Remove Bleach Stains on Carpet?

This page title gets a question mark because it isn't technically possible to remove bleach stains on carpet. The problem is that what you see is not a stain, but the removal of the dye from the carpet fibers. Fortunately, though, there are some things you can do to make the carpet look better.

To start with if it is a fresh spill, don't let it spread. Dab it quickly with a white paper towel or get out the wet/dry vacuum cleaner and suck out any remaining liquid bleach. Then open a window and/or turn on a nearby bathroom fan - the fumes can be toxic. Spray or drip some water on the spot and blot it up or suck it up with that wet/dry vacuum. Repeat this process until you are pretty sure there is no more bleach in the rug.

If it is a fresh spill it may take a little while before you see the bleaching out of the color, but at this point the damage is done. Now, since you can't remove a removal of dye, you need to fix or hide the spot. Dyeing of bleach spots is possible, although it is difficult for a homeowner to do on his or her own. You might want to call a professional carpet cleaner who specializes in restoration work.

If you want to risk making a mess or wasting your time, look for carpet dyes online. You'll need to carefully follow the instructions that come with a product, but in general you dye lightly, and add more a bit at a time until you get a match for the surrounding carpet.

Another option is to cut the spot out and fill it in with carpet you have leftover from the original installation, or a piece that you cut out of a corner of a closet - where it won't be noticed. Cut it a bit large and trim it as necessary to perfectly match the piece removed. Secure it with carpet glue and weight it down until dry. Then fluff up the fibers and mix them into the surrounding tufts to make the spot invisible (you hope). If you haven't done this before you might want to hire a professional.

The other, perhaps obvious, option with bleach stains on carpet is to hide them by rearranging the furniture or placing a rug over the spot.