Instructions

Spot cleaning your carpet does not have to involve harsh chemicals nor should it be too difficult for the average person to do on occasion. Spot cleaning when a spill occurs is much easier and less expensive than putting off the cleaning, allowing your carpet to become full of set-in stains and then having to have your carpets professionally cleaned. Listed below are some general spot cleaning tips to follow.

9 Easy steps to spot clean a carpet

1. Remove the carpet stain as soon as it is noticed.
2. Before using a towel or wet cleaning solution on your carpet stain, use your fingers to pick up any dry particles from the stain (i.e. dirt clots, food particles, etc.).
3. To spot clean a stain, use a clean white, absorbent terry towel.
4. If you are using a cleaning solution, use only a small amount of cleaning solution at first and increase the potency as needed according to product safety and instructions.
5. Pretest the carpet in an inconspicuous area to ensure that the cleaning solution that you are using will not cause discoloration.
6. Make sure that your cleaning solution is at a warm temperature, wet and ring out any excess water from your towel.
7. With the damp towel, blot the spot.
8. Clean the stain from the edge to the center.
9. Rinse and re-apply cleaner to the towel as the towel becomes soiled.

Common carpet spot cleaning mistakes and warnings

 Do not use a dirty or discolored rag to clean your carpet spots. The dirt or dye form the rag can transfer to your carpet resulting in a bigger mess than what you had when you started.
 Do not use excessive force when trying to rub out a stain. This will only cause the stain to spread and soak deeper into the carpet. Vigorous rubbing will also weaken the carpet fiber helping it to wear out quicker and make any other spots seem more obvious.
 You do not always need a heavy chemical to spot clean your carpet. Try a gentler homemade cleaner such as dish detergent, vinegar, club soda or shampoo when spot cleaning. Only use the professional grade cleaners for really stubborn spots.
 Never use a blow dryer or any other type of heat to dry an area that has been cleaned from a stain. Doing so will set in any remaining parts of the stain and will make it extremely difficult to remove later.
 Do not ignore the recommended use and directions on the cleaners that you choose to use. Also do not apply cleaners directly to the stain. Soaking the stain in cleaners will often discolor the carpet and form a soapy film that will only serve to attract more dirt in the future.
 When it comes to spot cleaning, the longer you wait the more difficult it is going to be to remove the stain. Your best window of opportunity for completely cleaning out a stain in your carpet is in the few minutes after the spill has occurred.

Other resources available for spot cleaning

If you are in need of products that can help you clean the many spots in your home that you have been neglecting, most grocery stores have carpet steam cleaners available for rent. Cleaning all of your carpeted areas should be done at least once every one to two years and spot cleaning should be enough to keep your floors clean in-between all-over cleanings.