Accidents Happen – Stain Removal Tips

Accidents are always just waiting to happen in our house!  With busy lifestyles, kids and pets, things don’t seem to stay clean and tidy for long. So, I thought I’d put together a Spot and Stain Removal Guide for you all so that you know what to do before you call me for my Professional Cleaning Services.

First of all make a note of the Dos and Don’ts of how to clean up after a spill: 

You may have noticed that when you try to clean up a spill, spots and stains often reappear.  These marks reappear in the carpet fibres because of liquid residue remaining in the carpet backing. This residue is often from heavy use of cleaning solutions rather than the original stain.  That’s why it’s so important to use the ‘less is more’ approach when attempting DIY cleaning.

Some Of The Most Common Stains Caused By Accidents:

Alcohol, tea, coffee, urine

• It’s important to blot the liquid as soon as you can. 
• A plain white absorbent cloth or kitchen paper towel is perfect to use. 
• Don’t use kitchen paper towels that have any colour on them as this will transfer on to the area you’re attempting to clean.
• Blot from the outer edge of the stain and work your way inwards. 
• Make sure you don’t use too much detergent in one go and blot as you go.
• When you’ve cleaned up as much as you can, blot again with some clean cloths or kitchen paper towels.

Chocolate, sweets, ice cream, vomit

• Use a blunt knife to scrape up any excess soiling
• As before, work from the outer edge of the stain towards the centre.
• Use a detergent spray (shop bought or home made)
• Continue to blot dry
• Using an ammonia solution can help at the final stage
• Make sure you’ve blotted everything dry 

Fats, Chewing Gum, Shoe Polish

• Scrape up any excess soiling with a blunt knife
• You can use an ice cube to freeze chewing gum which may make it easier to remove
• Working from the outside of the stain towards the centre, use a dry-cleaning solution followed by a detergent vinegar solution
• Blot dry

Stain Removal Checklist

1. Clean white absorbent cloth or kitchen paper towels
2. Dry Cleaning Solution
3. Surgical Spirit – found in most Chemists 
4. Detergent Solution – one teaspoon of gentle detergent for washing woollens added to half a pint of warm water
5. Detergent Vinegar Solution – be careful to only use white vinegar and not malt vinegar! Add a teaspoon of white vinegar to the above Detergent Solution
6. Ammonia Solution – One teaspoon of branded household ammonia added to one cup of warm water.

Final Rinse Procedure:

• Add one part white vinegar (not malt vinegar) to four parts water
• Pour into a spray bottle and spray over the stain
• Do not rub 
• Blot the damp area to remove the excess moisture
• Spread a layer of white kitchen paper towels (around 8-10 sheets deep), or an absorbent cloth, over the cleaned area and place something weighted on top.  A pile of books works well but put the books in a plastic bag first so that there’s no danger of them getting damaged by any moisture or from the print coming off their dust jackets onto the damp surface.

For more details about the services I offer and news about The Rutland Cleaning Company, please follow me on Facebook and Instagram