Carpet Stain Guide

There’s a large amount of pride – and a certain amount of terror – with owning a lovely thick carpet or rug. The qualities that make them desirable are also the ones that make removing a stain in them quite a nightmare. Your carpet cleaning worries are unfounded however, as carpet stains can be removed easily. Although thicker carpets can tend to be more difficult to clean than other carpets and rugs, using this simple step-by-step guide you can restore your carpet to its former glory.

Cleaning process

Before you can get on to removing stains, you’ve first got to spot them. It’s easiest to locate and remove stains on area carpets and rugs if they are well maintained. If you have pets, it’s best to vacuum the high footfall areas at least once per week.

If you see stains on the carpet or rug, particularly anything left behind by a pet, they must be addressed as soon as possible. Remove any mess left behind (as much as you can) then dab it with a wet paper towel or alcohol-free wet wipe to prevent it from setting into the fibres. Follow this up by using a spray such as Vanish Oxi Action Powder, which is specially formulated to remove any residue left behind, and designed to deter pets from soiling the same area again.

For other stains or marks, you can also use the Spray, or a foam such as Vanish Gel, but alternatively you could try a mixture of water and a small amount of Vanish; working the suds into the stain with a soft bristle brush. Allow this solution to soak into the material for between five and ten minutes, and then rinse with a small amount of cold water. Rug cleaning is just as simple; if it’s a large rug, spread it out and follow the instructions above, as though it were a carpet. If the rug is small, however, you can mix up a solution of Vanish and water and soak the entire rug in the solution. Again, using a bristle brush, scrub the stain until it disappears, then hang the rug out to dry. When the rug or carpet is ready, simply vacuum it once.

Certain stains can leave behind an unwanted smell even after they’re gone. If you notice any lingering odours, then simply sprinkle the area with a quality carpet cleaner such as the Vanish Oxi Action Carpet and Upholstery Spray. This helps to remove the tough ground-in dirt and dust trapped deep in the fibres. Rub the powder into the carpet or rug with a soft brush and allow the powder to sit for about twenty minutes. Then simply vacuum the rug until all the residue is removed. This will not only keep the rug smelling fresh, but also make it exceptionally soft due to the conditioning ingredients.

So follow this Vanish guide to looking after your carpets and rugs, and you can too enjoy the luxuriant softness that a carpet provides whatever your preferred thickness without the worry or the hassle.