The kids have been coming in and out all summer so how is your carpet fairing? No doubt that increased traffic of playing outdoors is taking it toll. You may be putting off a professional home carpet cleaning until the foot traffic subsides, but what about those unsightly spots or stains that are already there? Let us help you get some of the most common summer stains out of your carpet!
Removing mud from carpet
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Whether it is your kids or your dogs tracking mud across your carpet, it happens. Pets don’t know how to wash their own feet at the door, and kids, well….kids are kids. Here is how to spot treat muddy carpet:
- Let it dry! If it is very wet, dab it with a towel but do not rub it in.
- Vacuum the area to remove as much as the dirt as possible. Pass the area slowly, at least 16 times with the vacuum.
- Mix a teaspoon of dish soap per cup of lukewarm water, and gently blot the area over and over until the stain has lifted. DO NOT RUB!
Removing grass stains from carpet
Grass tends to stain kids clothing or skin. What happens when they crawl around on your carpet with grass stained knees?
- Mix 1/4 teaspoon of laundry soap with cold water
- Dampen a towel with mixture and begin blotting the stain, working from the outside inward
- Repeat until you have lifted the stain
Removing Kool-Aid from carpet
Kool-aid or freeze pops are often a common summer treat for kids. Nice and easy until they spill on your carpet!
- If the stain is fresh, use paper towel to soak up the spill, do NOT rub!
- Use one cup of warm water and 1/2 teaspoon of dish soap mixture
- Using a clean cloth, apply the mixture and dab from the outside in using a blotting motion
- Mix 2 cups of water with 1 cup of water apply with a different clean cloth and repeat steps 1, 2, and 3.
- Pour a small amount of cold water over the treated area to rinse, and blot with a dry clean towel.
Although spot treatment is a good way to eliminate or lighten the unsightly stains caused by kids or pets, it typically does not completely 
remove the stain. Once a stain hits your carpet it works its way deeper and deeper into the carpet fibers. Rubbing a stain can spread it and make it appear larger, so dabbing is preferred with spot treatment. Think about what you are doing when you dab, yes you will notice the stain lifting, but you are also pushing it down into the carpet. This combination will make your carpet appear clean.
Spot treatment is a good quick fix for eye sores on your carpet. Often times using soap, which is necessary for most spot cleaning, will leave a residue that will over time, make dirt appear faster. We highly recommend scheduling a professional carpet cleaning at least two times per year. Doing so will remove any residue left from spot cleaning treatments, as well as reach deep down into your carpet fibers to remove stains and allergens.