How do I remove specific stains from carpet?

The general rule for carpet is blot rather than rub, work from the outside inwards, and use cold water before anything else. Beyond that, the right treatment depends entirely on what the stain is made of.

What you'll need

• Clean white cloths
• Washing-up liquid
• Cold water
• Enzyme cleaner (optional)
• Isopropyl alcohol (optional)
• White vinegar (optional)

Step by step

1. Blot up as much as possible immediately with a clean white cloth.White so you can see what is transferring. Press and lift; never rub.
2. For red wine, blot then cover with salt to draw it out, then treat with cold water and a little washing-up liquid.Do not use hot water — it sets the tannins.
3. For coffee and tea, use cold water with a drop of washing-up liquid, then a little white vinegar if a brown tint remains.Work in small amounts and blot between each application.
4. For pet accidents, use an enzyme cleaner specifically.Enzymes break down the compounds that cause both the stain and the lingering smell. Ordinary detergent leaves the smell, which encourages repeat marking.
5. For grease and oil, work washing-up liquid in gently and leave ten minutes before blotting.It is formulated for exactly this. Sprinkling bicarbonate of soda first absorbs the bulk.
6. For ink, dab with isopropyl alcohol from the outside in, with a cloth underneath.Test on a hidden area first — alcohol affects some carpet dyes.
7. For mud, let it dry completely, then vacuum, then treat any remaining mark.Wet mud spreads and pushes deeper. Dry mud largely vacuums out.
8. Rinse by blotting with clean water, then blot dry and let it dry fully.Detergent left behind attracts dirt, so the treated patch re-soils faster than the carpet around it.

Tips

• Always test any treatment on a hidden area — under a sofa or inside a cupboard — before using it in the open.
• Speed matters more than product. A fresh stain blotted with cold water usually comes out; the same stain in a week often does not.
• Never use a steam cleaner on a protein stain until it has been treated — heat sets it permanently.

Common mistakes

• Rubbing the stain — It spreads it outward and permanently distorts the pile, leaving a visible patch even once the stain is gone.
• Using hot water on protein stains — Blood, milk and egg all set permanently when heated.
• Over-wetting the carpet — Liquid reaches the backing and underlay, causing smells and slow mould.

Questions people ask