How to Remove Stains From Every Type of Carpet

Wall-to-wall carpet and area rugs add warmth and comfort to a home, but knowing how to remove various types of stains is essential to keep the floor coverings in good condition. Whether it's a glass of red wine or chocolate, carpet stains happen. Ideally, every type of stain from mud to coffee spills should be treated as soon as possible, as early treatment results in better chances of full stain removal. However, it is possible to remove older and dried stains, whether blood or wax, it may just take a little more work.

Learn how to remove a variety of stains from carpet in a couple of easy steps using common household items you probably already have on hand. Plus, get tips on how to treat reappearing stains, what to avoid when removing pesky stains, and when it's time to call a professional.

How to Remove Stains From Carpet

1. Identify the Stain

   To remove a stain from your carpet, knowing what caused it is key. Look for clues based on the location of the stain, how it smells, and its color.

2. Lift and Blot

   If the stain is fresh, lifting or blotting is the most effective way to remove it.

   • When treating a stain caused by a solid or semi-solid stain maker like mud or pet excrement, lift it away. Use the edge of an old credit card or a thin spatula to lift the staining matter away from the carpet fibers or paper towels if blotting. Never rub or scrub the stain, as it will push it deeper into the fibers and make it harder to remove or potentially fray the tops of the carpet fibers.
   • For liquid stains, use white paper towels or a microfiber cloth to blot up as much moisture as possible. Don't rub, but instead apply some pressure and blot the area, moving to fresh paper towels or a dry section of the cloth frequently.

   Tip

   Always use plain white paper towels or color-fast cloths to blot and treat carpet stains. You don't want the cleaning cloth reacting with the stain or the cleaning product and transferring dye to the carpet.

3. Get Out Identifiable Carpet Stains

   If you know what caused the carpet stain, follow a stain removal chart to get out the stain. Here are some helpful guides for removing common stains on carpet:

   • Pet accidents
   • Red wine
   • Coffee
   • Ink
   • Nail polish
   • Tomato stains
   • Mustard
   • Chocolate

How to Remove Six Stain Types Out of Carpet

Blood

It's best to remove blood stains while fresh, but it's possible to get dried blood stains out of carpet as well.

1. Use several layers of paper towels to blot as much blood as possible.
2. Get two buckets and fill one with plain, cool water and the other with a mixture of two cups of cool water and a teaspoon of dishwashing liquid.
3. Using a soft-bristled brush, work the cleaning solution into the blood stain working from the outside in.
4. Dip a clean cloth in the plain water to "rinse" the stain.
5. Blot with paper towels to remove excess moisture, then allow the carpet to fully air dry.

Chocolate

Chocolate stains contain oil and tannin which can be tricky to remove, but if you act quickly and follow these steps, you can lift the pesky stain.

1. Lift away any pieces of solid chocolate with a spoon.
2. Use a commercial carpet stain remover to treat the stain, following the instructions.
3. Using a soft-bristled brush, work a solution of one teaspoon of dishwashing liquid and one cup of water into the chocolate stain, working from the outside in, then allow it to sit for five minutes.
4. Blot with a clean microfiber cloth, then "rinse" the stain with clean water and allow the spot to air dry.

Coffee or Tea

For best results, treat a tannin-based stain caused by coffee or tea as quickly as possible.

1. Blot away excess moisture with a paper towel, soaking up as much as possible.
2. Mix 2 tablespoons of dishwashing liquid with two cups of warm water and dip a clean cloth in the cleaning solution.
3. Working from the outside in, work the dishwashing liquid solution into the stain.
4. Blot away moisture with a clean, dry cloth, then "rinse" it using another cloth dipped in plain water.
5. Allow the carpet to fully air dry.

Dirt

Whether the dirt is mud or a pet accident, avoid rubbing or scrubbing the stain as it will push it deeper into the carpet fibers and make it more difficult to remove.

1. Remove solid dirt using a spoon, then spray the area with a commercial stain remover designed for pet stains if that's what you're treating, as it will help remove the discoloration as well as the odor.
2. If dealing with mud, once you've removed any solids, mix a solution of a teaspoon of dishwashing liquid and two cups of warm water. Use a microfiber cloth to blot the stain with the solution, dipping it in clean water as you go along to prevent transfers. Blot to remove excess moisture, then allow the area to air dry.

Gum

Remove gum from carpet using this two-step process.

1. Place a sealed bag with ice cubes on the gum to harden it, then use a dull knife to remove as much of it as possible.
2. Mix a solution of equal parts distilled white vinegar and dishwashing liquid, then use a soft-bristled brush to work it into the stain from the outside in. Allow the solution to sit for 15 minutes, then blot with a clean, damp microfiber cloth before letting the spot air dry.

Wax

Harden fresh candle wax with an ice cube before trying to remove it using the following method.

1. Use a dull knife to scrape away hardened pieces of wax.
2. Place multiple layers of paper towels over the wax residue, then iron over them with a warm, not hot, iron until the oil transfers onto the paper towels.
3. If dye is left behind, add a couple drops of rubbing alcohol to the stain and blot with clean paper towels.

When to Call a Professional

If you have a carpet that is made out of wool or is a thick shag rug, you should consider contacting a professional to handle the job. They can also handle the larger and tough-to-get-out stains easier.

Additionally, if you try to remove a stain and still can't get it out, it's best to let the professionals handle it. Make sure to choose a reputable professional carpet cleaner to clean your carpet. Good professional cleaners have the proper equipment to extract the moisture from the carpet, leaving it almost dry.

Remove Carpet Stains With a Homemade Stain Remover

Many carpet stains can be removed with a simple solution of dish soap like Dawn, white vinegar, and water.

1. Mix 1 tablespoon of dish soap with 1/4 cup of white vinegar and 2 cups of water.
2. Work the solution into the carpet from the outside of the stain inward to prevent spreading.
3. Blot with a damp cloth to remove soapy residue, air dry fully, then vacuum to lift the carpet fibers.

Remove Carpet Stains With a Commercial Stain Remover

If you are using a commercial carpet stain remover, follow the directions on the product carefully. If the stain is old, allow more time for the product to work. Always finish by vacuuming the freshly cleaned area to lift the carpet fibers. Repeat the steps if the stain is still there after the carpet is dry.

Remove Older Carpet Stains

If the commercial stain remover or the homemade carpet cleaner did not remove the stain or if the stain is older, it's time to up the game.

• Mix a solution of oxygen-based bleach and cool water following package directions. 
• Dip a clean cloth into the solution and working from the outside edge of the stain toward the center, work the solution into the carpet. Do not over-wet. Leave the solution on the stain for at least one hour before blotting it away with a dry cloth.
• Allow the carpet to dry completely and vacuum to restore the pile. Repeat as needed.

How to Handle and Prevent Reappearing Carpet Stains

You spill something on your carpet, and it leaves a stain. You clean the stain, and it disappears, but a few days later, you notice a spot on your carpet. You take a closer look, and the stain is back!

What happened? How could it reappear? There are two possible reasons for the reappearance: soiling or wicking.

What Are Soiling and Wicking?

Soiling occurs when residue is left behind on the carpet fibers from the carpet cleaner used to treat the original stain. If not completely rinsed and blotted, the residue becomes sticky and attracts dirt and soil to the same spot, which can make it look like the stain has returned.

The other common cause of reappearing stains is something referred to as wicking. Wicking occurs when the substance that was spilled on the carpet has soaked through into the backing of the carpet (and sometimes even the underpad). When you clean the stain, you are cleaning the surface of the carpet. But then the spill that is trapped in the backing and/or underpad can be reabsorbed by the carpet and make its way up the fiber strands, back to the surface—like traveling up the wick of a candle (hence the name).

Wicking typically occurs when the carpet is wet. This can happen if you have your carpet cleaned by hot water extraction (“steam cleaning”), and the carpet is damp after cleaning. This is especially a risk if you choose to steam clean your carpet yourself because many rental units are not powerful enough to extract all of the water from the fibers.

How to Prevent Reappearing Stains

Reappearing stains can be prevented by ensuring that spills are treated as quickly as possible when they happen to prevent the spill from soaking deep into the carpet. After treatment, place a stack of paper towels or a clean white towel over the spot, and use a stack of books or something heavy to weigh it down. (If you are worried about your books getting wet or stained, put a piece of plastic wrap between the towel and the bottom book.) This will draw up the moisture left in the carpet.

So how can you get rid of the stain for good? Well, the answer depends on the size and severity of the spill, as well as the cause of the reappearance—wicking or soiling.

How to Remove Reappearing Stains Caused By Residue Soiling

If you suspect the cause of the reappearing stain is due to soiling, which is caused by soapy residue left behind from the spot cleaner, there are a few steps you can take to remove the stain once and for all.

1. Pour a small amount of lukewarm water on the spot.
2. Place clean white towels over the spot, weighted by something heavy, and leave overnight. Dry the fibers as much as possible to prevent wicking.

Pour a small amount of lukewarm water on the spot.

How to Remove Reappearing Stains Caused By Wicking

If you don’t believe that the reappearance of the spot was caused by residue, then you may be dealing with wicking. Treat the spot as you normally would, and be sure to follow up with the final step of stacking towels and weights on the spot overnight. 

If the stain reappears again or if you are dealing with a much bigger spill, then the next step should be a professional carpet cleaning by hot water extraction. Again, be sure to choose a reputable company, and try to choose one that uses a truck-mounted unit (obviously, this is not an option if you live in an apartment or condo building). These units are more powerful than portable ones.

If More Intensive Measures Are Required

If the problem continues to occur, then it may be time for more drastic measures: you may need to pull back your carpet to let the pad, and possibly subfloor, dry out. This is not too bad if your spill happens to be near a wall; obviously, it is a much bigger issue if your spill is in the middle of the room.

Once you are certain everything is dry, including the subfloor, if necessary, you can then reinstall your carpet. If you had to pull up a large portion of your carpet, you may prefer to have a professional installer come to reinstall it to ensure a proper re-stretch of the carpet. After the carpet is installed, you can treat the stain again as you normally would.

Additional Tips for Handling Carpet Stains

• A good time to look for and get rid of stains is before your weekly carpet vacuuming.
• Even if you plan to do an overall cleaning of the carpet, it is best to pretreat and remove visible stains. These usually require more time and treatment than simply removing overall soil.
• If you find that your carpet is wet after cleaning, use fans to help it dry faster before wicking can occur.