Owning a carpet comes with the inherent risk of it being a stain magnet for everything from dirty shoes to pet urine and spilled wine. But are carpet stains permanent? Well, that depends. Permanent carpet stains are the result of soiling from spills or spots that have set in to the point where they become permanent.

Are Carpet Stains Permanent? - Get Rid of Them Fast!

If you’re wondering, “Are carpet stains permanent?” Then your answer is that it depends. Depending on the type of spill and how quickly you’re able to clean up the spill, this will determine if a stain is permanent or not.

How Do Carpet Stains Become Permanent?

Here are some of the reasons spills and spots can become permanent:

• A spill can cause an irreversible chemical change to the carpet fiber or its dye.

• Carpet fibers act as wicks. As such, liquid spilled on the carpet fibers will be drawn up to the fiber tips as it dries. If the spilled liquid is not removed quickly and the tips allowed to dry, the stain will be concentrated on the top of the fibers and cause permanent staining.

• Just like a dye, a spill can get absorbed by the carpet or rug fibers and permanently discolor, recolor or bleach out the fibers -- especially if paint is spilled.

Although most carpet fibers have stain resistant qualities, no carpet is 100% resistant to stains. One of the best ways to avoid permanent damage to your rugs and carpets from stains is by having a soil and stain protector applied after it’s been professionally cleaned.

Causes of Permanent Stains

Urine

Urine is the leading cause of permanent stains on carpets and area rugs. Some fibers will almost immediately show urine stains while others may not.  Although a thorough cleaning and professional decontamination may make the stain less visible, urine stains are generally permanent.

Here are some of the reasons why:

• Urochrome from urine is responsible for the strong yellow color that can stain your carpet or rug.

• The age, medications and diet of the pet or human can color the urine and stain the rug or carpet.

Feces

Although solid feces may be easier to clean up than urine, diarrhea or loose feces can be just as detrimental and difficult to clean as urine, often leading to permanent stains.

Greases and Oils

Sticky greases and oils from cooking, for example, can change fibers chemically and produce a permanent yellow film on your carpet. Some oils will even dissolve into some types of fibers, thus becoming part of the fibers themselves. Removing such oils can be tough without further damaging the carpet.

Drink Spills

Fibers such as wool, silk, cotton and some nylons can easily get permanently stained from coffee, wines, tea, etc. Household chemicals and bleach can also lead to permanent staining.

Vomit

Cats are more likely to vomit on your carpet than dogs but children and adults often contribute as well. Food dyes, stomach acids and medicines in vomit can cause permanent stains.

Bottom Line

So, are carpet stains permanent? Most carpet stains can be removed if you start spot and spill removal as soon as possible. Nonetheless, some carpet stains are permanent and all you can do is reduce the intensity of the stain or replace the carpet.