How to Remove Really Old Carpet Stains

Carpet stains can often be easily overlooked and ignored, especially if they are in areas that are easily covered up. But what happens when it’s time to move home and you need to make sure the carpet is sparkling clean to ensure that you get your deposit back?

There are a few easy ways to lift those stubborn, old stains that have been settling into your carpet for who knows how long.

The method for removing the old stains on your carpet is relatively easy and painless but requires a fair amount of time and patience. Here is the best method to ensure a clean, stain-free carpet.

 

1. Vacuum the Stained Area

The first step is to give the stained area a good once-over with your vacuum cleaner. Make sure that all excess dirt and dust are properly picked up so that they don’t add to the stain when the carpet gets wet.

 

2. Add Bicarbonate of Soda

The next step is to turn to one of the several trusted household products that you will need for this process, which is bicarbonate of soda. Sprinkle the white powder evenly and generously over the entirety of the stain on your carpet. Make sure no areas are left out.

 

3. Spray Vinegar on the Area

Grab a spray bottle and fill it half with water and half with white vinegar. This mixture will react with the bicarbonate of soda and will work to lift the stain on your carpet.

You can also add a few drops of washing up liquid to the bottle. Then you use your mixture to spray all over the stained area, covering every inch of the bicarbonate of soda.

The vinegar should cause a reaction with the bicarbonate of soda and the entire area should begin to bubble and foam. Make sure that the whole stain is fully wet with the mixture and that a white paste is forming over the top of the dirty area.

 

4. Wait

This is the part where patience will be required. The process of lifting the stain is likely to take three to four hours. The bicarbonate of soda and vinegar will harden on the carpet and will remain that way until enough time has passed for the solution to be washed away.

 

5. Vacuum It Up

Finally, once a few hours have passed you will be able to vacuum up the bicarbonate of soda paste that has hardened on the carpet over where the stain was.

Once you have fully removed the bicarbonate of soda, the carpet below should be considerably cleaner than it was at the start of the process.

 

Conclusion

If you feel that the method on this list is not working, or you feel it has worked but the stain could be lifted even further, it could be worth it to invest in a carpet cleaning product. This is usually an enzymatic cleaner, designed to lift stains and remove lingering odours.

You could also try one of these other homemade carpet cleaning solutions.

If all else fails, the next step would be to consider a professional carpet cleaning service.