Whenever you are treating a common carpet stain, ensure you check the colour fastness of any product you use in a small discrete area before treating the mark. High wool content carpets can react badly to chemical treatments and some products can change colour or shape when too much liquid is applied. If you have any concerns at all, contact a professional to help.

When you have finished cleaning a stain from your carpet, make sure the area is thoroughly dried. This will not only reduce the chances of a water mark appearing, but also absorb any remaining elements of the stain to avoid the mark reappearing. The easiest way to do this is by using the dry setting on a wet vacuum cleaner. However you can also place several layers of paper towel on the cleaned area with a heavy weight such as a book or box on top. Leave for several hours, or overnight if possible, and replace the towels frequently. Repeat until the area is completely moisture free.

✽ Most Common Carpet Stains ✽

1. Coffee

The key to treating a coffee stain is quick action. Leave the stain for any length of time and you could end up with a brownish/yellow residue that won't come out.

Absorb left over moisture straight away. Dab the stain, don't rub and change cloths frequently to avoid spreading the damage.

Carpet shampoo or liquid detergent mixed with water can be effective. Spray the stain with luke warm water and then moisten a clean cloth with the solution. Lay the cloth flat on the stain and gently rub with a metal spoon When finished, spray again to rinse and dry thoroughly.

2. Ink

The main risk with an ink stain on the carpet is spreading the mark as you clean. To avoid this, treat the area as quickly as possible and dab up as much moisture as possible before you start.

Ink responds best to a treatment with a high level of isopropyl alcohol. Dab the area carefully to breakdown the stain and rinse thoroughly with water after. Dry carefully and repeat the procedure, if necessary, to remove any remaining mark.

3. Blood

Very similar to ink, however all water used on blood must be cold to stop the blood coagulating and causing a permanent stain.

Absorb excess liquid as soon as possible and use standard washing up liquid or a carpet shampoo with an oxygenation action to break down the grease and release the stain. When finished, rinse thoroughly and dry.

4. Pet Stains

Having pets always carries a risk of accidents on the carpet, but they can be easily cleaned. First remove all excess mess and then start blotting. In many instances blotting will dry the carpet and remove almost all signs of the stain.

For stubborn stains and to remove any lingering smells, use a 50:50 mixture of vinegar and water and spray liberally over the area.
Keep blotting until the carpet is almost dry, sprinkle baking powder over the area and leave it to absorb the moisture. Dry thoroughly and your pet stain should be a thing of the past.

Guest post written by Carpetkare, those in the know about stains.