The key to successful stains, spills and spot removal is getting to it as quick as possible.  Make sure to bookmark this page or make a copy of it so you will be able to refer to it when you need it most, right after a spill.  Be sure to let your friends and family know about this spotting guide so they will be able to use it as well.

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YOUR BASIC SPOT REMOVAL KIT

Keep the following items on hand so you will be prepared to handle fresh spills on your carpet: Neutral dish soap, such as, Dawn (dilute 20:1); clear household ammonia; white vinegar (dilute 1:1); hydrogen peroxide (3% solution) for bleaching; citrus solvent, such as, Krud Kutter; a good supply of white terry cloths, or colorless paper towels; and a spotting brush. If you have pets, stock a bacteria/enzyme spray.  A wet/dry vac is great to have as well.

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A FEW THINGS TO REMEMBER FOR REMOVING SPOTS

• Catch it while it's fresh, when chances of removal are are at their highest.  Don't iron or hot-air dry until the stain is gone.  Heat will help set many stains.
• First pick/scrape up all the solids and blot up any remaining moisture as possible.  On a large liquid spill you can use a wet/dry vac.  Be careful not to spread the stain.
• Always work from the outside to the middle of a spot, spill or stain.  This will help keep from spreading stain outward.
• Test any chemical you intend to use in a hidden area to make sure it won't discolor or damage the surface.
• Apply solution and work into area, remember to avoid spreading. 
• When scrubbing, use a soft brush and/or white towel, do not use force or work area to aggressively, as you may damage the fabric.  Scrub just enough to work solution into carpeting.
• Instead of scrubbing use the back end of a knife or spoon to help break up the spot, especially if it is sticky or hardened; such as, candy, gum, food...
• Rinse solution with cool water, blot the area dry.  Brush or fluff up pile or nap.
• On carpet and upholstery, put a thick pad of white toweling over the spot, weight it down with books, and leave it there overnight to "wick up" any remaining moisture.

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Spot Removal Guide for Carpets

(See bottom of page for spotting solutions)

Always follow directions and warning labels when using chemicals, do not mix chemicals together. 

Always test solution on an inconspicuous area before use on the problem area.

BLOOD:

1. Using soap solution, lightly scrub solution into carpet.
2. Rinse with cool water and blot area with a rag.
3. Continue with steps 1 and 2 until you are not removing any more blood from the carpet.
4. If spot remains try the degreaser solution and repeat steps 1 and 2.
5. *If spot remains try the ammonia solution and repeat steps 1 and 2.
6. *Finally if all else fails you can try bleaching with 3% hydrogen peroxide.
   1. *Bleaching and harsh chemicals are a last resort.  Father and Son has removed old blood stains without the use of harsh chemicals and/or bleaching.

BUTTER AND MARGARINE:

1. Using soap solution, lightly work solution into carpet.
2. Rinse and blot, if spot remains try degreaser solution.
3. Rinse well and blot dry.

CANDLE WAX:

1. Scrape away as much wax as possible with spoon or back of a knife.
2. Apply degreaser solution, work into wax.  Try and remove more wax with a spoon.
3. If unable to remove remaining wax from carpet or upholstery, you may have to use the iron to melt and pull wax out.
4. Iron wax out: put a few layers of paper towels on wax area, next layer a kitchen towel over paper towels, remember the location of the wax spot, iron out wax through towel with continued movement, check towels for wax build up.  If wax is soaking through replace towels. and continue until the wax has all been absorbed into towels.  Always use caution with the hot iron and remember to keep it moving on the towels.

 * Stuck or difficult to open sliding door or window?  Instead of grease or WD-40, use an old candle to loosen, rub the track guides in your sliding windows and doors for an easy mess free solution.

KETCHUP & TOMATO SAUCE:

1. Using soap solution; scrub, rinse, and blot.
2. Apply degreaser solution; scrub, rinse and blot.
3. If spot remains try the ammonia solution, rinse and blot.
4. If stain remains, bleach with 3-5% hydrogen peroxide.
5. Rinse thoroughly with water, blot dry..

CHOCOLATE:

1. Scrape away as much as possible with spoon or back of a knife.
2. Apply soap solution, rinse and blot.
3. Using degreaser solution; scrub, rinse and blot.
4. If spot remains, try a more concentrated degreaser solution.
5. Rinse thoroughly with cool water, blot dry.

COFFEE:

1. Using soap solution, work area, rinsing and blotting frequently.
2. Dry area as best as possible.  If brown area remains from coffee, rinse with white vinegar.
3. Cover with towels until dry.
4. If browning comes back after area is dry use a cloth with a vinegar solution and let sit on spot.

CRAYON:

1. Using soap solution; scrub, rinse and blot.
2.  Using degreaser solution, rinse and blot.
3. If crayon remains use a citrus solvent; scrub, rinse and blot.
4. Rinse with water, blot dry.

FOOD COLORING:

1. Using soap solution; rinse and blot frequently.  A dried stain of food coloring will most likely spread when wet.  Repeat until color is no longer transferred to towel.
2. If color remains, use degreaser solution, rinse and blot.
3. Rinse thoroughly with water, blot dry.

FURNITURE STAIN:

1. Using degreaser solution; scrub, rinse and blot.
2. Try using citrus solvent; scrub, rinse and blot.
3. Rinse and blot dry. 
4. Using hydrogen peroxide try bleaching out stain.  * Furniture stain is nearly impossible to remove from carpeting.  Bleaching may damage carpet, remember to test a discrete area first.

GRASS:

1. Clean up as much debris as possible.
2. Apply soap solution; scrub, rinse and blot.
3. Rinse with cool water and blot.
4. Using degreaser solution; scrub, rinse and blot.
5. If stain remains, use a white vinegar solution, rinse and blot.  If that fails you have graduated to bleaching with hydrogen peroxide.
6. Rinse with water, blot dry.

INK:

1. Using soap solution; scrub, rinse and blot.
2. Using degreaser solution; scrub, rinse and blot.
3. If stain remains try using citrus solvent and/or heavy degreaser solution.
4. Rinse well and blot dry.

JAM & JELLY:

1. Apply soap solution; scrub, rinse and blot.
2. Apply degreaser solution, rinse and blot.
3. Rinse with water and blot dry.

LIPSTICK:

1. Scrape off excess with spoon or back of a knife.
2. Apply degreaser solution; scrub, rinse and blot making sure not to reapply stain into fabric.
3. Use citrus solvent, rinse and blot.
4. If stain remains try using a heavy solution of degreaser; scrub, rinse and blot.
5. Rinse with water, blot until dry.

MILDEW:

1. Using soap solution; scrub, rinse and blot dry.
2. Apply disinfectant, sanitizer solution over entire area of mildew. 
3. Let air dry.  May need another application of disinfectant, sanitizer spray, as well as, a deodorization spray.
4. Make sure that mildew is not from a reoccurring problem, like a leaky faucet, pipe, drain, toilet, etc...

MUD:

1. Brush or scrape away as much excess mud as possible.
2. Using soap solution; scrub, rinse and blot area.
3. Rinse thoroughly with water, blot until dry.
4. If stain remains, apply degreaser solution, rinse well and dry.

MUSTARD:

1. Apply soap solution, rinse and blot.
2. Apply vinegar solution, blot.
3. Rinse and blot dry.
4. If stain remains, bleaching may be necessary with hydrogen peroxide.

NAIL POLISH:

1. Using degreaser solution; scrub, rinse and blot.
2. If stain remains, use citrus solvent; scrub, rinse and blot dry.
3. Rinse with water, blot until dry.

PAINT (Oil based):

1. Apply degreaser solution; scrub, rinse and blot.
2. Rinse with water, blot until dry.
3. Apply POG remover, following instructions on chemical.
4. Most POG removers need to to dwell on the spot.  Make sure to rinse and blot dry after using POG removers.

PAINT (Water based):

1. Using degreaser solution; scrub, rinse and blot.
2. If there is no noticeable removal of paint, try using a citrus solvent; scrub, rinse and blot.
3. If stain persists use POG remover, follow instructions on chemical.
4. Repeat 1-3 if stain remains and you are seeing a reduction in the stain.
5. Rinse well and blot dry.

SHOE POLISH:

1. Pull out as much polish from the carpet as possible without spreading it around.
2. Apply degreaser solution; work into area carefully as it will spread.
3. Rinse, blot and repeat if you are seeing polish coming out of the carpet.
4. If stain persists, use a citrus solvent; scrub, rinse and blot.
5. Rinse well and blot dry.

URINE:

1. Blot as much as possible if still wet.
2. Apply soap solution, rinse and blot.
3. Apply vinegar solution, blot.
4. Rinse thoroughly with water, blot until dry.
5. If stain remains, apply urine spot remover (use sparingly it will leave behind lots of soap), rinse well and blot.
6. If there is yellowing bleaching with 3-5% hydrogen peroxide might be necessary
7. Urine stains may cause permanent dye removal and/or staining of the carpeting, so get to them ASAP.

VOMIT:

1. Blot as much as possible.
2. Using soap solution; scrub, rinse and blot.
3. Apply degreaser solution, rinse and blot.
4. Apply vinegar solution, blot.
5. Rinse with water, blot until dry.

WINE:

1. Apply soap solution, rinse and blot.
2. Using degreaser solution; carefully scrub, rinse well and blot dry.
3. If necessary, bleaching with 3-5% hydrogen peroxide may be necessary.  Apply and blot dry.
4. Rinse thoroughly with water, blot until dry.

Spotting Solutions

AMMONIA SOLUTION - 

Mix one tablespoon of clean household ammonia with one-half cup of water.

BLEACHING - 

Use hydrogen peroxide 3%-5% apply carefully and blot dry, do not let dwell too long.  DO NOT use chlorine bleach.

CITRUS SOLVENT -

Can be found at most hardware stores; ex. Krud Kutter, works well on most oil based products.  Use lightly and rinse well afterwards.

DEGREASER SOLUTION - 

Mix a concentrated degreaser in warm water (1 part degreaser to 20 parts water).

Concentrated degreaser can be found at the local hardware store.  We use a citrus based degreaser: kid, pet and eco friendly. 

POG -

Paint, oil and grease remover; available in hardware stores. Use extremely small amounts with extreme caution!  Make sure to follow instructions, as some may require additional dwell time.

SOAP SOLUTION -

Mix one teaspoonful of a colorless dishwashing liquid in a cup of warm water.

VINEGAR SOLUTION -

Using white vinegar, dilute with warm water 1:1.  Apply directly to cloth to blot easy spots that are new, or for tougher older stains apply directly to carpet; scrub, rinse and blot dry.