- Treat any spill as soon as it occurs - a fresh stain is more easily removed than a dried, ingrained stain.
- Do not rub or brush stains. Blot the stain, working from the outside to the centre of the stain.
- For liquids: pour a generous amount of salt on stain, leave an hour, then vacuum. Alternatively, blot with a wad of tissues. For solids: scrape up with the back of a knife or spatula. Do not rub in. Apply appropriate stain remover.
- If you begin removing stain with the one treatment, leave it to dry completely before treating other stains or using other remedies. It's only when the carpet is dry that you can see whether the stain has been removed.
- Rinse stain with cold water after treatment and blot dry with a clean cloth:
Assemble the following items for your stain removal kit in a tool box, basket or shoe box. Label each item clearly and keep the contents out of the reach of children.
- Clean cloths (preferably absorbent towel)
- Brown paper or paper towelling
- Detergent (biodegradable)
- Dry-cleaning fluid (optional)
- Dry foam carpet shampoo
- Eucalyptus oil (optional)
- Household Ammonia (must be diluted before use)
- Methylated spirits
- Salt
- Soft-bristled brush
- White tissues
- ALCOHOL: apply diluted biodegradable detergent solution, blot dry. Apply equal parts white vinegar and water, blot dry. Rinse with cold water, blot dry.
- BALLPOINT or FELT PEN: dab gently with white spirit on a clean cloth. Shampoo with dry carpet foam.
- BLOOD: apply cold water, blot. Rinse as many times as necessary, blot after each application.
- BURN on a plain light carpet, dab burn with a solution of 1 part hydrogen peroxide to 10 parts water.
- CANDLE WAX: place one or two layers of brown paper or paper towels over wax, press with hot iron. Paper will absorb the wax dab with methylated spirits. Repeat process until stain is removed.
- COFFEE - BLACK: spray with soda siphon or splash with soda water, blot. Shampoo with dry carpet foam.
- COFFEE - WHITE: spray with soda siphon or splash with soda water, rinse, blot. Shampoo with dry carpet foam. If milk stain remains, dab with mineral turpentine and dry-cleaning fluid, sponge with a mixture of 1 teaspoon each of white vinegar and biodegradable detergent in 1 litre warm water.
- CRAYON: dab with mineral turpentine. Sponge with solution of 1 litre warm water containing 1 teaspoon each of white vinegar and biodegradable detergent in 1 litre warm water.
- CREAM, ICE-CREAM, MILK: apply a small amount of biodegradable liquid detergent solution to stain, rinse with cold water. >Dab with mineral turpentine or dry-cleaning fluid, shampoo with dry carpet foam. >Sponge with a mixture of 1 teaspoon each of white vinegar and biodegradable detergent in 1 litre warm water.
- FAECES: remove deposit, sponge with clear water, spray with soda siphon or splash with soda water. Disinfect, shampoo.
- FELT TIP PEN: treat as for BALLPOINT PEN
- FRUIT JUICE: blot stain with a cloth dipped in a mild solution of biodegradable detergent and water. Shampoo if necessary.
- FURNITURE POLISH: dab with mineral turpentine or dry-cleaning fluid on cotton wool, sponge with a solution of 1 litre warm water containing 1 teaspoon each of white vinegar and biodegrable detergent.
- ICE-CREAM: treat as for CREAM
- MILK: treat as for CREAM
- MUD: leave to dry, brush or vacuum. Dab stain with methylated spirits then liquid detergent solution, rinse. Repeat process if necessary.
- PAINT: most paint stains cannot be removed once they are dry. >ACRYLIC: sponge out diluted biodegradable detergent, dab with methylated spirits. >GLOSS: sponge with methylated spirits or mineral turpentine if paint is wet. >WATER-BASED: sponge out with cold water while still wet.
- SOFT DRINK: apply diluted biodegradable detergent solution, blot dry. Apply a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and water, blot, rinse with cold water.
- SHOE POLISH: scrape off as much residue as possible. Dab with mineral turpentine or dry-cleaning fluid. >Sponge with solution containing 1 teaspoon each of white vinegar and biodegradable detergent.
- TEA-BLACK, TEA-WHITE: treat as for COFFEE-BLACK and COFFEE-WHITE
- URINE: sponge immediately with cold water, blot with a solution of equal parts white vinegar and water. Rinse, blot dry. Shampoo if necessary.
- VOMIT: scrape up deposit. Sponge with a solution of 1 litre warm water containing 1 teaspoon each of white vinegar and biodegradable detergent.
- WINE - RED: sprinkle generously with salt, leave overnight, vacuum. Shampoo.
- WINE - WHITE: sponge with solution of 1 litre warm water containing 1 teaspoon each of white vinegar and detergent.
