How to Remove Carpet Stains

You'll find step-by-step instructions on how to remove carpet stains of virtually all types here. Sometimes specialized cleaning products and professional carpet cleaners are needed, but you can get out many stains easily by yourself, using what you already have in the house.

Carpet Stain Removal - Start Here...

How to Get Out Carpet Stains - Basic procedures.
What to Do About a Permanent Stain - Diminish, hide, repair.
What's the Best Way to Clean Carpet? - Not all methods are equal.

You're site gets a rare bookmark for me. - Dustin C

Featured Pages | News | Tips

Newest Video Additions - March, 2013 - We have added videos tutorials to the pages on asphalt stains and steam cleaning.

A Guide to Deep Cleaning Carpet - May 2013 - If you want the cleanest carpeting possible, you probably should hire professionals who use hot water extraction, otherwise known as steam cleaning. They should arrive with... But what if you do not want to spend the money for a professional carpet cleaner and you still want... Continue reading here...

Carpet and Allergies - March, 2013 - If you look around the internet for information on whether carpeting is good or bad for allergies, and what you should do to minimize any problems, you'll notice that the "experts" disagree on... Continue reading here...

Which is the Best Carpet for Rentals? - February 2013 - A landlord generally wants to provide a decent environment to live in for his or her tenants. This often includes having decent carpeting that is clean and... Continue reading here...

Should You Clean It Yourself? - Portable consumer machines don't have the hot water and high powered suction necessary to deeply clean a carpet. A "truck mount" unit is always better. Only use rental machines (if at all) for short-pile carpet that isn't too dirty, or which has most of the dirt near the surface.

Detailed Instructions for Removing These Carpet Stains...

Acids - Start by neutralizing the acid. Cat on Carpet
Asphalt - Prevention tips are covered too.
Beer - The odor is the issue.
Berry Stains - These are not hopeless.
Bleach - Hide and cover the damage.
Blood - Use a simple household product.
Burns - You can make them invisible.
Candy - A sticky problem resolved.
Cat Urine - Eliminate the odor.
Cheese - This is an easy cleanup.
Chewing Gum - There are a couple tricks.
Chocolate - There are two methods that work.
Coffee Stains - This can be a tough one.
Crayon - The red ones are the worst.
Dirt - This is of the easier ones to get out.
Dog Urine - Use a wet/dry vacuum cleaner.
Dog Poop - Not a fun job; but here's how.
Soft Drinks - Water will get most out.
Dye - These can be tricky spots.
Egg - Here are some easy instructions.
Fruit Juice - Get it before it goes deep.
Glue - Procedures are very different for this.
Gravy - Clean it up fast with these steps.
Grease - Start with plain unscented dish soap.
Ink - Use rubbing alcohol, but carefully.
Ketchup - You can get it out even when dried.
Kool Aid - The red varieties are the toughest.
Makeup - This is another job for isopropyl alcohol.
Mayonnaise - Get the greasiness out completely.
Mildew - There are mild and severe cases...
Milk - The odor does not have to linger.
Mustard - This is one of the toughest of all.
Nail Polish - Use nail polish remover, of course.
Odors - Cheap tricks and expensive ozone treatments.
Paint - It isn't always as difficult as it looks.
Perfume - The first step involves white vinegar.
Permanent Stains - Should you hide or repair?
Playdough - Here are some simple steps to follow.
Poop - Remove the mess and the smell.
Red Stains - Use an iron and dish detergent.
Rubber Cement - Rubbing alcohol to the rescue!
Rust - Lemon juice is one alternative to try.
Soot - Dealing with small and large spots.
Soy Sauce - Use ammonia to start the process.
Tar - It isn't easy, but it can be done.
Tea - Try white vinegar and warm water.
Toothpaste - You can use common cleaners.
Urine - Get the odors out as well.
Vomit - It can damage the color of the fibers.
Watercolor - Tips for messy artists.
Candle Wax - Start with a brown paper bag...
Wine - You can use white vinegar and dish soap.

Other Pages

Deep Cleaning Carpet - How to do it yourself and whether you should.
Carpet and Allergies: What's the Truth? - Common sense and experimentation.
Best Carpet for Rentals - What a landlord needs to know.
A Brief History of Carpet - It goes back 9,000 years.
Stain Resistant Carpet - Does it work, and what are the drawbacks?
Different Types of Carpet - From cut pile to level loop and more.
Carpet Life - How long it is normally, and how to add years to that.
Bathroom Carpet? - A bad idea, but if you have it...
Clean Hardwood Floors - Some tips for the best methods.
Carpet Versus Hardwood Flooring - Which is better for you?
How to Clean Wool Carpet - And wool rugs; spot treatment and deep cleaning.
Cheap Carpet Cleaning - Six options for saving money.
Green Carpet Cleaning Methods - Some environmentally-friendly options.
Get Odor Out - There are seven methods explained here.
How to Repair Carpet - Cutting out and replacing a damaged spot.
How to Clean Rugs - Bathroom and kitchen as well as are rugs are covered.
Disinfecting Rugs - Try using the sun.
Removing Carpet Stains - Doing it on your own.

I spilled kool aid on the carpet two days before re-signing the lease (with inspection) on our house. I tried all the cleaners, but some kool aid always stuck around. This method destroyed the red stain in my carpet. I love this, thanks so much! - Jason A

Did this site help you out? Let people know by using one of these...

Video:

How to Remove a Stain
Watch it being done to understand the basic procedures.