Tips for removing common Halloween stains from your carpet

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The best things about Halloween are the messiest! From the candy to the costumes, Halloween is a fun-filled time for kids and adults alike. However, Halloween also brings its fair share of stains. Chocolate, hard candy, pumpkin carving guts, glow sticks and fake blood are the most common stains that end up on carpets on Halloween, so we’ve come up with a few tips to help you remove them.

 

Chocolate– Blot stain with white cloth and cold water. Once chocolate no longer transfers to cloth, apply a detergent solution to a clean end of the cloth. Continue to blot stain using the detergent solution. Let sit for a few minutes and rinse with cold water using a spray bottle. Blot to remove excess moisture.

 

Hard Candy– Carefully remove the hard candy from carpet, you may need to use a bit of cold water to moisten the candy, this is to prevent damage to the carpet fibers. Then, blot the stain with cold water to remove any residual candy pieces. Now, take approximately ½ a teaspoon of liquid dish soap and work it into the carpet fibers with your fingers. Wet a white cloth and blot the stain. You will need an additional clean cloth dipped in distilled white vinegar, and then begin to dampen the remaining stain. Let the distilled white vinegar sit for a few minutes, then press down on the stain with a clean cloth. If the stain still persists, repeat the process of dampening the spot with vinegar, and then blotting. Once you have fully removed the candy spill, flush the newly cleaned area with water.

 

Pumpkin– Start by gently scraping up as much pumpkin pulp, seeds, or puree as possible. Once you’ve removed the excess, treat any remaining stain with warm water. Gently apply the warm water to the stain using a clean washcloth and a blotting motion. Next, soak up the solution with a clean, dry washcloth. Alternating between these two steps will help lift the stain and transfer it from your carpet onto the washcloth.

 

Glow Sticks– Immediately blot up as much of the moisture as possible with a paper towel. Work from the outside of the stain toward the center to keep it from spreading and getting larger.

After blotting, mix a solution of one teaspoon liquid dishwashing detergent, 1/4 cup distilled white vinegar, and one cup of cool water. Dip a soft-bristled brush into the solution and work it into the stained area. Blot away the cleaning solution with a dry white paper towel. Next, dip a clean white cloth into plain cool water and “rinse” the area.

 

Fake Blood– With a dry washcloth, start by soaking up the excess liquid. Next, get a cup of cold water and dab the water onto the stain carefully. Work your way from the outside of the stain to the center in order to avoid causing the stain to grow. Then, use a clean, dry washcloth to soak up the water as well as the stain. Continue these two steps until the stain is removed. If this does not completely remove the stain, you may need to moisten the area with a 3 percent hydrogen-peroxide solution. Let sit for an hour, and repeat as necessary.

 

So, if you’re prepared, post Halloween clean up doesn’t seem so scary. We hope these tips will help you have a stain-free and happy Halloween! If you need any help, call in the professionals at Indy Carpet Cleaning!

8 Tips to help maintain clean carpets this fall

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Most people choose Spring as the time of year for a good deep cleaning in the home. However, many people choose the fall months to have their carpets deep cleaned. It’s just before we get busy with preparing for the holidays so it’s a good time to get your home in shape before guests arrive on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Fall is also a time when your carpet seems to get the dirtiest, since we tend to track in more leaves and dirt. We’d like to share some great tips on how to prevent your carpet from getting dirty this fall.

 

Doormats

Invest in a doormat that helps keep out the largest particles — like leaves and chunks of dirt — and make sure you get one of the right design, which depends whether it will be outside or inside. All doormats should be longer than a single stride, while inside mats should be made of acrylic with a vinyl or rubber backing. Outdoor mats should have a wire rack underneath to catch mud.

 

Shoe Rack

Make sure that you enforce a no-shoes-inside policy, or have a shoe rack that you use at the very entrance to the house to restrict the dirt to one specific area.

 

Vacuum often

To protect your carpet, vacuum entrance areas and high-traffic areas twice a week and the rest of the carpeting at least weekly. Oily soils attract oily soils, and frequent vacuuming will reduce soil buildup.

 

Start with a clean bag or filter

A dirty bag, dirt cup or filter can cut a vacuums suction power in half. The main reason bagless vacuums stop working is that the filters aren’t changed often enough. Replace or wash (if possible) the filters on bagless vacuums every three months. Replace vacuum bags when they’re three-quarters full.

 

Vacuum at the right speed

Vacuum slowly enough to get out as much dirt as possible. Make one quick pass over low-traffic areas and two slow passes over high-traffic areas. Two slow passes removes ground-in dirt more effectively than several fast passes.

 

Rotate Furniture

Carpets can wear at confined areas of the carpet pile and dirt can work its way into the carpet pile and backing. If your room layout allows it, move the furniture around. It’s best to do this every six months to prevent premature wear areas.

 

Baking Soda

Prior to vacuuming, sprinkle some baking soda over the carpet to absorb odors. Avoid carpet powders. Powders are often sold to eliminate unwanted scents on the carpet. However, such powders leave residue in the carpet which can damage it over time. Stick to baking soda if you want to remove an unwanted smell.

 

Pretreat stains and high-traffic areas

If you’ve recently had your carpet cleaned and quickly get new stains, you can always pre treat stains yourself until you’re ready for your next professional cleaning. Mix a drop of detergent with hot water in a spray bottle and lightly mist the dirtiest areas. Let sit 5 to 10 minutes before cleaning the area. Be sure not to over saturate your carpet or use any harsh chemicals that could set the stain in. Do not rub stains. When removing a stain, stick to blotting motions.

 

Your carpets aren’t invincible. Dirt, leaves, and other fall debris can contaminate your carpet fibers easily. Carpeting is expensive, so you want to maintain your carpet long term. We know that keeping carpet clean is an ongoing project, but the fall months are a great time to use these tips. Even after a professional cleaning, these tips will help you maintain your carpets until your next professional cleaning.