Cooking is a joy in the home – the scents, helping one another and of course, the eating!  But what happens when cooking leads to a mess or even a spill? 

Inevitably when we are cooking or eating with oils there are bound to be accidents. It always happens when you are wearing your favorite white sweater while you are cooking and the oil jumps off the pan right onto it. Or when children are eating a salad and the bowl is accidentally knocked off the table and right onto the beautiful new carpet.

Luckily these little life accidents can be reversed if handled in a timely manner and save the carpet from permanent damage. The most important thing to know about these kinds of stains is that acting immediately is extremely important. The longer a spill remains on carpet, the harder it will be to remove.

The first step is to use a spoon and carefully scoop up any solid food that may have also fallen in the spill.  Next, gently blot the stained area with white paper towels. Test a spot remover on a hidden area of carpet to ensure the spot remover does not discolor the area.

For spot remover, combine ¼ teaspoon of liquid dish detergent with 1-cup lukewarm water.  Do not use automatic dish detergent (the kind used in a dish washing machine) or laundry detergent.  These will not help the stain and may damage carpet. 

Once you have confirmed your spot solution is not going to stain your carpet further, spray the spot solution onto the white paper towels and gently apply moving from the outer part of the stain inward, so as not to spread the stain further. Let the solution set for a couple of minutes and then blot to remove. This step may need to be repeated several times if the spot does not lift on the first try. Don’t use more than necessary, however.  More is not better!

Once the stain has been removed rinse the area several times with lukewarm water. Spot removal solutions can leave residues that soil can be attracted to. Use a bottle that will spray the water over the affected area so as not to oversaturate and blot with white paper towels. Repeat this process several times to be sure to remove everything from the carpet.

Don’t hesitate to ask the staff at Carpets N More any questions you may have about your carpet!  

A dreaded cry comes from another room — “Oops!  I’m sorry!  I didn’t mean to spill that!” 

Is your first reaction to panic?  Will you ever be able to rid your carpet of the stain?  

Every spill is different.  Our post today deals with handling catsup when it comes in contact with carpet.  Hopefully this will help many with family get-togethers that have become a bit messy!

Catsup

Detergent Solution – Mix one fourth (1/4) teaspoon of a liquid dishwashing detergent per one (1) cup of lukewarm water. NEVER USE A STRONGER CONCENTRATION! Thorough rinsing is necessary to remove detergent residues that may cause rapid soiling. It may be necessary to rinse with warm water several times to completely remove residues. (See Residue Precautions.) Care should be used in selecting a detergent. Never use a laundry detergent of any type, because laundry detergents may contain optical brighteners (flourescent dyes) that dye the fiber. Do not select an automatic dishwashing detergent because many contain bleaching agents that destroy dyes and some fibers.

Vinegar Solution – Mix one (1) cup of white vinegar per two (2) cups of water. White vinegar is a 5% acetic acid solution. It is used most often to lower the alkalinity caused by detergent solutions or alkaline spills.

Warm Water – Lukewarm tap water should be used in most cases to rinse the cleaning solutions from the fiber. Failure to completely rinse the solutions from the fiber may cause accelerated soiling.

Ammonia Solution – Mix one (1) tablespoon of household ammonia per cup of water. Please note: Be aware that ammonia, if used improperly, can cause a color change. Be sure to test a hidden area.

Call a Professional – Professional cleaners have the ability and the equipment to use more aggressive cleaning solutions to remove stubborn spills. Always consider consulting a professional cleaner regarding any spot removal question. 

Overall, be sure to be careful around carpet, but remember there is no need to panic with a loud “Oops!” Acting quickly and with the correct attack strategy, the scariest spills can be overcome.