Safely Removing Spots from Carpet

Although we've posted various types of spots and how to get rid of them, here are some basic steps for effective removal no matter the spot, along with some precautions.

Act Quickly!

Most carpet available today has been treated with a stain-resist treatment, so many spills can be removed if immediate action is taken. The longer the delay, the higher the probability of a spill becoming a permanent stain. Remember, staining is influenced by many factors, and no carpet is completely stain proof.

Blot liquids with a dry, white, absorbent cloth or or white paper toweling (no printing or colors on the paper towels).

Do not scrub! Scrubbing may cause pile distortion in the affected area. Continue to use a dry cloth or paper towels until the area is completely dry. For semi-solids, gently scrape up with a rounded spoon. Solids should be broken up and vacuumed until completely removed.

Pretest any spot removal agent in an inconspicuous area to be certain the solution will not damage the fiber or the dye. After applying several drops to the testing area, hold a white cloth on the wet area for 10 seconds. Examine the carpet and cloth for color transfer, color change, or damage to the carpet. If a change occurs or any color comes off onto your cloth, another cleaning solution should be selected.

Apply a small amount of the selected cleaning solution to a white cloth and work in gently.
Work from the edges of the spill to the center to prevent the spill from spreading. Remember, do no scrub! Blot in order to absorb as much as possible, and repeat if necessary.

Continue using the first cleaning solution as long as there is a transfer of the spill to the cloth. It is not necessary to use all of the cleaning solutions if the first solution removes the spill.

Be patient! Complete removal of the spill may require repeating the same step several times.

After the spill has been completely removed, rinse the affected area thoroughly with cold water, and blot with a dry cloth until all of the solution has been removed. Some cleaning solutions, especially the over the counter variety, can dry leaving behind residue. This will cause rapid soiling if the solution is not completely removed. Apply a one-half inch layer of white paper towels to the affected area, and weigh down with a flat, heavy object. Continue to change paper towels as needed.

A dry, absorbent, cleaning compound may be used as a substitute to accelerate drying time.
For more detailed information on a specific spill, please feel free to contact us or refer to our newsletters that contain this information.

Also, many fiber manufacturers provide toll-free cleaning assistance and advice (consult your carpet or fabric's warranty).

If you're looking for professional grade spot cleaners and other cleaning supplies, please visit our website at www.CleaningManatee.com/shop.

Why Spots on Your Carpet Keep Coming Back

Have you ever wondered why spots return after having your carpet cleaned?

There are two reasons that spots return:

Reason # 1: Wicking. Wicking is the upward migration of moisture or other substances during drying.  

Many times, the spots in your carpet have seeped into the backing of the carpet. This is common with liquids such as pet urine, beverages, and anything that is spilled in “volume”. The substance dries in the backing and the cushion (pad) of the carpet. When the spot is cleaned, only the material in the “pile” of the carpet is removed. However, moisture is introduced to into the backing of the carpet. As the spot dries, the material that is in the backing of the carpet “wicks” back into the pile of the carpet and comes to the surface much like a candle wick.

Even traffic area soil that is embedded can wick back. This is especially common in glue down carpet that is heavily impacted with soil. When the carpet is cleaned, it looks good. When it dries, the spots and traffic areas come back.

The good news is that if a spot actually wicks back, it can be removed. When spot cleaning yourself, place a folded white terry cloth towel over the spot just after you clean it while the spot is still moist. Place a heavy object on top of the cloth. Be sure to use something non porous that won’t transfer color onto the carpet (like a paper book cover). Use a brick, a planting pot, or something like that.

When you have your carpet cleaned professionally, be sure to point out spots that have wicked back in the past, so they can be treated properly.Often, getting the carpets dry quickly will help prevent wicking. Your carpet cleaner can do this by running air movers to help dry the room (one of Overturf's Cleaning's steps in our 12 step process). You can assist in your carpets dry time by running any available fans like ceiling fans, along with turning your air conditioner on to about 70 degrees. The sooner the carpet dries, the less chance for any substance on the backing of the carpet has to wick up to the surface.

We will discuss reason number 2 for spots returning in a future post.

Sick pets and your carpet

Sadly, in the life of a carpet cleaner, I run across many sick pets. Why so? Because many times an older or a sick pet has many symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, or frequent urination.

Our carpet cleaning Bradenton company is called to clean up the mess. It's important to do so quickly, before the acids in these bodily fluids dye the carpet. But more important is the health of your pet. That's why it's imperative that you find out the symptoms for dogs, what they mean, and what you can do for your dog.

Is your dog scooting on the carpet frequently, have a bloated belly, or maybe even obsessively licking its paws? If you can find out early if your dog has worms, allergies, or even if she may be pregnant, your dog has a much better chance of staying healthy. Some changes to make your dog more comfortable may be as easy as changing their type of food.

We recommend you visit symptoms for dogs to find out what could be wrong, and don't delay in visiting the vet if something serious is wrong.