Dirt Defense
No one likes to spend precious free time cleaning carpet. To save wear and tear as well as time spent cleaning carpet stains and dirt, have everyone remove their shoes upon entering your home. If you don't already have doormats and boot scrapers in place for your guests, it would be a good idea to do so. Try and keep walkways and entrances swept and free of dirt and debris that can be tracked in on one's shoes.

Bathtub Stain Removal
It's a sad fact of life. Bathtubs can take on stains, mostly caused by mineral build up from hard water. No one who handles bathroom cleaning should have to contend with bathtub stains. If you do find yourself with this problem keep this bathroom cleaning tip in mind: Use Borax for removing hard water stains. Just sprinkle some onto the offending area, let sit for a few minutes, and wipe with a damp sponge.

Urine Stain and Odor Removal from Carpet
Anyone who has ever owned a dog or a cat knows all about cleaning carpet pet stains. Unfortunately, urine can saturate absorbent materials such as carpet, well beyond the surface area that can effectively be cleaned. It is extremely difficult to remove all of the urine from the carpet fibers, carpet backing and padding underneath, thereby creating ideal conditions for bacteria and mold growth (and thus malodors). However, you might not be ready to replace your items just yet. When cleaning carpets stains such as urine, blot up as much as possible with an absorbent white cloth. The newest technology uses peroxide and detergents to penetrate the soiled area to remove the stain and deactivate the odor. Simply spray a product such as PAWS - Pet Accident Wash-up Solution or Bio-OX Citrus Concentrate on the soiled area, and then allow it to penetrate for approximately five minutes. Using a clean white absorbent cloth, blot the area, pressing down firmly (do not rub) for 30 seconds. Repeat this blotting process until the area is dry. If the odor persists, repeat the process. PAWS will do an excellent job on old pet stains and odors too. You can also try saturating the area with a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution. Let it sit for a few minutes. Then, using a clean white absorbent cloth, blot the area, pressing down firmly (do not rub) for 30 seconds. Repeat this blotting process until the area is dry. If the odor or stain persists, repeat the process. Another option to remove carpet stains made by urine is baking soda, which can be used to eliminate surface (but not deeply penetrated) odors. Dampen the area with clean water and then sprinkle baking soda over it. Rub the baking soda into the soiled area and let dry; brush or vacuum to remove the dry material.
Oil Stain Removal from Carpet
To remove carpet stains that contain oil, you'll first need to absorb the oil. Baking soda and corn starch work best, but talcum powders also can do the trick. First sprinkle the powder liberally onto the stain and leave overnight. The next day, vacuum the powder. If there's still some discoloration left behind, try blotting the stain with a mild dishwashing liquid or laundry detergent formulated to cut oil and grease. Once the stain is lifted, blot again with a clean damp sponge or cloth.

Grease Stain Removal from Carpet
Try this tip when cleaning carpet stains: Apply a generous layer of baking soda or cornstarch to greasy spots and leave overnight. After vacuuming, the grease should be absorbed. If there is any residue or discoloration left behind, blot with vinegar until the stain is lifted. A dishwashing liquid or detergent specializing in removing grease will also remove carpet stains that are greasy. Make a solution of half detergent and half water and spray directly onto the stain. Blot until the stain is removed. Blot again with a damp sponge to rinse.

Grape Juice Stain Removal from Carpet
The tannins in grape juice can make it difficult to remove carpet stains made up of this dark purple liquid. Club soda can help with this. Pour some directly on the carpet and blot. You can also try cleaning carpet with a solution of vinegar and a mild dishwashing liquid. Again, dab until the stain is removed. Blot again with a damp cloth to remove any residue.

Permanent Marker Stain Removal from Carpet
Cleaning carpet stains left by permanent marker isn't difficult if you act swiftly before the stain has a chance to set in. First try hairspray or rubbing alcohol. Spray directly onto the stain to saturate and let sit for thirty to sixty minutes. Blot with a damp sponge or cloth until the stain is removed. If this didn't work, you can try a non-acetate nail polish remover. You may want to test this in a hidden area first however, to be sure you won't damage the carpet further. 

Soft Drink Stain Removal from Carpet
Anyone who has ever hosted a party has had to contend with careless guests. They don't spill because they're inconsiderate of course, they 're just having such a good time, they're not paying attention. That can mean only one thing. Spills on the carpet. If you're finding yourself having to remove carpet stains caused by soft drinks, you might be happy to find out this is an easy spot to remove. The last thing you want after a party is to spend a lot of time cleaning carpet stains caused by an overzealous party goer. Pour some vinegar onto a cloth and blot the stain until it's lifted. If you can't live with the smell of vinegar, blot again with a damp sponge.

Nail Polish Stain Removal from Carpet
Don't cry over spilt nail polish! Manicure mishaps are easily remedied. To remove carpet stains caused by nail polish, just use nail polish remover! Pour onto a cotton ball or clean cloth and blot until the polish has disappeared. Blot again with clean water to remove all residue. Remember, when cleaning carpet stains, especially those made by nail polish, it's important to blot. Don't rub or the nail polish will spread.

Milk Stain and Odor Removal from Carpet
You may have noticed a couple of days after cleaning carpet stains such as milk, the spots come back. This may be due to wicking. Wicking happens when the carpet becomes saturated and the liquid pools at the bottom. After a while, it starts to work it's way back up through the fibers making the stain reappear on your carpet. It is extremely difficult to remove all of the liquid from the carpet fibers, carpet backing and padding underneath, thereby creating ideal conditions for bacteria and mold growth (and thus malodors). However, you might not be ready to replace your carpet just yet, so here are a few things you can do to eliminate the carpet odor. When you first begin to remove carpet stains, blot up as much of the liquid as possible with an absorbent white cloth. Place another thick cloth on the carpet and weigh down with something heavy so all of the liquid is absorbed. When that's done, go ahead and sanitize the area. The newest technology uses peroxide and detergents to penetrate the soiled area and deactivate the odor. Simply spray a product such as Bio-OX Citrus Concentrate on the soiled area, which will penetrate into the carpet. Allow Bio-OX to penetrate for approximately five minutes. Using a clean white absorbent cloth, blot the area, pressing down firmly (do not rub) for 30 seconds. Repeat this blotting process until the area is dry. If the stain or odor persists, repeat the process. You can also use baking soda to eliminate surface (but not deeply penetrated) odors. Dampen the area with clean water and then sprinkle baking soda over it. Rub the baking soda into the soiled area and let dry; brush or vacuum to remove the dry material.

Rust Stain Removal from Carpet
It's important to keep the area around metal furniture legs dry. If not, we might end up with rust stains on our carpets. These unsightly orange stains can set in and become a perm ant part of the décor if we don't act quickly enough. It's best to act immediately upon seeing the stain. To remove carpet stains caused by rust, it's best to use an acid-based cleaner. Vinegar and lemon juice work well for this task because they're both contain acids. A cleaner containing oxalic acid will also work at cleaning carpet stains such as rust.

Repairing Burned or Melted Carpet Fibers
Unfortunately you can't employ the same techniques used for cleaning carpet stains as you would to repair burns in the carpet. In fact, one can pretty much consider a burn permanent damage. Before you toss your carpet in a dumpster however, you might try one of these methods to remove carpet stains caused by burns. The first thing you can try is snipping the very top fibers of the carpet. If the burn is too far down in the fibers, you can cut out the burned spot with an exacto knife and cut out another piece exactly the same size and shape from a carpet remnant or hidden area of the carpet. Paint a little glue on the sides of the piece of carpet and glue into place. Hopefully no one will ever notice.

Hair Dye Stain Removal from Carpet
An unfortunate accident with hair dye can make cleaning carpet a nightmare. In many cases, it may even mean the end of your carpet. Hopefully it won't come to this. There are a few things you can try to remove carpet stains of this nature. First of all, it should go without saying that if hair dye is spilled on the carpet one should act immediately. Dampen a sponge and apply dishwashing liquid. Blot the stain with the sponge until you've lifted as much of the dye as possible. You can also try doing the same thing with vinegar. If this doesn't work and the stain hasn't set into the carpet too deep, you might be able to snip the very top fibers of the carpet without anyone knowing. If none of this works, you'll have to call in a professional who makes cleaning carpet stains his business or rearrange your furniture to hide the stain.

Vomit Stain and Odor Removal from Carpet
To remove carpet stains and odor such as those made by vomit, the newest technology uses peroxide and detergents to penetrate the soiled area to remove the stain and deactivate the odor. Simply spray a product such as Bio-OX Citrus Concentrate on the soiled area, and then allow it to penetrate for approximately five minutes. Using a clean white absorbent cloth, blot the area, pressing down firmly (do not rub) for 30 seconds. Repeat this blotting process until the area is dry. If the stain or odor persists, repeat the process. You can also try saturating the area with a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution. Let it sit for a few minutes. Then, using a clean white absorbent cloth, blot the area, pressing down firmly (do not rub) for 30 seconds. Repeat this blotting process until the area is dry. If the stain or odor persists, repeat the process. Another option for cleaning carpet stains is baking soda, which can be used to eliminate surface (but not deeply penetrated) odors. Dampen the area with clean water and then sprinkle baking soda over it. Rub the baking soda into the soiled area and let dry; brush or vacuum to remove the dry material.

Bleach Stain Removal from Carpet
A bleach stain doesn't have to be the end of your carpet. If it's not a huge spot, you can get away with repairing the spot and no one will be the wiser. It's not as simple as cleaning carpet stains, but it's cheaper than tossing your rug out to the curb. Cut a swatch from a hidden area of your carpet or leftover remnant. Take your swatch to your local craft store and see if you can find a fabric paint or dye that will match your carpet. If this isn't a viable option, a professional who can remove carpet stains may even be able to recommend a product to use to get the color back into your carpet.


Protecting Furniture During Carpet Cleaning
Here's a household hint. Before cleaning carpet stains with a steam cleaner, slip plastic baggies over your furniture legs. This will not only protect your furniture legs from the steam cleaner, it will also protect your carpet from stains caused by rusty metal chair legs.

Repairing Cigarette Burns in Carpet
If you come across a cigarette burn in your cleaning carpet ritual, you'll need to do some simple repair work. First snip away the singed edges with fine manicure scissors or a razor blade. Use tweezers to pull out the severely burned fibers and discard. Remove clean carpet strands from another, hidden area in the room. Apply glue to the burned area, and press the clean fibers into the spot. Press the area with a heavy object for several days before walking on it.

Jell-o and other Gelatin Stain Removal from Carpet
The dyes in Kool-Aid, Gatorade and Jell-o generally result in a permanent stain. However, you can still try to remove carpet stains caused by these products. The newest technology uses peroxide and detergents to penetrate the soiled area to remove the stain and deactivate the odor. Simply spray a product such as Bio-OX Citrus Concentrate on the soiled area, and then allow it to penetrate for approximately five minutes. Using a clean white absorbent cloth, blot the area, pressing down firmly (do not rub) for 30 seconds. Repeat this blotting process until the area is dry. If the odor persists, repeat the process. Another option for cleaning carpet stains such as these is to use ordinary household and blot at the stain using a clean cloth. When cleaning carpet stains with ammonia, wear a mask or turn you head so you don't inhale the fumes.

Gasoline Stain Removal from Carpet
Spilled gasoline can certainly make cleaning carpet stains a challenge. Not only is it unsightly, but it smells. Fortunately there are simple ways to remove carpet stains caused by gasoline. If you're able to get to the stain immediately, blot until as much of the stain is lifted as possible. Once all of the gas has been blotted, cover the stain with kitty litter or baking soda. This will not only absorb the gas, but the smell as well. Leave for a couple of hours, or even over night. The next morning vacuum away all kitty litter and get to work on cleaning carpet stains. First try vinegar, which will also remove any lingering smell. Blot until the stain is lifted. A mild dishwashing liquid should work much in the same manner. Once the stain is lifted, blot again with a damp sponge.

Dry Erase Marker Stain Removal from Carpet
Sometimes, when we're going through our carpet cleaning ritual, we come across stains that are a bit more unusual. Take for instance dry erase maker stains. While these aren't common, there are ways to remove carpet stains created by this product. Hairspray, the old tried and true remedy for removing ink stains is your best Spray an alcohol-based hair spray directly onto the carpet to saturate, let sit for about fifteen minutes and blot until the stain is removed. Don't forget this important tip for cleaning carpet stains: Always blot a stain, never rub. Rubbing the stain will only cause it to spread. It will also wear away the fibers. In addition to hairspray, alcohol will remove carpet stains caused by these markers. Apply the hairspray directly to the carpet and blot. Blot again with a damp sponge to clean away any residue left behind.

Miracle Grow Stain Removal from Carpet
Miracle grow, the popular fertilizer is much better suited to a garden than a carpet. Although one would assume one would go through life without cleaning carpet stains left behind by fertilizer, accidents do happen. If for some reason you need to remove carpet stains made when Miracle Grow is spilled, you can probably clean it off if you act quickly. First vacuum or pick up any powder or said material, be as gentle as possible however, so as not to grind the product further into your carpet. If spots still remain on your carpet, Spray the mark with shaving foam and let sit for about thirty minutes. After which, blot with a clean damp cloth.

Zinc Oxide (Destin) Stain Removal from Carpet
When diapering a baby on a carpet, be sure to take the proper precautions and lay a towel or changing mat underneath the baby. Zinc Oxide, the active ingredient in most diaper rash ointments, can leave a spot behind. To remove carpet stains made by zinc oxide, wipe away as much as you can with a clean cloth. Cover the remaining stain with baking soda to absorb any grease and let sit for an hour or so. When time is up, continue cleaning carpet by blotting any residue left behind with a mild dish soap. Wipe clean with a damp cloth, and no one will ever know a baby's bottom touched your floor!

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