Accidents happen. Suppose you’ve recently moved in to your new custom built Flower Mound home, and one of the kids spills something on the carpet. You may panic and run to grab a spray bottle with some sort of chemical to clean up the stain. Stay calm, and know what you should do for the best results this time and in the future.
First of all, spraying chemicals on the carpet isn’t the best thing to do, and it could actually set the stain in making removal more difficult. If the material is something other than liquid (such as jello, peanut butter, ice cream), first scoop up as much as you can without rubbing. Once all of the solid is removed, lay a clean dry towel over the area and tamp down with your hands or feet to soak up as much of the remaining liquid or stain as possible. Only after you have absorbed as much of the stain as you can should you use a chemical product, preferably one made for cleaning stains from carpet. White vinegar works well, but whatever you use be sure to rinse with cold after gently blotting the area with your stain remover.
Rubbing vigorously should ALWAYS be avoided. Not only does this wear out the fibers of your carpet, it also drives the stain down deeper. It’s important to be gentle when removing a carpet stain, again by blotting instead of vigorous scrubbing or rubbing.
No need to re-test in an inconspicuous area, right? Wrong. Certain chemicals may damage your carpet or even lighten it or affect the color. It’s always recommended to test a product you haven’t used before in a small area that won’t be noticed. Better safe than sorry!
No time to work on the stain immediately? It’s always better to remove a stain as soon as an accident happens, as leaving it until later will make it more difficult to remove. If you have a tight schedule and there’s just no time, at least put a clean towel on top of the stain so that some of the liquid will be absorbed until you can get to it.
Hot water should do the trick – not. Always use cool water when working on a carpet stain as hot or warm water can actually set some stains making them almost impossible to remove. Cool water is gentler, and always a better choice when removing stains.
When you’ve finally moved in to your dream home, the last thing you want is an ugly stain on your new carpet. Hopefully these tips will help ensure your carpet stays looking like new for years to come.
Bud Bartley Homes is a family of Flower Mound custom green home builders who are dedicated to quality and excellence in all we do. Give us a call today if you’re ready to begin a wonderful journey to your dream home.
