How to Remove Makeup from Your Carpet

Makeup is a beautiful art which conceals unpleasant features while accentuating attractive ones. So beautiful is this art that people pay hundreds of dollars to have a makeup artist slather the content of makeup products on them. But no matter how adored makeup can be, you’d rather not have them on your carpet.

Getting a smear of foundation or mascara on your carpet is somewhat inevitable if you’re a makeup artist or if you’re always busy in front of a dresser. Having a few makeup removal tips handy can be an invaluable asset. That way you avoid guessing what the best cleaning approach is best. There isn’t a one size fits all cleaning approach, for example, what works for removing tomato sauce from your carpet probably won’t work for removing makeup!

Don’t forget to see a manufacturer’s instructions before cleaning your carpet.

Foundation Spills

Foundation can very well conceal rough patches on your skin but will only begrime your carpet at the slightest contact. So below are cleaning tips for your carpet in case a smear of foundation doesn’t make it to your face during a makeup session.

1. As soon as the smear happens, use a knife to remove the foundation residue from the carpet’s surface.
2. Stir in some drops of dishwashing liquid into the water, and then soak a towel with the mixture. Daub the stained area with the towel until the foundation is cleaned, and be careful not to scrub which is a stain removal mistake made by many, scrubbing may worsen the depth of the stain.
3. Now wipe the soap mixture off the carpet using another towel soaked with clean water.
4. Allow the area to dry, and then run your vacuum cleaner through it.

Mascara Smear

Unfortunately, mascara does not give your carpet the same glow it adds to your eyelids. If your carpet has been unfortunate to have a mascara smudge on it, these tips will help you get it clean:

1. Apply eye makeup cleanser on a microfiber towel, and then blot the stain until it is clean.
2. Repeat with a fresh towel until no mascara is left. Then wipe the area using another towel soaked in clean water.
3. Dry the carpet area with a dry towel or a hand dryer.

Eyeshadows

Eyeshadows are usually oil-based and may not come off as easily as other water-based makeup products. To clean eyeshadow from your carpet:

1. Splash a few drops of hydrogen peroxide on the carpet, making sure it touches all parts of the stain. Then, let it sit for a few minutes.
2. Now blot the hydrogen peroxide (attached to the mascara molecules) with a microfiber towel until the stain is cleared.
3. Clean out the hydrogen peroxide with another towel dampened with clean water. Afterward, dry the area with a towel or a blow dryer.

Eyeliner

Eyeliner is made from wax and would need a strong cleaning agent like vinegar to lose its grip on your carpet.

1. Mix one teaspoon of vinegar in half a cup of warm water, then dip a microfiber towel in the mixture.
2. Gently pat the stain with the towel until no eyeliner residue remains.
3. Wet another towel with clean water, and then clean out the vinegar solution. Afterwards, dry the area.

Too busy to bother about cleaning makeup from your carpet? Contact us for premium carpet cleaning in Bedford.

In our previous two guides, we looked at how to get makeup stains out of your carpet, and how to get red wine stains out of your carpet. Today we’ll be continuing this theme by looking at how to remove another common stain.

Guide to Removing Tomato Sauce Stains from Your Carpet

Most people love tomato sauce and use it on a couple of meals. However, accidents can easily happen and you may end up with a huge sauce stain on your carpet. If this happens, you do should not panic; there is an effective way of getting rid of such stains.

To this end, we have put together this guide and we are sure it will be of great help when you need to get rid of tomato sauce from your carpet. Let’s dive right into it!

Supplies Needed

Here are the key supplies you will need for this process:

• Scraping tool
• Paper towels
• Water
• Lemons
• Dry cloth

You should move fast before the stain dries and sets. This is a process that has to be done when you notice the misstep, and should not be used as a preventive measure.

Determine the kind of carpet you’re dealing with:

Before getting started, figure out which type of carpet you are dealing with so that you can prepare accordingly. There are three common types of carpets, including cotton, nylon, and synthetic fibers.

How to Remove Tomato Sauce from Your Carpet

• Step 1– Scrape any excess sauce off the carpet using a spatula or even your finger. Put the scrapings in a separate container to prevent them from soiling other areas as you clean up. Be careful not to spread the stain as you remove more sauce.
• Step 2– Apply some water on the mark and remember that care must be taken when using this method as it can lead to molding if done improperly. Start from a small area of the stain, saturating it with tap water. Then use a clean towel to absorb the water from the carpet.
• Step 3 – Alternate method – Squeeze some lemon juice over the stain and allow it to soak for about 15 minutes, after which you should blot at it with a clean cloth to remove the lemon oil.
• Step 4– You will need to repeat this process more than once until you are able to get rid of the stain completely.
• Step 5 – If possible, blot out any remaining moisture from the carpet using a dry towel and leave it to air dry for some time. Once dried, you may use a vacuum cleaner on low settings to remove any small pieces of tomato sauce that remain on the carpet. 
• Step 6– Repeat as needed in case the stain does not go away completely. In addition, read the instructions on your carpet to determine whether it should be cleaned professionally or not.
• Step 7– A trick that may help the process is covering a small piece of bread with tomato sauce and leaving it on the area for about 30 minutes before blotting at it with a clean cloth. This should remove any excess color from the carpet.
• Step 8– If there are still some stains, you can use a bit of vinegar and water to rinse them out before wiping them down as shown above. 
• If your unsuccessful with this method then it’s time to call in the professionals. You can request a quote from our professional carpet cleaning company in Bedford. And we can use some of our specialist cleaning solutions to attempt to remove the stain.

How to Avoid Tomato Sauce Stains

The best way to avoid such accidents is by not cooking while distracted or in a hurry. Always be sure that you have all the necessary paraphernalia and ingredients before starting to cook. Also, be careful with the way you cut your tomatoes as this can cause stains as well.

Be sure that all utensils are clean after use so that there is no residue left in them which can end up on your carpet when you transfer items from one place to another.

Spillages are always a worry for people who own carpets, whether it’s a coke spill or a tomato sauce spill. There’s always the worry the spillage may stain. Fortunately, we’ve created some handy guides covering how to treat the aforementioned spillages. Today we’re taking things a step further and we’ll be looking at how to treat a wine spillage.

Wine imbibers seem to have a love-hate relationship with red wine: we enjoy the strong, fruity flavor despite the fact that the scarlet pigment stains everything when spilled. Once the dreaded accident occurs, it is imperative to respond swiftly, or you will face a herculean task to remove the stains once the pigments dry and set into the fibers.

Start the cleanup by soaking up (without rubbing!) as much of the red wine as possible with an absorbent towel. Then use this tutorial to attempt removal of the red wine stains out of your clothing, furniture, or carpeting.

There are numerous methods available to assist you in attempting to save your carpets before ringing your local carpet cleaner. Before getting into those, you should start with the following steps:

1.       Immediately Soak Up Spilled Wine

The longer red wine stains are allowed to sit, the more difficult they will be to remove. Act quickly!

• Take a clean absorbent, towel, cloth or sponge and soak up as much wine as possible before it has a chance to set. Let the red wine be absorbed – do not wipe your carpet.

• Dab with an upward and downward motion, rather than rubbing from side to side. Rubbing may remove some of the wine from carpet strands, but it will also push some of it deeper into the carpeting, making it much more difficult to eliminate the stains. It may also enlarge the stained area by spreading the wine to the sides of the damaged region.

• Work your way in from the outside in, starting with the borders and working your way into the middle. This will also help to keep the stain from becoming bigger.

2.     Dilute With Cold Water

Gradually, it will become harder to soak up the wine. At this stage, use a tiny amount of cold water to re-wet the stain. This aids in diluting residual wine in the carpet and will assist to soak up more of the red wine.

Once you are done with these two steps, select one or more of the following methods to assist you in removing the remaining red wine stains.

A.    Method 1- Salt

 Step 1 – Use Salt to Absorb Excess Liquid

• A thorough dabbing will remove the majority of the red wine but is unlikely remove it all. Try coating the stained area for a few hours with a generous sprinkling of salt to aid in the removal of the remnants of the red wine.  The salt crystals should work their way through the stains to extract the moisture from the carpeting. IF salt is not available, try any ‘wicking (moisture absorbing)’ material such as baking powder, soap powder and kitty litter

• As salt helps by removing the moisture from the stains, this method works best whilst the affected area is still moist. It is significantly less effective for dry stains. If your stains are beginning to dry out, sprinkle a little water over the affected area before applying the salt.

 

Step 2 – Allow Salt to Rest

The salt will over a few hours become reddish in color as it soaks up the red wine. Once the stain appears to be almost fully dried, you are ready to move to the next step. Prolonged treatments should not make matters worse, so if you have the luxury of time, try to leave the salt overnight.

Step 3 – Remove Salt

• Gently scoop up the salt and discard it. Remove the fine particles that remain with a vacuum and your carpeting should appear as good.  The stain should be significantly reduced, if not completely removed.

• After the initial vacuuming, if there is still a salt residue, simply wet the area with a little cool water and vacuum it again. This will return the area to its original texture.

B.    Method 2 – Vinegar

Step 1 – Prepare Vinegar Solution.

• In a large mixing basin, whisk together 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) dishwashing liquid, 1 tablespoon white vinegar, and 2 cups (235 milliliters) warm water until well combined.

•  Only use white vinegar  as different vinegars (such as apple cider vinegar or balsamic vinegar) might generate stains of their own.

 

Step 2 – Moisten the Stain

• Apply the vinegar solution to the stained area by gently dabbing it on to the stained area with a clean, dry towel. This will allow the solution to permeate into the carpet fibers, loosening the stain.

• Allow the vinegar solution to dry completely.

Step 3 –  Soak the Stains with Cold Water

• Wet a clean cloth with cold water and wet the stained area to dilute the red wine further. A small amount of water can be poured directly onto the stain. Wipe the water away with the “drying” towel to absorb it as much as possible.

Repeat the process as many times as necessary. It is possible that you will need to repeat the instructions above numerous times in order to get maximum effectiveness. If you like, you can combine this strategy with one of the other methods described in this post.

C.    Method 3 – Hydrogen Peroxide

Step 1 – Mix Dishwashing Liquid with Hydrogen Peroxide

• Add a big dab of soap to the hydrogen peroxide and blend them together. The total amount you’ll use will vary according to the severity of your stains, although you shouldn’t need more than a half cup (125 milliliters) for any stain.

• Keep in mind that hydrogen peroxide is a light bleaching agent. As such, this treatment is best suited for fabrics with a lighter coloration. Test the mixture on a small area of the carpeting before applying to the whole of the stained area. If the carpeting becomes lighter in color or if you see dye transfer, you should avoid this method.

• Lower concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (such as 3 percent) should have no effect on the majority of carpeting.

Step 2 – Dab the Stain With Peroxide Solution

• Soak the edge of a clean towel in your peroxide mixture for a couple of minutes. Using a gentle dabbing motion, dab the stained area to allow the mixture to permeate into the carpet fibers.

• Allow the mixture to rest for a few minutes when you’re finished. This enables it to permeate into deeper fibers and into the more difficult-to-reach stains.

Step 3 – Spray Affected Area with Cold Water

• Fill a clean spray bottle halfway with cold water, then add a few drops of normal dish soap to the mixture. Spritz a small mist of the soapy water over the whole stain. When you’re finished, dab the surface with a dry absorbent towel.

• If you don’t have access to a spray bottle, you can use a fresh towel to repeat the blotting process described above.

 Step 4 – Remove Remaining Residue

• By now, the stain should have lightened considerably. If you stop now, the cleaning solution will leave behind a soapy, sticky residue. This should be removed from the by first wetting it with a clean, soapless towel using lukewarm water. Finish by dabbing with a dry cloth to remove as much moisture as possible.

D.    Method 4 – White Wine and Baking Soda

Step 1 – Pour White Wine over the Affected Area

• As an alternative to water, you can use clear-colored white wine could come in handy in an emergency – it’s not as crazy as it sounds. When combined with white wine, the stain’s crimson hue is diluted, just like when combined with water, thus reducing its impact.

• In the absence of white wine, some sources advise using clear, plain vodka.

Step 2 – Remove the White Wine

• Gently dab the stained area with a dry absorbent dry cloth. Gentle dabbing will avoid pushing the wine into the carpeting strands.

• If your sponge is already wet, dry it out thoroughly before using it again.

E.    Method 5 – Baking Powder

 

Step 1 – Apply Baking Soda Paste

Baking soda can be used to eliminate a “loosened-up” stain in a manner similar to how salt was used in Method A. Rather than using dry baking soda, many experts suggest creating a paste and then applying it evenly over the stain.  A ratio of three parts water to one part baking soda should be enough.

Step 2 – Cover Stained Area

• Cover the moist area with a clean dry cloth and leave overnight.

• While the fabric is sitting, place a hefty weight on top of it. Continuous, moderate pressure forces the baking soda deeper into the stain, allowing it to clean more thoroughly.

Step 3 – Vacuum Off Baking Soda

• Once the baking soda paste has dried out, it should be removed by vacuuming it off.

• The baking soda should have absorbed the moisture from the discolored area and clump together to produce solid clumps on the surface of the stained region.

• Using a vacuum, you can easily remove these clumps (and, with them, the stain) from your carpet.

• Should your carpeting still have a powdered remnant after the initial vacuuming, repeat the process with a little cold water to dissolve the baking soda. This should be followed by another vacuuming when dry to remove the remaining powdery residue.

If all else fails and if you have nothing to lose in relation to your carpet, you could give the following a try.

F.    Method 6 – Club Soda

• If the other methods do not work, allow the stained area dry completely and then pour a bottle of club soda over the stained area and allow to soak for 10 to 20 minutes. Apparently, the carbonation effect breaks free the red pigments from the carpet fibers.
• Use a clean absorbent cloth and dab up the club soda as in the other methods. Most likely, you will need to give the affected area a good shampoo to remove any residue or stickiness.

 

G.   Method 7 – Alcohol

Give the stained area a good clean and rinse and then try dabbing some rubbing alcohol to see if it has any effect – You never know unless you try!

As you can see, should the worst happen, there are numerous options available to save your carpet from red wine stains. The key factors are to:

• React quickly before the red wine has a chance to soak into the deep fibers of your carpet; and

• Do not under any circumstance drag your cleaning cloth along the carpet in an attempt to wipe off the spilt red wine – this will only compound the problem. Gentle dabbing is far more effective.

No matter how much you try to keep cold drinks, oil, and other liquids away from your carpet, there are always times when you forget to pick something spilly up, and then your child ends up throwing it on the carpet. We understand how difficult it can be to have to remove stains whether they be red wine stains, mud stains or specifically coke stains, of which the latter is covered in this article. Therefore, we have come up with this step-by-step guide to help you have the cleanest carpet, just like before.

 Also, there are different methods available having different ingredients to use and methods to apply. Choose the one that you can afford and get started to have a stain-free carpet. However caution must be used with these methods as not to damage the carpet. You can always use our professional carpet cleaning service in Bedford if you decide not to use any of the methods outlined.

Method #1

Things you need

Using this method, you are going to need lukewarm water, baking soda, vacuum cleaner and some wet wipes, or a soft towel, of course. Some optional ingredients are any accessible dishwashing detergent, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), ammonia (NH3), or vinegar. However, do not worry at all if you don’t have these items with you; your rug will be as easily cleaned without these supplies as it will be with them.

Instructions

The first thing that you will have to make sure is to start cleaning your carpet right away. If you plan to do it after a few hours or days, the stains will be absorbed deep into the carpet and therefore, make it very difficult to be cleaned at a later time.

Using the clean towel, blot the stained area in particular and go smooth as you may ruin the soft fibers of your carpet. Now use vacuum on the stain to suck any liquid from the fibers and then pour club soda. Make sure the whole stained area is thoroughly covered with the soda and then allow it to rest for a few hours. After three to four hours, vacuum the carpet again as it will suck the residue of the coke inside the carpet.

By this time, your stain should be removed. However, if the stains are old, you may have to use a mixture of 1 teaspoon of liquid detergent with 2 cups of warm water. After 5 to 10 minutes, gently blot and then rinse the stained surface with water.

Method #2

It is not always possible that you have all the supplies prescribed in method 1. For that reason, try out the method 2.

Things you need

You are going to need water, vinegar, light detergent with no bleaching component (so that the color of your carpet is not faded), white towel and a vacuum.

Instructions

After blotting the coke-stained surface with a clean white towel to take out any liquid possible, pour a mix of 1/4^th of a teaspoon of detergent with one full cup filled with lukewarm water. Now, put it at rest for about 15 minutes. Once again, put the dry white towel so that the carpet dries before the next solution of vinegar and water in a 1:2 ratio.

Immerse the soda stain with a clean towel after pouring the vinegar solution and let it rest again for another 15 minutes. Finally, blot the stain with a tidy and dry towel.

Method #3

Things you need

You are going to need very cold water, heavy-duty dishwashing or laundry detergent (non-bleach and transparent in color), clean white pieces of cloth or paper towels, and a vacuum cleaner. An optional ingredient here is the carpet stain remover, usually available in superstores.

Instructions

Make a mixture of ¼ teaspoon of the heavy-duty laundry detergent with ½ cup of cold water and pour onto the stain after blotting it with a clean white cloth. Take care not to scrub the carpet too strongly; the fibers of the carpet will stand out otherwise. Vacuum the treated area only to find the coke stains completely vanished.

Note

Make sure you use cold water when implementing method 3 as the enzymes present in the heavy-duty detergent work effectively in the absence of warm water.

Oh no! Do you have mud stuck in your carpet and cannot get rid of it? Has it soaked in and dried up making it a struggle to clean? Well, you can always make use of our carpet cleaning service, but if you fancy a bit of DIY cleaning, this is the perfect place for you to learn all the different ways and methods available to remove mud stains from your carpet. After reading this article, you will never dread letting your pets or kids out on a rainy day scared of what the cat will drag in with its dirty paws.

Method One: Water and Detergent Comes to the Rescue

Mud stains can be the worse, especially if you have a white or any light-colored carpet in your TV lounge or bedroom. This method will help you with not only removing the dried-up mud but also those brown patches that embarrass you when you have friends over.

Step 1: Wear gloves and pick up all the big mud pieces off the carpet.

Step 2: Make a mixture of baking soda and salt and apply that all over the mud stains left behind after picking the mud pieces.

Step 3: After a few hours of allowing the mixture to sit on the stains and remove all the moisture from the spot, use a vacuum to suck up all the powder.

Step 4: You will need one tablespoon of dishwashing detergent and two cups of warm water. Mix them well and use a sponge or kitchen cloth to soak the mud stains.

Step 5: take a paper towel and blot it on the stains and repeat steps 4 and 5 a few times.

Step 6: You cold water and sponge the whole carpet. Last but not the least, let the carpet air dry.

Method Two: Use Vinegar

Step 1: Grab yourself a bowl and mix half a cup of vinegar and around a tablespoon of dishwashing soap.

Step 2: Using a toothbrush, rub the mixture onto the mud stain.

Step 3: Take a cloth and clean the mixture away with cold water.

Step 4: You will have to repeat this process a few times for the mud stain to be completely cleaned out from the fibers of the carpet.

Step 5: Let the carpet dry by turning the fans on or by using a towel.

TIP: Vinegar is a really good option to remove grease stains as well. You just have to mix the same amount of dishwashing soap and glycerin, eight parts of water, and just a few drops of white vinegar. This should get the job done.

Method Three: Isopropyl Alcohol

When using this method to remove stains, test out the alcohol on a small piece first to see whether it reacts with the carpet fibers and ruins it by discoloration or color bleeding. If not, then take a sponge or cloth and blot the isopropyl alcohol onto the carpet where the mud stains are.  Then clean the area using water and let the carpet dry before walking over it.

Method Four: Store-Bought Stain Remover

If all else fails, drive yourself to the closet grocery store and buy a commercial stain remover. Make sure you follow the instructions on the bottle.

Removing Red Clay Mud

Are you freaking out because you know that mud stain in your carpet isn’t from normal mud, but red clay mud? Don’t worry, with a little bit of patience and preparation, you’ll be able to remove that stain as well.

Step 1: Make sure you have let the stain completely dry before putting any solution on it otherwise you’ll just end up spreading it even more. Once dried, use a spoon to scrap put the stain and vacuum the access dried bits.

Step 2: Using a toothbrush, rub stain remover on the mud stain and wait for however long it says on the instructions.

Step 3: You can use any of these mixtures to remove the stain:

• Liquid dishwashing soap.
• Powdered dishwashing detergent and water.
• Around 2-3 tablespoons of salt and a cup of vinegar (leave for an hour before cleaning it off).
• Mix bleach-free detergent and ammonia (leave for 10-15 minutes).
• Liquid oil soap (leave for 15 minutes).
• Oxygen bleach and water (make sure to test a corner out before applying on the mud stains).

Whichever mixture you use, the next step is to rinse the spot and dab (not rub) to dry it off. These methods should help you remove any mud stains, however, if these fail, call in the professionals and let them deal with the stains. 

We hope you found this article helpful. Check out our other articles on how to get coke stains and tea stains out of your carpet.

Tea stains on your shirt might not sound like a disaster. However, when you spill your drink over a luxurious carpet, it’s important to address the spills right away. Tea is packed with a high level of tannins that might quickly discolour the fibres of your carpet. Our Bedford based carpet cleaners can help you to remove tea stains if this happens.

But if you act quickly, you can remove tea stains and save your carpet from early retirement. Say goodbye to tea stains with the following tips:

1. Distilled white vinegar

Combine water with distilled white vinegar in a spraying bottle, sticking to a 1:2 dilution ratio. Shake and spray it onto the stain. Avoid oversaturating it, though. Grab a cloth to slightly rub the white vinegar solution into the carpet’s fibres. Eliminate the smell of vinegar by sponging the stained spot with cold water. Use a dry towel to blot with a dry towel. Repeat if necessary.

2. Baking soda

Add a cup of baking soda to a bowl and dip a damp cloth into it. Press the cloth firmly around the stain. Repeat if necessary. Once you remove the stain, rinse the carpet with cold water. Grab a clean cloth and dry the stained area.

3.  Baking soda and vinegar

If you have a tea stain that’s super hard to remove, a combination of baking soda and vinegar might be your lifesaver. Combine distilled white vinegar and baking soda in a ratio of 3:1. Spread this paste onto the stained area. Leave it to settle for at least 3 minutes and press the mixture into your carpet with a damp cloth. Avoid grinding or scrubbing. Rinse off, soak up the excess moisture with a dry towel, and leave it to air dry. Vacuum your carpet once it’s dry.

4. Borax

One of the most popular multipurpose cleaners, Borax can also help you deal with tea stains on your carpet. Mix borax with warm water in a ratio of 3:1. Dip the toothbrush in the mixture and lightly scrub the stain. Leave it to settle and dry and vacuum. Rinse any residues with cold water and use any dry cloth to soak the excess moisture.

5. Salt

Pour salt over the stain so that it’s completely covered. Add a few drops of club soda without oversaturating the carpet. Rinse with cold water and allow your carpet to air dry.

6. Dish soap

Use a damp cloth to blot the stain. Combine 2 cups of lukewarm water, distilled white vinegar and one tablespoon of dish soap. Pour over the stain and use the microfiber cloth to carefully scrub the stained area until it’s clean.

7. Professional carpet cleaning

The aforementioned tea stain removing methods usually work well, but they might damage your carpet. If you don’t remove the stain right away, you might fail to clean your carpet at home. Professional carpet cleaning is the safest method to remove tea stains. Professionals use different removing techniques depending on the type of tea stains. An added bonus: your carpet will smell clean and fresh apart from having no stains on it.

The final word

Tea stains might be difficult to remove at home. Stain removing agents and hot water can ruin your carpet. Professional carpet cleaning is the safest solution to not only eliminate tea stains but also leave your carpet smelling fresh and clean. Do you have other stains on your carpet that need removing? We have several articles covering the removal of a number of spots and stains, from mud stains to nail polish and more! Feel free to explore our blog to learn more.

In our last article we tackled “how to get tea stains out of your carpet“. In this article, we will tackle another common household item that often stains carpets – nail polish.

It is easy to imagine a relaxing day in an ideal world at a nail salon for a mani and pedicure. But when it comes to the real world, finding time to get your nails done professionally can often be challenging. In an effort to save time and money, painting your own nails at home sounds pretty good. You set up your nail polish station in a living room and begin painting your nail without any distractions. All of a sudden, you knock down the nail polish bottle, and it leaves a lovely nail polish stain on the carpet. What to do? If you’re not the hands on type give our carpet cleaning company a call. But if you fancy tackling the stain yourself, read on!

To help! What to do first?

The first thing you need to do is to stay relaxed and don’t panic. Just get a paper towel and wipe off the nail polish stain while being extra cautious not to smudge the existing stain by rubbing it hard or spreading the polish over a larger area. If the polish becomes dry, you need to get some soft tool or a butter knife to peel off the dried polish away. You have tried your best, and still, the stain is there? Now, it’s time to try some cleaning solutions.

How can baking soda or vinegar help in removing nail polish stain?

Reliable and good pantry essentials such as baking soda and vinegar are known to help in such situations. If you use vinegar, soak the stained area with plain vinegar completely. Next, place a vinegar-soaked towel on it and leave it for about 10 minutes. Then, rub the stained area with a vinegar-soaked towel and scrub it until the stain is completely removed. If you choose to use the baking soda method, take a good amount of soda and thoroughly sprinkle it over the stained area. Then take a ginger ale, pour it on the stained area and let it sit for about 10 minutes. Next, rub the stained area gently until it is gone and then rinse the area thoroughly with a wet cloth or water.

What about nail polish remover?

A small amount of nail polish remover works well, especially on a light-colored carpet. Make sure to select a nail polish remover that is labeled as both acetone-free and dye-free. All you need to do is soak a paper towel or a cleaning cloth with a remover and then gently rub the stain. Keep repeating the same process until the stain is removed.

Can I use hairspray to remove the nail polish stain?

The answer is yes! But this solution works best when the stain is already dried. First, you need to wet the stained area with cold water and then spray 10-15 pumps of hair spray over the stain. Next, add a small amount of cleaning alcohol (three drops or over, depending on the size of the stain). Clean the area by rubbing it with a brush or cleaning tool while adding more drops of cold water as you rub.

And what if everything fails?

It’s where you need the help of experts. You can take advantage of your local carpet cleaning service and let them know beforehand about a nail polish stain, so they come prepared to make your favorite carpet or rug look all new once again.

In our next article, we’ll be talking about “how to remove shoe polish stains from your carpet“. Check it out if you have some unsightly shoe polish stains that you want to remove.

When you spill something that has the potential to stain your carpet, figuring out how to remove the offending liquid can cause your anxiety levels to rise! Especially when you’re dealing with paint stains, nail varnish stains or the subject of this article – shoe polish stains. If you find yourself in this situation your best bet is to get on the phone to your local carpet cleaners in Bedford. But if money is a bit tight you can try the methods below to remove shoe polish stains from your carpet.

Method One: Brush away the excess

Grab yourself a brush or any blunt object that has a side you can use to scrape away the excess shoe polish that you have dropped on your carpet. You could use an old toothbrush end of a broom or a butter knife for this process. You must gently begin scraping away the polish on the carpet, but make sure not to press the top hard as that will only push the polish further into the carpet. This should remove the larger chunk of polish, however, the stain might not be completely cleaned out of the carpet.

Method two: Dishwashing detergent saves the day

Sometimes the answer to your problems is a dishwashing detergent that’s most likely lying in your cleaning supplies cupboard. It is also one of the least harmful methods to use as you are not using any bleach or other solution. Yeah, bleach might get rid of your shoe polish stain, but it most likely will leave you a small discolored patch on your carpet making it look worn out. Hence, try to stick to a detergent that does not contain any bleach for this method.

Combine one tablespoon of detergent with two cups of warm water in any container you’ve got; preferably a spraying bottle. Spray this solution on the stain and use a white cloth or towel to blot away the mark. Repeat the process if necessary to fully remove the stain.

TIP: Do not scrub as that will only spread the polish more. Make sure you blot using the towel.

Make sure to take another wet towel and clean out the detergent as well, because if you leave the detergent in and let it dry, that will only end up collecting dirt and dust quicker leaving another stain that you’ll have to deal with.

Method three: Did someone say vinegar?

Yup, that’s right. Vinegar can also be used as a cleaning liquid to help remove stains from your carpets. White vinegar has natural stain fighting agents that get rid of any unwanted mark. Make a solution by mixing up ¼ cup of white vinegar and ¼ cup of warm water in a spray bottle. Spray the area with the shoe polish stain and let it set in for around 15 to 30 minutes. Once the time is over, grab yourself a white cloth and blot at the mark. Keep blotting until the mark is completely gone.

Remember to use a white towel or cloth rather than a colored one as there are high chances that the color of the cloth might react with the vinegar and leak onto the carpet.

Method four: Ammonia

You might be thinking about how ammonia will work to get rid of stains, therefore, keep reading to figure out how it will work its magic. You must combine one tablespoon of ammonia, one tablespoon of bleach-free detergent, and two cups of warm water into a bottle. Spray the solution on the stain and let it sit for a while before using a white cloth to blot away the shoe polish mark.

Tip: Do not use ammonia on the carpet if you have already applied bleach as that will react and produce harmful fumes.

Method five: Nail polish remover

Another really good method to consider is using a non-acetone nail polish remover. Add this with water to create a diluted solution and use a white cloth to blot away the stain. Make sure to keep changing the side of the cloth to a clean one when blotting or else you could just rub off the polish on the carpet again.

Getting stains of any sort on your carpet is inevitable, especially if it is a carpet that’s in your common room. However, never freak out from shoe polish stains as you can always get rid of these stains using the methods mentioned above.

How to Get Acrylic Paint Out of Carpet

If you’re an artist, or you have a family member (toddlers!) who loves to play around with acrylic paints, you can expect to have a few drops of paint make contact with your tapestry. But, irrespective of how the paint finds itself on your carpet, there’s one thing you’ll want to do badly – get it out!

Whether you’re trying to remove shoe polish stains, or remove milk stains and odours from your carpet, stains are difficult to remove by their nature. However, Acrylic paint happens to be one of the most difficult stains to remove from your carpets – especially if they’re dried. However difficult this removal may be, it is not an impossible task if you’re up to it, and if you’re not you can book an appointment with one of our carpet cleaning professionals in Bedford. Assuming you do what to tackle the stain yourself, if the stain is still fresh and the paint is yet to dry out, you can quickly blot it out with clean, clear water. But if the paint has sat on the spot for a while, the steps below will show you how to remove acrylic paint from your carpets.

Removing Acrylic Paint from Carpet Using Rubbing Alcohol

Basically, you need:

• A steam vacuum attachment,
• A dry microfiber towel or the steam attachment of your vacuum cleaner.
• Rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol,
• Acetone,
• Protective gear
• Glycerine.
• Soft brush or putty knife.
• Scrap the dry acrylic from the carpet using a soft brush or a putty knife. Remove the excesses to prep the carpet for cleaning.
• Soak a cleaning towel in the rubbing alcohol, and allow it to sit on the stained spot for up to 20 minutes. Then blot the alcohol-acrylic mixture with a dry microfiber towel until the paint is completely removed. Try not to scrub or rub the area as this will either damage the fibres of your carpet, or spread the stain to other areas.

You can also use the steam attachment of your vacuum clear to blot out the mixture.

• Since alcohol dehydrates the surfaces it comes in contact with, pour some glycerine on the affected carpet area, and let it sit for a few hours. Afterwards, blot out the glycerine using another dry microfiber towel until the spot the is clear.
• If the above procedures do not suffice for removing acrylic paint from your carpets, you can repeat step 2 using acetone. Afterwards, repeat step 3 and allow the carpet to dry.

How to get acrylic paint out of carpet Using Vinegar and Soap

For this method, you’ll need:

• A mild cleaning detergent
• Warm water
• White vinegar
• Microfiber towel
• Sponge or soft brush
• Mix cleaning detergent in warm water in the ratio of 1 tsp:1 cup. Dab the mixture on the stained carpet using a clean microfiber towel and then scrub gently using a soft brush. Continue to scrub until the area is clear.
• Combine white vinegar and water in the ratio 1:10 and then apply the solution to the carpet using a soft cloth. You can first test run a small hidden section of your carpet with the vinegar to ascertain the effect it would have on your rug.
• Now, scrub the carpet gently with a brush or sponge, and then steam vacuum the area. Dip another clean microfiber towel in clean cold water, and then clean out the remnant of the solution form the carpet.

How to get acrylic paint out of carpet Using Spot Cleaner and Acetone

Things you’ll need:

• Acetone
• Protective gear e.g. facemask, gloves.
• Dry microfiber towels
• A liquid dropper
• Spot remover
• Steam attachment of a vacuum cleaner
• Use the dropper to apply several drops of acetone on the stained carpet area and allow to sit for up to 10 minutes.
• Blot with a clean microfiber towel until no stain is left. Replace the towel once it is covered in paint.
• Now, apply several drops of a suitable spot remover to the stained area, and give it a good scrub. Allow the lather that forms to sit on the carpet for a few minutes.
• Now, use the steam attachment of your vacuum cleaner to strip your carpet of the acrylic and the cleaning chemicals. Then allow the carpet to either air dry or dry it up with a blow dryer.

Conclusion

Acrylic stains can be tough on your carpets, but the steps above will help you clean out your carpet like a pro. However, don’t forget to wear your protective equipment while using acetone. Also ensure that the room is properly ventilated as acetone is not be as friendly as other cleaning agents mentioned in this guide.

Rather than wasting time crying over spilt milk on your carpet, you will be better off springing into action and use one of our tips to clean up and deal with any odors associated with curdled milk. Our tips may also assist you in removing any milk stains on your carpet. You never know, you could well end up laughing over the spilt milk! Bare in mind, some of these tips are quite advanced, so if you don’t feel confident enough to try these techniques then give us a call for professional carpet cleaning in Bedford.

No matter what type of stain you’re dealing with, be it a paint stain on your carpet or milk, speed is of the essence! The faster you react to the spilt milk on your carpet, the easier your clean up is going to be. Dealing with split fresh milk is so much easier than when it turns sour. It will take a day or two for the spilt milk to curdle and start emanating the associated foul odor.

Milk starts curdling and turning sour the moment it gets into your carpet or fabric. In addition to the terrible odor it produces, it can cause discoloration that can be difficult to get out of your carpet or fabric.

Follow these steps to properly clean spilt milk and avoid fouls smells and unwanted stains.

Before learning how to remove the odor of sour milk from carpets in your home, there are a few things you should do first.

• Start by dabbing away any extra liquid with a clean absorbent cloth.

• Avoid scrubbing the stain since this will just drive the milk deeper into the fabric’s fibers and widen the affected area. In addition to that it may damage your carpet, turning what was once a fluffy carpet, into a carpet with fuzzy patches in the places where stains have been treated.

• If you have it, a steam cleaner will help to kill a lot of the bacteria that leads to the milk odor. The downside of this is that it may harden the protein molecules in the milk and make stains harder to remove. It is the question of picking the lesser of two evils.

• You should do a test on an inconspicuous area of the fabric to be sure there will not be any unwanted results.

A. Method 1- Coffee

Coffee grounds are very dry and have a lovely aroma. Not only do coffee grounds make great coffee, but they can also assist you in preventing or removing foul milk odors.

1.    Spread some freshly ground coffee over the affected area and use only fresh and unused ground coffee. Coffee grounds should be able to absorb the odor quickly. The dryness of the coffee grounds and their aroma will combine to remove the odor and also assist to soak up any of the remaining spilt milk.

•    Allow the coffee grounds to sit for 1 to 2 hours.

•    After the coffee grounds have soaked up the moisture and odor, vacuum up the remnants.

•    A bonus for coffee lovers is the lingering coffee smell for a couple of days.

B.     Method 2- Vinegar

1.    Using a spray bottle, spritz white vinegar directly over the stain and let it soak for 30 minutes.

•    Use only clear vinegar. Balsamic vinegar, Apple Cider Vinegar and similar products may cause stains of their own.

•    Use a clean cloth to gently dab the stain or use a steam cleaner across the affected area.

•    Allow the area to dry completely. The smell of vinegar will gradually go away, as will the odor of spilt milk.

C.     Method 3- Dish Soap And Baking Soda

1. Mix two cups of warm water and one teaspoon of bleach-free dishwashing detergent to make a DIY cleaning solution.

• Apply your remedy to the area that is causing the odor with a sponge.

• Then, apply baking soda directly over the carpet where the spilt milk odor is and allow the baking soda solution to sit overnight.

• Next, vacuum the area after using a tiny brush to remove any remaining baking soda residue.

D.     Method 4– Cornstarch

The dryness and super absorption properties of cornstarch powder can also assist to remove the smell of curdled milk as well as many other household odors.

1. As with the other methods, you must dab the stain as soon as possible. If the milk has become dry, spray the stained area with water and remove as much of the milk as you can.

• Be sure that all surface liquid had been removed. Otherwise, you may create another problem for yourself with clumps of cornstarch forming on your carpet.

• Apply the cornstarch generously to the stained area and allow it to sit for several hours to soak up any residual milk from the fibers.

• Vacuum the cornstarch away.

E.     Method 5- Baking Soda

1. Baking soda should be sprinkled on the stain. Sprinkle just enough baking soda to get a noticeable layer.

• Allow it to lie for about 12 hours to soak up the odor from the carpet.

• Using your hands, loosen the bicarb soda prior to vacuuming the area to clean up any remaining residue.

F.     Method 6- Borax Powder

1. Using borax powder, cover the area where the smell is coming from.

• Allow it to sit for roughly half a day.

• First, vacuum the area where the borax has been applied prior to using the vacuum over the whole carpet.

G.    Method 7 – Enzyme Cleaning Solution

If the suggested home remedies do not work, you may need to consider using a commercial enzyme spray.

1. Spray the enzyme cleaning solution over the affected area.

• Leave the solution to soak and dry for 2-3 days. This will give the enzyme time to work and break down the odors

• Follow the instructions on the package and clean the area you applied the enzyme solution to.

• Vacuum the area to remove any debris.

As a result of knowing how to remove the smell of milk from carpet fibers, you are better prepared to deal with any mishaps that may occur in your home. You also have all of the information you need to ensure that your carpet is always clean, stainless, and smell-free.