Basic Stain Removal Tips: Prevent Damage to Carpet and Clothing

Basic Stain Removal Tips: Prevent Damage to Carpet and Clothing




Even if you don’t have children or pets, no one’s perfect. Thus, there will come a time in your life where stain removal or spot treatment tricks will come in handy, even if you try everything you can do to prevent them. Whether your guest spills wine on your ivory carpet or your dog get mud stains on your favorite piece of clothing, knowing how to start cleaning quickly (and properly) is important if you want to remove the stain effectively.







Stains involving blood, grease or wax can be challenging but knowing how to treat the stain can help you save your valuable clothes or furniture. While many products like OxiClean are effective for many stain removal situations, sometimes simple items like laundry detergent, vinegar or bleach are more effective. Use these at home care tips for basic stain removal to get stains out of almost any fabric.



Ink Stain Removal

Ink stains can be some of the most difficult stains to treat and can damage clothing or furniture quickly. If the ink is water based, you may be able to apply water to the stain and blot it clean with a dry cloth. However, if the ink was permanent you may need to apply rubbing alcohol to the stain, fingernail polish on the stain or baking soda (mixed with water).



Pet Stain Removal

There’s nothing worse than dealing with urine pet stains in your home or on your carpet. You may have tried every product offered at your local pet store, but experts claim they are not likely any better than using a solution with half lemon juice and half water on the stains. Not only will the homemade solution remove the stain but will also leave it fresh and odorless.



Rust Stain Removal

Rust stains on clothing can be annoying and bothersome. While stain experts reveal the easiest way to get rid of a rust stain is to treat it with a commercial rust stain remover, they claim that in a pinch you can effectively use lemon juice (citric acid) or white vinegar (acetic acid). Some also claim rhubarb stalks can effectively get rust stains out of clothing. However, for rhubarb to be used you must cut them, boil them and let them sit for 15 minutes after boiling before using the mixture.



Grout Stain Removal

Real estate experts will confirm dirty kitchen or bathroom grout is not only unattractive but it can lower the value of a home and make it almost impossible to sell in many cases. However, while many homeowners are quick to care for carpet stains or clothing stains, they neglect to worry about grout stains. For grout stain removal, be sure to start by cleaning up noticeable debris. Create a solution with one part detergent (laundry detergent is fine) and four parts warm water. Wet the grout with the solution and using a cleaning brush or old toothbrush, scrub the grout area. After the grout has been scrubbed, simply rinse the grout will a cloth or mop.



It’s a great idea to keep these basic stain removal items in your home, in case a stain situation does occur. In most cases, the longer the stain is left alone, the more challenging it will be for you to remove it completely from your carpet, clothing or furniture. So, be prepared for any type of stain and act fast!