We’ve all been there. You are hosting friends and family at your home, having a great time, and suddenly someone spills some red wine onto your beautiful white carpet. Cue the record scratch as people stare horrifically at the stain.
Luckily, by having a handy guide of how to eliminate stains from carpeting it is completely possible to remove most stains by acting quickly with readily available household items. Below, we have put together a list of 42 different types of stains, and how to effectively remove them.
Related: How to Make Carpet Fluffy Again | How to Get Hair Out of Carpet | How to Get Gum Out of Carpet | Types of Carpets | Carpet Cleaning Method
How to Clean Bed Bugs from Carpet
These creepy, crawly little bugs love soft surfaces to infest, such as mattresses, couches, and unfortunately carpet. With a little work, it’s possible to remove bedbugs from carpeting. What works best to remove bed bugs from carpeting is a multi-step process. Start by vacuuming the infested area.
Follow this up with a deep steam treatment. Repeat with another pass with the vacuum after steaming the carpet. To kill any existing bed bugs, solid treatment of Diatomaceous Earth Powder can help. This powder will eventually dissolve the bed bug’s exoskeleton but can take a few weeks or months to fully take effect.
Learn more: How to get a bed bug stain out of the carpet.
How to Clean Vomit from Carpet
Sometimes accidental illness happens but can be a doozy to clean up. Whether it is human vomit or animal vomit on your carpet, it can spell disaster. When trying to remove vomit from the carpet the first step in the process is to scoop up any large matter. Often using a putty knife or a thick paper towel is sufficient to remove any solid substance from the carpet.
Next, use a powdered substance to absorb any remaining liquid. Simple baking soda sprinkled onto the stain will be enough to pull excess moisture from the carpet. After allowing the baking soda to sit for a few minutes, use a vacuum cleaner to suck up the powder. Follow up by treating the stain with a bit of dish soap.
Learn more: How to get a vomit stain out of the carpet.
How to Get Blood Stains Out of Carpet
Blood can be very difficult to remove from carpet because of its dark color. The best advice to remove blood stains from carpet is to avoid rubbing the stain, opting to blot or dab the stained area. When removing blood from the carpet, the key to success will be time. Acting quickly will ensure you will be able to effectively remove the stain.
Begin by using a dry cloth or paper towel to simply blot the bloodstain. Once you have absorbed as much as possible, turn to a lukewarm cloth, just blotting the area. Next, sprinkle the stained area with powder. Potato starch works particularly well to absorb excess moisture. Apply the powder for 24 hours, vacuuming the remaining residue.
Learn more: How to get blood stains out of the carpet.
How to Get Beer Out of Carpet
When trying to remove the beer from the carpet, the key is to move quickly. Although a lot of beers are light-colored, beer has a strong odor that can settle into the carpet permanently if you let the stain sit. If a beer spills on the carpet, act quickly with a dry cloth or towel.
Do not rub the spill as this can cause the stain to spread. Blot and apply pressure to the stain. When you cannot remove any more liquid, it is important to spray the area to block the smell. Use a mixture of 1/3 white vinegar and 2/3 warm water in a spray bottle to neutralize the strong odor from beer.
Click here for more info on how to get beer stains out of the carpet.
How to Remove Shoe Polish from Carpet
Polishing your shoes is a great way to keep your shoes in great condition, and look spiffy for a big day at work. Unfortunately, accidents with shoe polish can leave your carpet looking less than great. If you accidentally drop shoe polish onto the carpet, there is still hope to remove this dark, gooey stain. First, remove any excess polish with a bunt object, like a butter knife.
Run the knife over the carpet to scrape up any excess polish. Next, use a damp cloth to absorb any excess shoe polish. Do not rub, only blot or dab. For the next step, you have a few options. People have had success removing shoe polish from carpet with dish soap, white vinegar (1/4 cup of white vinegar mixed with 1/4 cup of water), and hydrogen peroxide. Try each option and see what works best for your stain.
Click here for more info on how to get shoe polish stains out of the carpet.
How to Get Gum Out of Carpet
If you have gum ground into your carpet, you certainly have a sticky situation on your hands. (Yes, that pun was absolutely intended.) If the gum is still fresh, and fairly moist, it might be possible to scoop up the majority of the gum. Use a butter knife to gently scrape at the stain, or try a paper towel to scoop the gum. Never rub the gum as this can make the stain stick to the carpet more.
Once the majority of the gum has been removed, it’s time to tackle the really sticky stuff. You can use extreme heat, or cold, in order to remove gum, but usually cold treatments are better. Pack a sandwich bag full of ice and apply it to the stain. Using a butter knife, scrape up the remaining gum. If this doesn’t pull all of the gum out, vinegar and lemon juice can also be helpful.
Click here for more info on how to get gum stains out of the carpet.
How to Get Grease Out of Carpet
Removing grease from the carpet can be difficult. It isn’t quite a liquid, and not quite a solid either, making cleaning options limited. First, start by blotting at the stain, not rubbing. Back and forth motions can cause the grease stain to spread more, so up and down blotting action is the name of the game. Next, use baking soda to help absorb any remaining moisture.
After applying to the stain, let sit, and vacuum after being fully absorbed. For really tough grease stains many people have success with liquid dry cleaning solution or just simple dish soap. Be sure to continue the blotting motion with cleaning products and never rub.
Click here for more info on how to get grease stains out of the carpet.
How to Get Mustard Out of Carpet
Like other gloppy stains, the best course of action when trying to get mustard out of the carpet is to act fast. Start by removing any access mustard by using a knife or a dry paper towel. Be sure to only scrape off what is there without rubbing the mustard further into the carpet.
Once all of the excesses is removed it is time to tackle the stain. Although dish soap and vinegar might prove useful, club soda seems to work particularly well in removing the yellow color from the carpet. Just pour a little bit of the soda over the stain and then blot gently with a clean cloth.
Click here for more info on how to get grease stains out of the carpet.
How to Remove Chocolate From Carpet
Although chocolate certainly is delicious, it can be disastrous if it ends up on your carpet. Be sure to act quickly if you spill liquid chocolate. Like other stains, you want to be able to remove any excess chocolate from the area using a scraping tool. Usually, a butter knife or a putty knife works well.
You never want to rub chocolate, because this will only make the stain worse, and more deeply set into the fibers. Once the excess chocolate is removed, it’s time to battle the stain. For chocolate, the best course of action is to use a commercial carpet cleaner. Apply the cleaner, allow time for it to sit, then blot away the cleaner with a dry cloth.
Click here for more info on how to get chocolate stains out of the carpet.
How to Get Hair Out of Carpet
Whether you are trying to get human hair or pet hair out of the carpet, it can feel like a losing battle. Pet hair in particular can begin to smell, collecting dirt and dander which can impact allergies and general cleanliness around the home. The best method to remove hair from carpeting is to use fabric softener.
Just a few drops of liquid fabric softener can be added to a spray bottle with lukewarm water. Spray the carpet and allow a few minutes for the softener to work. The softener will make the hairs less sticky, allowing them to be easily swept using a vacuum on a high setting.
Click here for more info on how to get the hair out of the carpet.
How to Get Charcoal Out of Carpet
If you accidentally drop charcoal on your carpet or have soot overflowing from your fireplace, it can quickly spell disaster for a light-colored carpet. The first step to removing charcoal from carpeting is to very gently vacuum up as much loose charcoal as possible. You will want to be very careful ensuring that you do not spread or mash the charcoal further into the carpet.
One method to get charcoal out of carpet involves using dish soap and cold water, spraying the stained area, and gently blotting, never rubbing. Another method recommends using various absorbent powders, like baking soda or talcum powder, to absorb as much charcoal as possible before gently vacuuming the remaining residue.
Click here for more info on how to get charcoal out of the carpet.
How to Get Dry Erase Marker Out of Carpet
Dry erase markers are different from traditional wet markers because they are made a special way that releases pigment, rather than water-based ink, onto a whiteboard. These markers are not water-soluble, which unfortunately makes them immune to most traditional cleaners if dry erase markers happen to stain your carpet.
If you are fighting a battle with dry erase marker stain, you will want to use a cleaning agent that is not water-based. Rubbing alcohol works well if you fully saturate the marker stain, and blot dry with a clean cloth. If rubbing alcohol does not remove the entire stain, try non-oil based hairspray as a next resort.
Click here for more info on how to get dry erase marker out of the carpet.
How to Kill Fleas in Carpet
We love our pets, but unfortunately, we do not love the little ride-along parasites they can come with. Flea infestations in your carpet are a serious matter. There are several methods to remove fleas from carpets. Foggers and flea bombs work well to kill fleas but require you to vacate the home for a period of time.
Sprays and powders can also prove effective, as can insect traps intended for fleas. As a last resort, Diatomaceous earth works well to slowly dissolve a flea’s exoskeleton, eventually killing the insects.
Click here for more info on how to kill fleas in the carpet.
How to Get Lipstick Out of Carpet
Lipstick can be a disastrous mess for your carpet, particularly if you are trying to remove a dark stain from a light carpet. If you have a lipstick stain on your carpet, your first step for removal should be removing any solid matter still left. Gently use a blunt object, like a butter knife, to scrape across the carpet collecting solid pieces of lipstick.
Next, turn to the product Goo Gone to remove lipstick. Pour the product directly onto the stain. Then using a clean, dry cloth, press, and hold the stained area for a few minutes. When you pull the cloth away, you will see that lipstick stain is coming up. Repeat as necessary until the stain is fully removed.
Click here for more info on how to get lipstick out of the carpet.
How to Get Slime Out of Carpet
As much fun as it is to play with, getting slime out of the carpet can be a nightmare. Luckily, with home remedies, it is possible to remove slime from carpet with a repeated, multi-step process. First, remove any excess slime with a blunt object such as s spoon or a butter knife. After all the solid pieces are removed, douse the stain with a healthy amount of white vinegar.
Allow the vinegar to sit for at least four minutes. Use the same blunt object to gently scrape the carpet fibers, removing the pieces of slime that have loosened from the vinegar. Clean with warm water. Repeat this process as necessary until all of the slimes is removed.
Click here for more info on how to get slime out of the carpet.
How to Get Blueberry Stains Out of Carpet
Delicious as they are, blueberries can be tricky to get out of the carpet. First, you will want to blot the stained area with a clean cloth, never rubbing. Next, repeat the blotting step with cold water on a clean cloth.
Lastly, to remove the blueberry stain, use lemon juice to neutralize the stain from the blueberry juice. Because the stain is so dark it is important to remember to continue to blot and never rub, which can only spread the stain and imbed it deeper in the carpeting.
Click here for more info on how to get blueberry stains out of the carpet.
How to get Syrup Out of Carpet
It seems the most difficult stains to remove are gooey, sticky stains, which of course includes syrup. If you have a syrup stain, the first thing you want to do is remove as much excess syrup as possible, using a spoon to gently scrape off the excess.
Next, use a cloth to blot the area, removing as much liquid as possible. A cloth will work better than a paper towel, which can become torn and stuck to the carpet. Next, use some dish soap or white vinegar in a blotting motion to remove the remaining stain.
Click here for more info on how to get syrup stains out of the carpet.
How to Get Rust Out of Carpet
Dark rust on a light carpet can be very unsightly. To remove rust stains from the carpet the first step is to gently scrape the flakes of the rust off of the carpet fibers. To do this, use a blunt object like a metal spoon, putty knife, or butter knife.
Next, you can move to begin cleaning the carpet. Lemon juice is a wonderful, natural, cleaning agent that can remove rust stains. The citric acid in the lemon juice works well to neutralize and remove rust stains.
Click here for more info on how to get rust stains out of the carpet.
How to get Baby Poop Out of Carpet
Accidents happen for people of all ages, and babies are no stranger to accidents. If you have to get the baby poop out of the carpet you may be in for a challenge. First, scrape as much of the solid matter off of the carpet as possible. Next, use a cloth or towel to blot up any liquid from the stain, never rubbing.
A combination of baking powder and hydrogen peroxide can work well to remove the stain and the smell from the carpet. With hydrogen peroxide, it is always best to test a small area of carpet first to make sure the color won’t be removed.
Click here for more info on how to get baby poop stains out of the carpet.
How to Get Tomato Sauce Out of Carpet
Dark red tomato sauce on the light-colored carpet can be tricky to get out. Luckily, with some home natural cleaning products, you can make this common stain disappear. First, remove any large amounts of the sauce by gently scraping at the surface of the carpet fibers, never rubbing.
Next, use a dry cloth to blot at what remains of the stain. Sprinkle some salt on the area to help absorb any excess liquid, and use lemon juice to help neutralize and eliminate the stain. Once the salt has absorbed all the liquid, vacuum the carpet.
Click here for more info on how to get tomato sauce stains out of the carpet.
How to Remove Putty from Carpet
When it comes to removing putty from the carpet it can be quite a challenge. First, you will want to scrape up any solid bits of putty using a blunt object like a putty knife, butter knife, or even a metal spoon. Next, in order to be able to remove the putty, you will want to freeze the stain.
Use a sandwich bag packed full of ice to get the putty extra cold. Now, using the blunt object, continue to scrape at the frozen putty. Once all of the putties is removed, use a traditional commercial carpet cleaner to remove any excess staining that formed.
Click here for more info on how to get putty stains out of the carpet.
How to Get Rid of Carpet Beetles
Carpet beetles can live deep within your carpet and can be quite difficult to eradicate. When removing carpet beetles, the first step is to thoroughly vacuum the space. Next, use commercial insect killer and sprays targeted specifically for carpet beetles.
If you do not like to use chemical products, there are natural remedies available to kill carpet beetles. White vinegar is quite effective when it comes to removing carpet beetles.
Click here for more info on how to get carpet beetles out of the carpet.
How to Get Mud Out of Carpet
Unlike other stains, mud is a type of stain that the longer you let the mud sit, the easier it will be to come out. If the mud is still wet, remove as much of the solid pieces as possible. Now, just sit back and let the mud dry.
Once the mud is fully dried, you should be able to vacuum the residue fairly easily. If you want to accelerate the drying processes, baking soda sprinkled on the carpet can help speed things up. Dish soap is an excellent way to remove any staining that may exist after vacuuming.
Click here for more info on how to get mud stains out of the carpet.
How to Get Mascara Out of Carpet
Mascara is a dark, sticky substance that can be quite unsightly if spilled onto the carpet. First, remove as much of the excess mascara as possible, without rubbing it further into the carpet. Using a clean, dry cloth, blot at the stained area.
Intuitively, the best way to remove mascara stains from carpet is to use eye makeup remover. Apply a small amount to the stain on the carpet and continue to blot until the stain is fully removed.
Click here for more info on how to get mascara stains out of the carpet.
How to Get Ketchup Out of Carpet
Just like other red, dark substances, ketchup stains on the carpet can be pretty persistent. First, remove as much of the gloppy substance as possible with a metal spoon or butter knife. Next, use a blotting motion with a dry cloth to remove any excess liquid.
Both white vinegar and lemon juice work well to combat the acidity of the tomato sauce. Pour liberally onto the stain and continue a blotting motion to remove the ketchup.
Click here for more info on how to get ketchup stains out of the carpet.
How to Get Eyeshadow Out of Carpet
Eyeshadow can come in a number of different colors but can be quite unsightly if spilled onto the carpet. First, you will want to remove any excess powder from the stained area. Next, use an eye makeup remover on the stain.
Pour liberally onto the stained area and use a blotting motion with a clean, dry cloth. If the eye makeup remover is not getting all of the stains up, try some dish detergent with a blotting motion, never rubbing.
Click here for more info on how to get eyeshadow stains out of the carpet.
How to Get Juice Out of Carpet (Cranberry, Grape, Orange)
If you spill a dark juice onto the carpet, time is of the essence. With a clean, dry cloth blot at the stain. You want to start at the edges of the stain and work toward the middle, reducing the chance of spreading the stain.
Sprinkling some baking soda on the area can help reduce excess moisture, making it easy to vacuum up. For stubborn stains, lemon juice works well to eliminate the dark colors and neutralize any residual smell that might exist.
Click here for more info on how to get juice stains out of the carpet.
How to Get Coconut Oil Out of Carpet
Although a healthy oil alternative, coconut oil can be difficult to remove from carpeting. If you spill coconut oil, you’ll first want to be sure to eliminate as much of the solid substance as possible. Try to scrape away at the solid with a blunt object like a knife or a spoon.
Next, reduce any excess liquid by sprinkling some baking soda on the stain. Once dry, vacuum the excess. Lastly, use a little dish soap to remove any additional staining on the carpet.
Click here for more info on how to get coconut oil stains out of the carpet.
How to Get Paint Out of Carpet
The first step in getting paint out of the carpet is to determine the type of paint you are using. Paints can be oil-based, acrylic, or water-based latex paint. Usually, if you are doing a home painting project your paint will be water-based. First, blot up as much of the liquid paint as possible, never rubbing the paint deeper into the carpet fibers. Next, use a mixture of hot water with gentle dish soap to remove any excess paint from the carpeting.
Click here for more info on how to get paint stains out of the carpet.
How to Get Wax Out of Carpet
If you have spilled wax onto your carpet, you have two options. First, try to scrape as much of the wax off of the carpet while it is still hot with a butter knife or metal spoon. You want to be careful not to further spread the stain.
Next, you want to be able to scrape off the wax by allowing the wax to harden. Make sure the wax is extra hard by freezing it. You can place some ice cubes in a plastic sandwich bag to make this easy. Lastly, just scrape at any excess wax with a blunt object until the stain is removed.
Click here for more info on how to get wax stains out of the carpet.
How to Get Coffee Out of Carpet
We all need a little pick me up in the morning, but coffee can destroy the carpet if it is not taken care of quickly. First, you will want to blot at the stain using a clean, dry cloth. Blot at the outside edges of the stains first, and work toward the middle.
It is important to not rub, as this will just cause the stain to spread. The best trick to remove coffee stains from carpet is to use a little dish soap in a continuous blotting motion until all of the stains is removed.
Click here for more info on how to get coffee stains out of the carpet.
How to Get Nail Polish Out of Carpet
Nail polish is some nasty stuff, especially if you spill it on the carpet. Act quickly to remove any excess nail polish by scraping it up or scooping it up with a paper towel. It is very important to not allow the nail polish stain to spread. Never rub at the stain. Next, the best course of action is a traditional, commercial carpet cleaner to be able to remove the excess polish stain.
Click here for more info on how to get nail polish stains out of the carpet.
How to Get Glue Out of Carpet
As disastrous as it sounds, it can be quite easy to remove glue stains from carpet. Most glue is water-based, which means traditional cleaning methods will be able to remove stains. Use a dry paper towel to remove the initial excess glue on the surface of the carpet.
Then, using warm water, continue to blot at the stain, always using new, fresh paper towels after you have moved through an area. This will avoid you putting glue back into the stain you are trying to remove.
Click here for more info on how to get glue stains out of the carpet.
How to Get Playdough Out of Carpet
Playdough is fun and enjoyable for all ages. But, Playdough ground into carpeting can be difficult to deal with. As counter-intuitive as it sounds, adding more Playdough to the existing Playdough in the carpet will help to remove the stain.
Playdough is designed to stick to itself so this will help remove the stain. If this doesn’t eliminate all of the play dough, freezing the stain and using a butter knife to scrape up the excess should remove the stain completely.
Click here for more info on how to get Playdough stains out of the carpet.
How to Get Milk Out of Carpet
At first glance, spilled milk may seem innocent enough, but if left to sit the smell from a milk stain can be overpowering. First, remove as much of the liquid as possible by blotting with a dry cloth. Next, use some baking soda sprinkled on the stain to absorb any extra liquid.
This can easily be vacuumed away once absorbed. If the stain and smell remain, some simple white vinegar should be enough to remove the stain.
Click here for more info on how to get milk stains out of the carpet.
How to Get Honey Out of Carpet
Like other sticky substances, honey can be tough to get out of carpeting. First, remove any excess honey by scraping it off the carpet fibers, never rubbing. Use a bit of dish soap to clean the remaining stain. Spray onto the area and then use a blotting motion with a clean, dry towel. If the stickiness from the honey remains, some white vinegar can help neutralize the stain.
Click here for more info on how to get honey stains out of the carpet.
How to Get Red Wine Out of Carpet
The name of the game with red wine is to act quickly. You will want to use a clean, dry cloth, blotting the stained area. Once you have the majority of the wine removed, sprinkle some salt onto the stain to help absorb the remaining moisture. Vacuum away the salt after it has been left to sit for at least five minutes. Next, either simple dish soap or white vinegar can be used to help remove the stain from the carpeting.
Click here for more info on how to get red wine stains out of the carpet.
How to Remove Ink From Carpet
Ink can be very dark and very difficult to remove from carpeting. To best combat this tricky stain you will want to use a commercial carpet cleaner. Ink is best removed when the cleaner is sprayed and allowed to pre-treat the stain.
Let the cleaner sit for a few minutes, then use a blotting motion with a dry towel to remove the stain. Be sure to test the cleaner on an area of carpet first to ensure you will not remove any color.
Click here for more info on how to get ink stains out of the carpet.
How to Get Tar Out of Carpet
Tar can be quite tricky to remove from carpet, so half the battle is knowing what products to not use. When it comes to removing tar stains, natural remedies seem to work the best. Simply sprinkling some baking soda onto the stain and vacuuming can work wonders. The baking soda works to remove excess liquid in the tar. Dish soap has also been incredibly effective at removing tar stains.
Click here for more info on how to get tar stains out of the carpet.
How to Get Soda Out of Carpet
Dark sodas can be quite tricky to get out of carpeting. If you spill a dark-colored soda you will want to act quickly. Using a clean, dry cloth, blot at the stain. This will help to remove the majority of the stain. Next, use baking soda to soak up any excess liquid, vacuuming away after it has been left to sit for at least five minutes. Lastly, you can add a bit of lemon juice to neutralize the acidity in most sodas.
Click here for more info on how to get soda stains out of the carpet.
