Common Types of Stains

• It is important to assess the types of stains prior to choosing the method. If you happen to experience staining regularly, especially when you entertain people a lot or if you have pets, you may want to prepare some solutions ahead of time to tackle these stains. A speedy reaction can prevent stains from drying or spreading; therefore, having solutions handy can help prevent further damage to your carpets.
  
  

Food Stains

• Avoid wiping or rubbing the stain because it can spread. Blotting is more effective in containing the stain in one spot. Put a wet towel on top of the stain and press gently with your hand, lift the towel, use another clean part of the towel and repeat the process until no more stains remain.
  
  Remove food stains by scraping off solid food materials with a spoon. Remove the remaining stain with a towel dipped in a mixture of two tablespoons of liquid detergent and two cups of water. For heavier food stains, use a mixture of equal parts vinegar and water.
  Try spraying shaving cream on stubborn food stains. Leave it on for 15 minutes and then blot the area with a towel dipped in water.
  
  Remove red wine spills by immediately pouring white wine over it to neutralize the color. Use a mixture of laundry detergent and water if you do not have white wine available. Dab club soda after blotting. The laundry detergent-and-club soda method is also effective on juice stains.
  
  For grease stains, apply a small amount of dry-cleaning fluid and then blot with a towel containing dish washing liquid and water.
  
  For gum, crayons and candle wax stains, place ice cubes on the stain to help solidify the stain. Then use a blunt knife to remove the frozen pieces.
  
  

Ink Stains

• Remove ink by wetting a cotton cloth or white paper towel with rubbing alcohol (90 percent isopropyl alcohol) and then blot gently on top of the stain. Use a dry-cleaning liquid if you do not have rubbing alcohol on hand.
  
  

Blood and Urine Stains

• Use club soda to remove blood stains. Dip a cotton cloth in club soda, and then blot it on the stain. If this does not work, use equal parts of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide and cold water.
  
  For pet urine stains, use equal parts vinegar and water. Remove as much of the urine as possible by using thick layers of towels and stepping on them to add pressure. Then blot the remaining urine with the vinegar solution until the urine stain and smell disappear.