Today, Father and Son LLC ran into some soiled carpeting in condo complex in Fountain Hills, AZ. The customer did not know what happened to the carpet. The traffic areas in the rug were dark, dirty and deeply soiled. She did not know where all the black grease and dirt had come from and why it had gotten so bad, so quick. Turns out that recently the complex had used a slurry seal to resurface the street and the black asphalt was sticking to their shoes, entrance and car mats and they were unknowing tracking residue on the carpeting.
Here are a simple steps to help you remove grease, asphalt and tar from carpets and upholstery.
1. Freeze the tar or grease by placing an ice cube on top of it.
2. After the spot is hardened, scrape off as much as you can, using a spoon or back end of a knife.
3. Vacuum up any remaining debris that is left on the carpet or upholstery before it unfreezes.
4. Pre-spray the leftover spot with some degreaser or soap. (Use very little to start).
5. Using a brush with a little hot water lightly work the area in a circular pattern.
6. Rinse the area and soak up as much moisture as possible.
If the spot remains, you can work steps 4-6 again.
Before you start on your project, here are a few reminders.
Make sure to test any chemical that you are going to use on a hidden area of you carpet or upholstery.
Use very little soap or degreaser to start, as it will foam up a lot. Extra soap in the fabric is not your friend, it will attract and hold extra dirt, later creating a new spot.
Rinse thoroughly. Do not be afraid of getting the carpet or upholstery wet, it will dry.
Try not to over scrub, this causes wear to the fabric and may be noticeable after the stain is removed.
The steps above are suggested for a small spot, area or chunk of grease, tar or asphalt. If you are having trouble with grease, asphalt or tar in your carpet or upholstery call a professional carpet cleaner, such as, Father and Son LLC. We are locally owned and operated out of Fountain Hills, AZ. We are licensed, bonded and insured.