When preparing to sell your home, you want to make sure that your home is staged as neatly and clean as possible. For this, it is highly suggested that you make sure all of your furniture, upholstery, carpets, and rugs are impeccably clean. Accidents may happen over time, and whether it is because of your pets, kids, or something you have done, you are going to need to know how to properly take care of each stain uniquely. In this guide, I have provided you with the necessary know-how to clean up virtually any stain that may occur in your home.
How to Deal with Common Pet Stains
When Dogs and Cats get sick or have accidents throughout the home it’s almost always somewhere inconvenient and hard to clean. For the lucky few, they may have vomited or had an accident on the linoleum or the couch arm cover which can easily be cleaned or removed and thrown in the wash. However, this won’t always be the case. If they decide to lay a fresh one down on your newly installed carpet, then make sure to act quickly. First, remove all that you can, making sure to soak up as much liquid as you can. Try not to use any clothes with dyes as those may bleed into the carpet causing more of a mess. You can even use newspaper to clean up some of the liquids. When you have removed as much of the bile as you can, you can then rinse the area with clean water. Make sure it is cool and add a little soap if necessary, making sure not to over saturate with the soap. If you put too much the soap residue may stick around and can even attract more dirt and particles.
If the pet stain isn’t fresh, then you will have to take a different approach. For this method, you will need a pet stain removal solution, like P.U.R.T, and a pet odor neutralizer to get rid of any unpleasant smells. After wiping up and removing as much as the mess as you can, you will then be able to apply the stain remover on the affected area. After you have thoroughly cleaned the stain, you can then apply the pet odor neutralizer to the area. If the stain still persists, you may want to rent a carpet cleaning machine or hire a professional carpet cleaner.
How to Clean Up Marker Stains
If you have kids, then you know first-hand the messes that come with this big responsibility. They love to have fun and some still haven’t quite learned how not to make messes as they do so. They track in dirt from outside, jump on the bed, and love to draw. However, their artistic abilities may stray away from the paper and onto your walls or carpets. One great way to prevent permanent stains is to provide your children with washable markers which will make clean up a breeze. This isn’t always the case unfortunately and if they get their hands on a permanent marker, you may need to add a little more elbow grease into the removal of a marker stain.
If this stain occurs on your carpets, two excellent solutions are to use either rubbing alcohol or hairspray. Add a little to a damp white cloth and begin to gently dab the stain on the carpet. Make sure not to rub abrasively as the stain could get worse. When you have removed the stain, your next step is to rinse with water then blot out the liquid. Allow a few hours to dry and you’re set!
Getting Rid of Deep Down Glue Stains
Again, glue stains are most times a stain caused by one of your children but lucky for us we can remove it! The key to removing this type of stain is to get to it as soon as possible. If it hasn’t dried, you want to get out as much as possible before it becomes built up with dirt. Also, keep in mind that each glue will have different methods of removal so make sure to research online for any specifics. If you have gotten all the glue out that you can your next step is to start to remove any dried glue. You can do this by using a sharp flat knife to scrape off any leftover on the top of the carpets pile. Your next step is to use water to soak the area again which will allow the glue to loosen. In a separate dish, mix dishwashing soap and cool water lightly blotting the glue stain. Make sure to take your time with this because it may take a while to remove. Continue this process until everything is removed. Your final step would be to rinse the area once again then blot it dry.
Proper Wine Stain Removal Tips
When it comes to wine stains on your furniture and carpets, this is never a good thing. Like most stains, immediate attention is how you will most efficiently remove it. If you are there when the wine is spilled, then go run and get some towels and immediately dab up the wine getting out as much of it as possible. You can then add your cleaning solution and begin to blot up the stain further. There are special cleaning solutions made to remove wine but if you do a little research online you find a multitude of many other solutions, some that you can make at home. I found one that suggests heavily spreading salt on the stain and allowing it to dry. They then suggest to rise it with water and baking soda later. I haven’t tried this method personally but comment below if this works for you. Others have said that the bubbles in soda water may help lift the stain but if these don’t work, you can try some of the other methods we have provided you below.
One solution that has worked for me if you have a light colored carpet is a dish washing liquid and hydrogen peroxide mix. Blot, don’t rub, the stain. Don’t use this on a dark colored carpet because the hydrogen peroxide may aid in fading the color. Vinegar and hot water is yet another solution that may work well for a wine stain.
Each stain sets in different ways and it is important to use the right cleaning method. Remember, it will sometimes take the time to clean up so make sure to have patience. Know that you will not always be equipped with the tools, time, and experience to clean every stain so always have a reliable carpet cleaning company’s contact handy.
