Carpet Cleaning Guide - Carpet Stain Removal

Godfrey Hirst Cleaning Guide

Prompt and immediate attention to any spillages or stains is paramount to avoid the penetration of a stain into the carpet fibres.

Liquids (particularly hot liquids) must be attended to immediately. If allowed to cool or dry, the stain will be almost impossible to remove.

Care must be taken as haphazard attempts at spot removal can cause permanent stain setting, pile distortion and loss of colour.

Set out in table left are some general recommendations for removal of common substances. Supermarket cleaning products are not recommended. Removal of stains cannot be guaranteed. No responsibility is accepted by Hoppens Floorworld for claims arising from any proposed treatments. If stains fail to respond to treatment, call a professional carpet cleaner immediately.

Basic Carpet Cleaning Steps:

Immediately remove as much of the spill as possible. For solids use a blunt knife or spoon. Blot up liquids by applying pressure with WHITE paper towels or tissues. Use a wet/dry vacuum for large spills. NEVER scrub or rub the carpet during the stain removal (or rinsing) process as a fuzzy area may result. Always work from the outside of the stain or spillage towards the middle to avoid further spreading using a blotting or dabbing motion.

Determine the appropriate method of stain removal.

Pre-test any treatment on a small inconspicuous area of carpet to ensure against damage and possible colour change.

Ensure carpet is press dried with a clean WHITE cloth or WHITE paper towel between any step in the treatment process to remove excess moisture. Do not rub, as rubbing can alter the carpet's texture.

After the spill or stain has been treated, place several layers of WHITE paper towels over the area and place a flat weight on them until dry. A hairdryer maybe used to speed up the drying process but do NOT overheat the area. Do not walk on the carpet until dry.

If stains fail to respond adequately to treatment, call a professional carpet cleaner immediately. Stains should be differentiated from soiling. Ensure that any residue from spills or cleaning mixtures are fully removed. For example, many sugar based spills, such as soft drinks and coffee, leave a sugar residue after removal. Similarly, when spills are cleaned with a detergent solution and the area is not sufficiently rinsed, a sticky detergent residue can remain. This sticky residue attracts soil from ordinary foot traffic and the resulting discolouration appears to be a stain. If so, repeat stain removal procedures above.

Cleaning Treatment

Common Household Food & Beverages - Most common household food and beverage stains (not including stains containing strong dyes or substances which destroy or change the colour of carpet) need to be treated solely with warm, not hot, water immediately applied to the stained area.

Repeat treatment above until no stain is evident on the WHITE cloth or towels used to press dry the area. Should the stain remain, using a clean WHITE cloth or sponge, treat with a mixture of 1 teaspoon of approved wool laundry detergent and one teaspoon of white vinegar in 1 litre of warm water. Rinse with warm water, repeating treatment until no stain is evident on cloth or towels.

Other Substances - It is important to identify the source of the stain to ensure use of the appropriate method of removal. Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 3733:1995 (available from Standards Australia offices in state capital cities) provides a comprehensive guide to cleaning practices and stain removal.