Tips for Accidental Spills - Stay Calm!
Most accidental spots and spills on your upholstery or carpet can be resolved with no permanent damage to the fibers. More serious damage usually results from overreacting. Follow the advice below for immediate cleanup and give us a call to walk you through other necessary spot cleaning steps.
Some upholstery and carpet fibers stain more easily than others. A stain is when a colored substance permanently binds to a textile. It is possible certain spills can permanently stain some textiles. If a spill is going to stain, it occurs almost instantly. Before you have a chance to find a towel, the damage is already done.
Carefully remove as much of the spilled substance as possible. If there is a residue or discoloration, waiting 24 hours to complete the spot cleaning procedure will normally be OK.
The magic word is blot!
Liquid Spill
Often spills will bead up or stay on the outside of the yarns. Slowly place an absorbent towel on top of the spill. Many times the liquid will be more attracted to the towel than the textile it was spilled on. Avoid pushing a substance on the surface deeper into the fiber.
The magic word is blot. Aggressive rubbing can permanently distort some textile fibers.
*Do not rinse upholstery with water unless the there is a consumer spot cleaning label on the upholstered piece which states it is safe to use water. ( W or SW means safe with water.)
If the spill occurs on carpet, it is usually safe to carefully use water to rinse the residue from the fibers. Blot with an absorbent towel to remove the rinsing water
Semi-liquid Spill
Spills that have more substance such as foods need to be carefully scooped up first. The goal is to avoid forcing the spill deeper into the fibers. Carefully blot with an absorbent towel and then rinse with water if safe.
Dry spill
Carefully scoop up excess trying to avoid working the substance deeper into fibers. Carefully dry vacuum surface spill and then gently move fibers to clean any of the spill that settled deeper into the textile.
| Carpet Stain Removal Guide - Water-based Stains |
| Water-Based Stains | | Alcohol | Grape Juice | | Baby Formula | Graphite | | Beer | Ice Cream | | Blood | Jelly | | Candy | Latex Paint | | Catsup | Liquor | | Chocolate Milk | Milk | | Clay | Soil Spots | | Cola | Soft Drinks | | Cologne | Syrup | | Cranberry Juice | Tomato Juice | | Felt Tip Marker | Water Colors | | Food Stains (general) | Watermelon | | Fruit Juice | Whiskey | | Fruit Punch | Wine | Furniture Polish
(water-based) | Vomit |
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Step 1 - Use a spoon or dull knife to remove solid materials.
- For large stains, work from the outside of stain to the center to prevent spreading.
- Blot up liquid spills with a white towel or paper towel.
- Mix a solution of 1/4 teaspoon of clear hand dishwashing detergent with 1 cup of water. Stir gently.
- Apply detergent solution directly to a white cloth. Dampen the carpet fibers in the stained area with the cloth. Avoid saturating the carpet.
- Wipe gently. Turn cloth frequently. Never rub, scrub or use a brush. This may damage carpet fibers.
- If necessary, use your fingertips to work the solution to the base of the stain.
- Wet the stained carpet fibers with clear, lukewarm water to rinse.
- Cover the spot with an absorbent white towel or paper towel and apply pressure to blot.
- Repeat the rinsing and blotting procedures until you are sure all traces of the detergent have been removed.
- If the stain is gone, place an absorbent white towel or paper towel over the area cleaned, and weigh towels down with a heavy, color-fast object, such as a weighted plastic wastebasket.
- Change towels or paper towels until carpet dries.
- If stain remains, proceed to Step 2.
Step 2 Do NOT use on coffee, tea or urine stains. - Mix 2 tablespoons of non-bleaching, non-sudsing household ammonia with 1 cup of lukewarm water.
- Apply ammonia solution, rinse and blot as outlined in Step 1.
- Do not dry with paper towels. Proceed to Step 3 to neutralize the ammonia solution.
Step 3 - Mix 1 cup of white vinegar with 2 cups of water.
- Apply vinegar solution, rinse and blot as outlined in Step 1.
| Carpet Stain Removal Guide - Special Water-based Stains |
| Step 1 - For large stains, work from the outside of stain to the center to prevent spreading.
- Blot up liquid spills with a white towel or paper towel.
- Mix a solution of 1/4 teaspoon of clear hand dishwashing detergent with 1 cup of water. Stir gently.
- Apply detergent solution directly to a white cloth. Dampen the carpet fibers in the stained area with the cloth. Avoid saturating the carpet.
- Wipe gently. Turn cloth frequently. Never rub, scrub or use a brush. This may damage carpet fibers.
- If necessary, use your fingertips to work the solution to the base of the stain.
- Wet the stained carpet fibers with clear, lukewarm water to rinse.
- Cover the spot with an absorbent white towel or paper towel and apply pressure to blot.
- Repeat the rinsing and blotting procedures until you are sure all traces of the detergent have been removed.
- If the stain is gone, place an absorbent white towel or paper towel over the area cleaned, and weigh towels down with a heavy, color-fast object, such as a weighted plastic wastebasket.
- Change towels or paper towels until carpet dries.
- If stain remains, proceed to Step 2.
Step 2 - Mix 1 cup of white vinegar with 2 cups of water.
- Apply vinegar solution, rinse and blot as outlined in Step 1.
| Carpet Stain Removal Guide - Greasy, Oil-based Stains |
| Greasy, Oil-Based Stains | | Butter | Margarine | | Chocolate | Mascara | | Cooking Oil | Mayonnaise | | Cosmetics | Nail Polish | | Crayon | Oil | | Furniture Dye | Oil Paint | Furniture Polish
(oil-based) | Ointment | | Glue* | Peanut Butter | | Gravy | Rouge | | Grease (black) | Salad Dressing | | Gum* | Spaghetti | | Hand Cream | Wax* | | Ink | Varnish | | Lipstick | | | *Freeze and remove solid materials before using cleaning fluid. |
| Step 1 - Use a spoon or dull knife to remove solid materials.
- For these stains, use a citrus solvent applied directly to a white cloth. Dampen the carpet fibers in the stained area with the cloth. Avoid saturating the carpet.
Step 2 - For large stains, work from the outside of stain to the center to prevent spreading.
- Blot up liquid spills with a white towel or paper towel.
- Mix a solution of 1/4 teaspoon of clear hand dishwashing detergent with 1 cup of water. Stir gently.
- Apply detergent solution directly to a white cloth. Dampen the carpet fibers in the stained area with the cloth. Avoid saturating the carpet.
- Wipe gently. Turn cloth frequently. Never rub, scrub or use a brush. This may damage carpet fibers.
- If necessary, use your fingertips to work the solution to the base of the stain.
- Wet the stained carpet fibers with clear, lukewarm water to rinse.
- Cover the spot with an absorbent white towel or paper towel and apply pressure to blot.
- Repeat the rinsing and blotting procedures until you are sure all traces of the detergent have been removed.
- If the stain is gone, place an absorbent white towel or paper towel over the area cleaned, and weigh towels down with a heavy, color-fast object, such as a weighted plastic wastebasket.
- Change towels or paper towels until carpet dries.
- If stain remains, proceed to Step 3.
Step 3 Do NOT use on coffee, tea or urine stains. - Mix 2 tablespoons of non-bleaching, non-sudsing household ammonia with 1 cup of lukewarm water.
- Apply ammonia solution, rinse and blot as outlined in Step 1.
- Do not dry with paper towels. Proceed to Step 4 to neutralize the ammonia solution.
Step 4 - Mix 1 cup of white vinegar with 2 cups of water.
- Apply vinegar solution, rinse and blot as outlined in Step 1.
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