Carpet Care: How To Remove Stains From Carpet
To ensure long-lasting beauty, durability and comfort in your carpet court carpet, a regular care and maintenance program is essential. A regular maintenance program helps to remove soil before it can build up and potentially damage carpet fibre and dull its appearance. Professional carpet cleaning is recommended for the treatment of stains that you are unable to remove.
The following carpet care and maintenance guidelines are recommendations provided by Carpet Court to assist with maintaining your carpet and help get stubborn stains out of your carpet. The manufacturer’s warranties also contain certain conditions that must be met in order to benefit from the manufacturer’s warranties. Please read these recommendations in conjunction with the manufacturer’s conditions.
How To Prevent Carpet Stains
• To maintain your carpet, it needs to be professionally cleaned using the hot water extraction method every 12 to 18 months as per both the manufacturer’s recommendations and NZ Standard 3733:1995.
• We do not recommend DIY carpet shampoo machines such as “Rug Doctor”.
• Use of mats or runners at all home entrances and on uncarpeted areas adjoining to carpet will reduce soil and moisture in traffic areas.
• Clean mats and any other rugs placed over carpet regularly.
• Use furniture coasters to distribute the weight of heavy items.
• Use a suitable mat under office chairs with castor wheels as these will cause structural damage to your carpet.
• Keep all invoices of any cleaning services for warranty purposes.
Regular Vacuuming Will Help Keep Carpet Clean
Most dirt, and even dust, takes the form of hard particles. When left in the carpet, these gritty, sharp particles abrade the pile of the carpet. Regular vacuuming not only prolongs the life of the carpet but will enhance its appearance.
• Vacuum high-traffic areas daily, medium-to-high traffic areas twice weekly, and the entire house at least once a week.
• Most carpets benefit from the use of a vacuum with a rotating brush or beater bar to ensure maximum removal of dirt and dust. However, please note that carpet with thick loop pile, frieze, and shag/cabled construction may become fuzzy or worn with use of a beater bar vacuum; we recommend the use of a suction-only vacuum for these carpet constructions. Ask your sales consultant for advice on recommended vacuum cleaners.
• Change the vacuum bags often and check the beater bars for burs and gouges to prevent damage to the surface of the carpet.
How To Remove Wicking Stains From Carpet
Wicking occurs when a spill is not fully removed from your carpet. You may have removed the majority of the spill but it reappears. You can continue to flush with water to remove the full spill and blot dry, or use a professional carpet cleaner.
Dealing with Spills
Spills will happen! So you should treat the affected area as soon as you notice something has been spilt, as quick treatment can avoid it turning into a stain.
• Remove any solid items (such as food) by gently scooping off with a spoon or blunt knife. Then blot the spill, gently dabbing it, to remove as much liquid as possible.
• Follow the below guides.
• Do not rub or scrub, or over wet the carpet.
• After completing the below steps, place a clean dry towel over the area and stand on it to draw up any excess moisture to hasten drying and reduce wicking.
• Stubborn stains may require two or three treatments, or professional cleaning.
How To remove Stains From Wool Carpet
Follow the steps next to the stain type and cross reference with the numbered cleaning method below.
1. Cold water.
2. 1 teaspoon of mild laundry detergent suitable for wool and 1 teaspoon of white vinegar in 1 litre of warm water.
3. Chill with ice cubes in a plastic bag. Pick or scrape off gum.
4. Clear nail polish remover (should not contain lanolin).
5. Rust remover (via a professional carpet cleaner).
6. Clear household disinfectant.
7. Vacuum clean.
8. Clear methylated spirits.
9. Rinse with warm water.
How To remove Stains From Synthetic Carpet
Follow the steps next to the stain type and cross reference with the numbered cleaning method below.
1. Cold water.
2. 1 teaspoon of mild laundry detergent suitable for wool and 1 teaspoon of white vinegar in 1 litre of warm water.
3. Chill with ice cubes in a plastic bag. Pick or scrape off gum.
4. Clear nail polish remover (should not contain lanolin).
5. Rust remover (via a professional carpet cleaner).
6. Clear household disinfectant.
7. Vacuum clean.
8. Clear methylated spirits.
9. Rinse with warm water.
10. Undiluted white vinegar.
