STAIN CARE
Correct and regular maintenance will increase the life span of a carpet and also help maintain its good appearance. Cleaning should be
proportional to the amount of soiling the carpet is subject to – the more dirt is deposited on the carpet, the more intensive is the
maintenance program required.
Spot Cleaning
For spot cleaning, immediately remove as much of the spill as possible. To remove stains it is generally best to use general carpet
cleaning liquids designed specifically for spot cleaning. The recurrence of stains after spot cleaning is not uncommon for a concentrated spill, so repeat is necessary.
- Never rub or scrub the carpet as it may cause fuzzing or change the appearance of the carpet.
- Always work from the outside of the stain towards the middle to avoid further spreading.
- It is recommended to pre-test any cleaning agents on a small obscured area of your carpet to ensure they do not affect the appearance or colour of the carpet.
- It is most important to rinse the cleaned area thoroughly with water and blot dry after removing any spills. If the cleaned area is not sufficiently rinsed, a sticky detergent residue remains which attracts soiling.
- If stains fail to respond to treatments, contact a professional carpet cleaner immediately.
- Spills should be attended to as they occur – the older the stain, the more difficult it is often to remove.
Dry Stains – Gently remove as much of the substance as possible using a small soft hand brush or spatula to break up any crusted material and then vacuum thoroughly.
Wet Stains – Blot with absorbent white cloth or paper towel, or use spatula to remove excess, then blot. For larger spills, a portable extraction unit or wet/dry vacuum, or professional cleaning is best.
Wool Carpet – Stain Removal Guide
Recommended Cleaning Methods
Rinse the cleaned area thoroughly with clear cold water after each cleaning step and blot dry.
| 1 | Cold water |
| 2 | Detergent solution: One teaspoon of wool detergent (for example, Softly) and one litre of warm water |
| 3 | Clear household disinfectant |
| 4 | Dry cleaning solvent such as White Spirit or Murlex (available from hardware stores). Use only on dry carpet. |
| 5 | Chill with ice cubes in a plastic bag. Pick or scrape off substance. |
| 6 | Vinegar solution: Mix 1/3 cup of white vinegar with 2/3 cup of water |
| 7 | Warm water |
| 8 | Nail polish remover (should not contain lanolin) |
| 9 | Surgical alcohol |
| 10 | Vacuum clean |
| 11 | Mineral turpentine or Methylated spirit |
| 12 | Consult a professional carpet cleaner |
| Stain | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alcoholic drinks, Beer | 1 | 2 | |
| Asphalt | 11 | 4 | |
| Berries | 2 | 12 | |
| Bleach | 1 | 12 | |
| Blood | 1 | 2 | |
| Butter | 4 | 2 | |
| Chalk | 2 | 4 | |
| Chewing Gum | 5 | 4 | |
| Chocolate | 4 | 2 | |
| Coffee | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| Cream | 2 | 4 | |
| Egg | 2 | 12 | |
| Faeces | 2 | 3 | 12 |
| Fruit Juice/Drinks | 1 | 2 | |
| Glue | 12 |
| Stain | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gravy | 7 | 2 | |
| Grease | 4 | 2 | |
| Hair Dye | 12 | ||
| Ice Cream | 2 | 4 | |
| Ink (ballpoint pen) | 9 | 2 | |
| Ink (Felt tip pen) | 4 | 2 | |
| Insecticides | 12 | ||
| Lipstick | 4 | 2 | |
| Liquor | 1 | 2 | |
| Milk | 2 | 4 | |
| Mouthwash, Toothpaste | 2 | 4 | |
| Mustard | 2 | ||
| Nail Polish | 8 | 4 | |
| Ointment | 4 | 2 | |
| Paint (oil base) | 11 | 4 |
| Stain | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paint (water base) | 1 | 2 | |
| Rust | 6 | 12 | |
| Salad Dressing | 2 | 4 | |
| Shoe Polish | 4 | 2 | |
| Soft Drinks | 1 | 2 | |
| Tea | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| Tomato Sauce | 7 | 2 | |
| Urine (fresh stain) | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Urine (old) | 12 | ||
| Vomit | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| Water Colours | 1 | 2 | |
| Wine | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| Unknown substance | 4 | 2 | 12 |
If stains fail to respond to treatments, contact a professional carpet cleaner immediately.
Synthetic Carpet – Stain Removal Guide
Recommended Cleaning Methods
Rinse the cleaned area thoroughly with clear cold water after each cleaning step and blot dry.
Detergent – Use commercially available general carpet cleaning or spot removal detergent. Apply detergent sparingly to the stained area then blot to remove residue and rinse thoroughly with clear water. Blot dry.
Ammonia solution – Mix 1 tablespoon non-bleaching household ammonia with one cup of warm water. (Note: Do not mix with chlorine bleach.) Gently apply ammonia solution sparingly. Blot the stained area to remove the substance. Rinse thoroughly with clear water. Blot dry.
Vinegar solution – Mix one part white vinegar and one part water. Apply the white vinegar solution to the entire area that has been cleaned. Rinse thoroughly with clear water. Blot dry.
Alcohol – Clear alcohol, use as is. Apply only enough alcohol to dampen the stain. Blot dry. Repeat as long as the stain continues to transfer.
Clear water – Rinse the cleaned area thoroughly with clear water and blot dry.
Synthetic Carpet Cleaning Table
| Stain | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asphalt | Alcohol | Detergent | Vinegar solution | Clear water |
| Beer | Detergent | Ammonia solution | Clear water | |
| Berries | Detergent | Ammonia solution | Clear water | |
| Blood | Detergent | Ammonia solution | Clear water | |
| Bleach | Detergent | Ammonia solution | Clear water | |
| Butter | Alcohol | Detergent | Vinegar solution | Clear water |
| Chalk | Detergent | Ammonia solution | Clear water | |
| Chewing Gum | Chill | Scrape off | Clear water | |
| Chocolate | Alcohol | Detergent | Vinegar solution | Clear water |
| Clay (red) | Detergent | Ammonia solution | Clear water | |
| Coffee | Detergent | Vinegar solution | Clear water | |
| Crayon | Alcohol | Detergent | Vinegar solution | Clear water |
| Faeces | Detergent | Ammonia solution | Clear water | |
| Felt Tip Marker | Alcohol | Detergent | Vinegar solution | Clear water |
| Fruit Juice/Drinks | Detergent | Ammonia solution | Clear water | |
| Furniture Polish | Alcohol | Detergent | Vinegar solution | Clear water |
| Glue | Detergent | Ammonia solution | Clear water | |
| Gravy | Detergent | Ammonia solution | Clear water | |
| Grease | Alcohol | Detergent | Vinegar solution | Clear water |
| Hair Dye | Detergent | Ammonia solution | Clear water | |
| Ice Cream | Detergent | Ammonia solution | Clear water | |
| Ink (washable) | Detergent | Ammonia solution | Clear water | |
| Ink (permanent) | Alcohol | Detergent | Vinegar solution | Clear water |
| Insecticides | Alcohol | Detergent | Vinegar solution | Clear water |
| Iron Rust | Detergent | Ammonia solution | Clear water | |
| Lipstick | Alcohol | Detergent | Vinegar solution | Clear water |
| Stain | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liquor | Alcohol | Detergent | Vinegar solution | Clear water |
| Mascara | Alcohol | Detergent | Vinegar solution | Clear water |
| Medicines | Detergent | Ammonia solution | Clear water | |
| Milk | Detergent | Ammonia solution | Clear water | |
| Motor Oil | Alcohol | Detergent | Vinegar solution | Clear water |
| Mouthwash | Detergent | Ammonia solution | Clear water | |
| Mustard | Detergent | Vinegar solution | Clear water | |
| Nail Polish | Alcohol | Detergent | Vinegar solution | Clear water |
| Oil | Alcohol | Detergent | Vinegar solution | Clear water |
| Ointment | Alcohol | Detergent | Vinegar solution | Clear water |
| Paint (oil base) | Alcohol | Detergent | Vinegar solution | Clear water |
| Paint (water base) | Detergent | Ammonia solution | Clear water | |
| Petroleum jelly | Alcohol | Detergent | Vinegar solution | Clear water |
| Plant Food | Detergent | Ammonia solution | Clear water | |
| Salad Dressing | Alcohol | Detergent | Vinegar solution | Clear water |
| Shoe Polish | Alcohol | Detergent | Vinegar solution | Clear Water |
| Soft Drinks | Detergent | Ammonia solution | Clear water | |
| Soy Sauce | Alcohol | Detergent | Vinegar solution | Clear Water |
| Tea | Detergent | Vinegar solution | Clear water | |
| Tomato Sauce | Detergent | Ammonia solution | Clear water | |
| Toothpaste | Detergent | Ammonia solution | Clear water | |
| Urine | Detergent | Vinegar solution | Clear water | |
| Vomit | Detergent | Vinegar solution | Clear water | |
| WaterColours | Detergent | Vinegar solution | Clear water | |
| Wax (candle) | Alcohol | Detergent | Vinegar solution | Clear water |
| Wine | Detergent | Ammonia solution | Clear water |
If stains fail to respond to treatments, contact a professional carpet cleaner immediately.
