Remember, when it comes time to have your carpets or furniture professionally cleaned, call SmithWerks Carpet Cleaning West Vancouver .
Recommendations for Carpet Spot and Stain Removal - Tables
by Marie S. Hammer, University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service
(These tables are associated with another article; click HERE to view)
| ||||
| To remove a certain stain, try the first removal method indicated for that particular stain. If the primary recommendation does not work, then try the second lettered method. Proceed to other methods in the order listed if the stain prevails. | ||||
Type of Stain
|
Removal methods in recommended order
| |||
First
|
Second
|
Third
|
Fourth
| |
| ACIDS |
E
|
F
| ||
| AIRPLANE GLUE |
C
|
B
| ||
| ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES |
A
|
E
|
D
|
F
|
| AMMONIA |
D
|
E
| ||
| BALLPOINT INK |
C
|
B
|
A
|
E
|
| BATTERY ACID |
E
|
F
| ||
| BLACK COFFEE OR TEA |
A
|
D
|
F
| |
| BLACK GREASE |
C
|
B
|
A
|
F
|
| BLEACH |
A
|
F
| ||
| BLOOD |
A
|
E
| ||
| BUTTER |
B
|
A
|
E
|
D
|
| CANDY |
A
|
E
|
D
|
F
|
| CARBOLIC ACID DISINFECTANT |
E
|
F
| ||
| CATSUP |
A
|
E
|
D
|
F
|
| CHEWING GUM | Rub with ice and scrape gently with a dull knife |
B
| ||
| CHOCOLATE |
A
|
E
|
D
|
F
|
| CIGARETTE BURN |
A
|
F
| ||
| COLOGNE |
A
|
E
|
D
|
F
|
| COLORED PAPER |
A
|
E
|
D
|
F
|
| COOKING OIL |
B
|
A
|
E
|
F
|
| COSMETICS |
C
|
B
|
A
|
E
|
| CRAYON |
B
|
A
|
F
| |
| FOOD DYE |
B
|
A
|
E
|
D
|
| FURNITURE DYE |
C
|
B
|
A
|
E
|
| FURNITURE POLISH |
C
|
B
|
A
|
E
|
| FURNITURE POLISH (WATER BASED) |
A
|
E
|
D
|
F
|
| FRUIT JUICES |
A
|
E
|
D
|
F
|
| GLUE (PLASTIC BASE) |
C
|
B
|
A
|
E
|
| GRASS |
C
|
B
|
A
|
D
|
| GREASY FOOD STAINS |
B
|
A
|
E
|
D
|
| HAND CREAM |
B
|
A
|
E
|
F
|
| ICE CREAM |
A
|
E
|
D
|
F
|
| INDELIBLE INK |
C
|
B
|
A
|
E
|
| INDIA INK |
C
|
B
|
A
|
F
|
| IODINE |
B
|
A
|
E
|
D
|
| LACQUER |
C
|
B
|
A
|
F
|
| LIPSTICK |
C
|
B
|
A
|
E
|
| LYE |
D
|
A
|
F
| |
| MASCARA |
B
|
A
|
F
| |
| MAYONNAISE |
B
|
A
|
E
|
F
|
| MEDICINES |
C
|
B
|
A
|
E
|
| METAL POLISH |
C
|
B
| ||
| MILDEW |
A
|
E
|
F
| |
| MILK |
B
|
A
|
E
|
F
|
| MUD |
A
|
F
| ||
| MUSTARD |
A
|
D
|
F
| |
| NAIL POLISH |
C
|
B
|
A
|
E
|
| NEWSPRINT |
B
|
A
|
F
| |
| OIL, CAR |
B
|
A
|
E
|
F
|
| OIL, LINSEED |
B
|
A
|
E
|
F
|
| OINTMENT |
B
|
A
|
E
|
D
|
| OVEN CLEANER |
D
|
A
|
F
| |
| PAINT CLEANER |
C
|
B
|
A
|
E
|
| PAINT, LATEX |
A
|
E
|
F
| |
| PAINT, OIL |
C
|
B
|
A
|
E
|
| PLANT FOOD |
A
|
E
|
D
|
F
|
| PLASTER |
A
|
F
| ||
| ROUGE |
B
|
A
|
F
| |
| RUBBER CEMENT |
C
|
B
|
A
|
F
|
| RUST |
D
|
A
|
F
| |
| SALAD DRESSING |
B
|
A
|
F
| |
| SALAD OIL |
B
|
A
|
F
| |
| SAUCES |
B
|
A
|
E
|
D
|
| SHELLAC |
C
|
B
|
A
|
E
|
| SHOE POLISH |
C
|
B
|
A
|
E
|
| SOFT DRINKS |
A
|
C
|
E
|
D
|
| SOOT |
B
|
A
|
F
| |
| STARCHY FOOD |
A
|
E
|
D
|
F
|
| SYRUP |
A
|
E
|
F
| |
| TAR |
B
|
A
| ||
| TOOTHPASTE |
A
|
D
|
E
|
F
|
| UNKNOWN STAIN |
C
|
B
|
A
|
D
|
| URINE |
A
|
D
| ||
| VARNISH |
C
|
B
|
A
|
E
|
| VASELINE |
B
|
A
|
F
| |
| VOMIT |
A
|
E
|
D
|
F
|
| WASHABLE INK |
A
|
E
|
D
|
F
|
| WAX CANDLES |
C
|
B
| ||
| WINE |
B
|
A
|
D
| |
| A.DETERGENT MIX - Mix 1 teaspoon mild non-bleaching detergent with one cup of lukewarm water | ||||
| B.DRY CLEANING SOLVENT - Apply dry cleaning solvent to stain (Carbona or K2r) | ||||
| C.NAIL POLISH REMOVER - Amyl acetate (banana fragrance). Follow with the detergent mix. Some dyestuffs are notcompletely "fast" to polish remover. It is important to test in an inconspicuous area. If these cleaning methods are not effective, consult a professional. | ||||
| D.VINEGAR SOLUTION - Mix 1/3 cup white vinegar to 1/3 cup lukewarm water. | ||||
| E.AMMONIA SOLUTION - Mix 1 tablespoon ammonia to 3/4 to 1 cup water. | ||||
| F.WARM WATER - Use lukewarm tap water. | ||||
| Source: Spot and Stain Removal Guide, The Carpet and Rug Institute. | ||||
Table 2.
Chemical Reactions and Carpet Damage Affecting Dye
| ||||
| HOUSEHOLD PRODUCT | CHEMICAL | REACTION | CONDITION | DAMAGE |
| Toilet Bowl Cleaner | Some toilet bowl cleaners contain hydrochloric acid and coloring agents | Acid may dissolve nylon while the coloring agents stain | Some dyes turn bright red | |
| Tile Grout Cleaner | Phosphoric acid | |||
| Acne Medication | Numerous products are available over the counter that contain benzoyl peroxide | Strong oxidizing agent is capable of destroying most dyestuffs used in carpet | Relatively high humidity is necessary for bleaching action to begin | Spots begin as orange to yellow as the dye is bleached and progress to lighter yellow as oxidation proceeds. On blue carpet, spots can appear slightly pink, or exhibit an orange ring or halo that moves outward as the spot grows. Other household textiles can be affected. |
| Pet Shampoo/ Mange Remedy | Benzoyl peroxide is in some of these products | The time between the contact and appearance of the spot could be days | ||
| Spots can look and feel chalky from presence of bentonite (fullers earth) to absorb skin oils | ||||
| Bleaches | Chlorine bleach (sodium hypochlorite) "all fabric" oxygen bleaches | All can cause bleaching and dye bleeding but are slower acting | Yellow spots occur | |
| Swimming pool chemicals | ||||
| Mildew killers that contain bleach | Affects textiles if used indoors | Bleaches carpet | ||
| Drain Cleaners | Sodium hydroxide (lye) | Bleaching occurs | ||
| Strong Alkalis | Sodium hypochlorite (bleach) | |||
| Oven Cleaners | Jelled sodium hydroxide | Bleaching occurs | ||
| Industrial solvents (for pain, arthritis, backache, injuries, muscular aches) | DMSO (dimethylsulfoxide) | Clear liquid smells like garlic | Loss of color on carpet is due to solvent | |
| Insecticides | DDVP, Malathion, Orthene, Sumithion (most common in consumer products that claim to be safe on the label but may not be) | Application of chemical applied in stream instead of a fan-shaped mist to the baseboards. An overall misting can be used for fleas. | Chemicals mentioned are in some off-the-shelf insecticides, which have labels that recommend use on carpet. | Products can change dye colors chemically. Example: red dyes in a beige color turn to blue, giving a green cast. Humidity influences color change. |
| Plant Food | Causes oxidation spots, usually near backing and then progresses upward to the surface. Spot may not be apparent for months. | Spills of liquid plant foods or leakage from flower pots | Dull yellow or brown in color | |
| Urine | Spots begin at the backing and progress upward. The ammonia-like odor eventually becomes a musty odor. | Dull yellow or red. Clean with lukewarm water and apply a solution of half water/half vinegar. | ||
| Vomit (human or animal) | Hydrochloric acid | Causes spots if not cleaned up well or neutralized with baking soda or an ammonia solution. | ||
| Source: Chemical Spots and Stains on Carpet and Rugs, The Carpet and Rug Institute, 1982. | ||||
1. This document is FCS 3110, one of a series of the Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Publication date: May 2001. First published: June 1987. Revised: May 2001. Please visit the University of Floria Extension Web site at http://solutionsforyourlife.ufl.edu/ .2. Written by Marie S. Hammer, former professor, Housing/Home Environment and reviewed by Nayda I. Torres, professor, Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, 32611.
The use of trade names in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information. It is not a guarantee or warranty of the products named, and does not signify that they are approved to the exclusion of others of suitable composition.
