We've all been there at some point. You're having a little party and, sooner or later, something is going to get spilled on your lovely carpet.
If you have the luck we have, that carpet is going to be light in colour and the stain is going to be dark! Fear not, The Lemon Cleaning Company is here to help you remove that stain and bring your carpet back from disaster.
We're going to do a few of these blogs so depending on what you've had spilt, there will be a solution for you. First up...wine!
For this tip, it doesn't really matter whether it's red, white or rosé wine. All wine is basically just fruit juice, so even white wine can leave a stain, although not always as noticeable. This tip should work on all of them!
You'll need a couple of things on standby, so if you're planning a party it might be a good idea to get them ready beforehand, just in case. You'll need:
A clean, dry towel (probably not one of your best ones)
A spray bottle (if you're using one from the garden, give a cleanout first)
Some liquid washing machine or dishwasher detergent (NOT powder; these often have chemicals that can damage your carpet).
Small clean brush, cloth or sponge.
Some 3% Hydrogen Peroxide.
That might sound harsh but you can get it from most chemists. It can be used to treat skin infections and as a contact lens cleaner so you might have some in already!
So what do you do? Good question, I'm glad you asked!
Your first job is not to panic!
Simply blot the area with a clean, dry towel to soak up any excess vino. You can also use salt for this, but this can create more problems.
Apply a small amount of cold water to the stain (not from the spray bottle - you'll need that for something else in a minute).
You'll probably need to do this several times.
Mix around 1/4 teaspoon of the liquid detergent into 1 cup of warm water and pour it into the spray bottle.
Spray the area with the solution. Be sure to cover the whole area.
Gently work the solution into the area with the small brush, sponge or cloth using light strokes working from the outer edges of the stain inwards.
When you reach the centre of the stain, lightly pinch in an upward motion. Try not to rub the stain vigorously, you'll just push the stain further into the carpet.
Rinse the spray bottle thoroughly to remove any of the solution from the area. Any residue that is left can act as a dirt magnet/ trap.
Allow the area to dry thoroughly.
If the stain persists, apply a small amount of 3% hydrogen peroxide to a clean cloth.
Blot the stain using the same light, edge to centre motion.
Repeat as necessary until the stain has disappeared. Every time you do it, blot the area and allow it to dry.
Hope this helps. If there's anything you'd like us to cover, please just leave us a comment below. If the stain still persists, can I suggest a strategically placed rug ;-)