The horror!  You just had your carpets professionally cleaned last month and someone accidentally spills a drink, some dip or other gooey mess all over your clean carpet.  What to do???   First off, I can tell you 5 Things Not To Do so you can keep your carpet clean and prevent any unnecessary stains.

 1. Do not ignore the Stain. Catch it while it’s fresh, when chances of removal are 75% better.  Don’t iron or hot-air dry until the stain is gone.  Heat will set many stains.

2. Do not scrub the stain.  Scrubbing can damage the carpet fibers and actually penetrate the stain deeper into the carpet.  Instead blot with a clean damp rag.  (If you have some gooey mess then scrape off as much as you can before blotting.)  You can use plain water or water with a few drops of dish detergent like Joy or Dawn.  Make sure you use warm water and not hot.  Continue to blot the stain with clean cloths until the stain is gone.

3. Do not apply heat to the affected carpet.  Heat will set some stains.

4. Do not drown the carpet in cleaning solution.  Detergent left in the carpet attracts dirt to it.  It’s a guaranteed dirt magnet!  If you are going to use any cleaning solution make sure you use a small amount and rinse completely with water.

5. Do not use cleaning chemicals without testing first.  Certain chemicals react differently with different carpet fibers.   Chemicals can damage the fibers and even change the color of your carpeting.  If you are trying something you haven’t used before you should test it on an inconspicuous area of your carpet.  Apply the cleaning chemical to a cloth first and then test on the area of carpet.

When in doubt you can always call your professional carpet cleaner.    We’re always happy to assist our clients’ concerns over the phone and if needed return to their home for a spot cleaning.