instant Carpet Spot Remover is like the holy grail of carpet cleaners for any really difficult stains.
Just generously spray the spot where the permanent marker spot is and scrub until you see it beginning to disappear. You seriously won’t even be able to tell!
As parents, we know that the carpets most likely won’t be the only places we’ll find marker stains, which is why I have a whole hack list on how to remove permanent marker from different surfaces with different tools!
Method Six: Baking Soda and Vinegar
Slime and playdough are fan favorites… for children at least. We know as parents that where there is slime and playdough, there is a mess to clean up. A frustrating mess, at that.
But, let me help take the frustration away. For this homemade hack, we’re gonna make a baking soda and vinegar mixture. Wherever you notice slime or playdough residue, use a butter knife to scrape away as much as you can. After you do that, sprinkle on some baking soda, and pour vinegar on top.
The baking soda works to break down that stickiness left behind, and the vinegar will dissolve the rest. Scrub if necessary, and then dab away until it’s damp and can be safely left to dry.
Method Seven: Hydrogen Peroxide
Believe it or not, hydrogen peroxide works wonders when it comes to stains. Whether your little one made a mess with their fruit at lunchtime, there are chocolate stains from some food crafts, there are spots of blood from a mishap, or there’s artificially-colored juice after a spill, hydrogen peroxide will save the day.
No matter what kind of stain you may be dealing with, just pour a small amount of hydrogen peroxide onto the stain, let it sit for a couple of minutes, and then scrub it away!
When it comes to stains, if there’s a will, there’s a way!
Carpet stains can be an annoying day-to-day battle if you’re a parent, but let me make it easier! With all of the effective methods I’ve provided, I want to change your perspective on carpet stains from being day-ruiners, to just slight inconveniences. Keep the playtime rolling!
If you have stains that I didn’t include in this list of hacks, check out my Amazon shop for all sorts of stain fighters and carpet cleaners. For more cleaning tips, visit the Mothercould blog! For all sorts of in-depth tutorials and step-by-step recipes, download Mothercould in your Pocket!