General Rules for Carpet Care
Always read and follow the care instructions and any warnings provided by the carpet manufacturer. Rugs and carpets with natural fibers and/or certain dyes may require special treatment. If in doubt, contact a cleaning professional for advice/service.

The key to keeping your carpet looking great depends on the care you give it. That care centers around three basic steps:

  • Removal of soil by frequent vacuuming.

  • Periodic cleaning.

  • Prompt, correct removal of spots and spills.

Spot Removal Procedure
Removing spots from carpets can be simple or tedious depending on the spot and how long it has been on the carpet. At times multiple applications of the spot removal solution, or a second solution is required. Listed below is a general spot removal procedure. Some spots will require specialized treatment, so be sure to check the Carpet Stain Removal Guide/Carpet Stain Index.

  • If the origin of the spot is unknown, Begin with Step 1.

  • If the origin of the spot is known, begin at the appropriate step: Step 1 for Greasy Spots or Step 2 for Water Based Spots.

  • Never use a circular motion to remove a spot as this destroys texture. Instead, blot by pressing a white paper towel down onto the affected area.

  • To prevent wick up, the final step should always be to rinse with clear water; blot dry, and put a thickness of several white paper towels over the damp area. Put a brick or other suitable weight on the pad of towels to keep the pad in contact with the carpet. This allows any stain wicking up from the backing to go into the towels. Allow to dry, remove the brick and towels and brush the piles.

  • Be certain to try any solutions you plan to use on an inconspicuous area of your carpet, as it may affect the color or texture of the carpet. Do not use if color in the test area marks off on a white paper towel.

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Some items to have available to remove spots:

  • White paper towels or white terry towels.
  • Dish washing solution. To make a detergent solution, mix 1/4 teaspoon of a hand dishwashing detergent, which does not contain lanolin, or bleach with 1 quart of water. (Examples of safe detergents are Dawn® and Joy®.)
  • Spray bottle for applying detergents and special solutions.
  • Household ammonia solution, which is one tablespoon of clear household ammonia to 1/2 cup of water.
  • Isopropyl rubbing alcohol.
  • 3% hydrogen peroxide.
  • WHITE vinegar solution made of 1/3 cup of WHITE vinegar and 2/3 cup of water.
  • Spoon and dull knife.
  • Brick or brick paver.
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General Procedure

Step 1: Unknown and Greasy Spots

  • Remove as much of the foreign material as possible by blotting with a white paper towel or scraping with a dull knife.
  • Apply isopropyl rubbing alcohol to a clean white cloth, white paper towel, or cotton ball. If the spot extends deep into the pile, use a blotting motion until the spot is removed or no color is transferred to the cloth. Do not allow the alcohol to penetrate into the backing, as this will destroy the latex bond. If the spot is on the surface only, rub in one direction at a time. Never use a circular motion to remove spot as this may destroy the texture.
  • Stop if the spot is removed. If not, go to Step 3.
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Step 2: Water Based Spots

  • Blot up as much of the spill as is possible. A wet vacuum is useful if a large quantity of liquid was spilled.
  • If the spot has dried, saturate the tufts in the affected area with tap water (do not overwet). Allow to remain for about 1 minute and blot.
  • If the spot is being removed using water, continue until the spot is completely removed. Blot dry and apply the paper towels and brick. If not completely removed, go to step 3.
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Step 3

  • Remove as much of the foreign material as possible by blotting with a white paper towel or scraping with a dull knife.
  • Apply a small quantity of detergent solution to the spot. Use a blotting motion to work the detergent into the affected area. If the spot is being removed, continue applying detergent and blotting with a white paper towel until spot is removed.
  • Rinse with tap water using a spray bottle, blot to remove excess moisture, spray lightly with water, do not blot this time; apply pad of paper towels and brick and allow to dry.
  • If there is still some stain on the carpet and blotting is not removing it, then moisten the tufts in the stained area with 3% hydrogen peroxide, Let stain for one (1) hour. Blot and repeat until carpet is stain free. Light will cause peroxide to change back to water, so no rinsing is necessary. Apply pad of paper towels and weight down brick.