Carpet Stain Removal Guide: Water Based Stains

Alcohol, Cola, Baby Formula, Beer, Blood, Candy, Catsup, Chocolate Milk,
Clay, Cologne, Cranberry Juice, Felt Tip Marker, Food Stains, Fruit Juice, Fruit
Punch, Furniture Polish, Grape Juice, Graphite, Ice Cream, Jelly, Latex Paint,
Liquor, Milk, Soil Spots, Soft Drinks, Syrup, Tomato Juice, Water Colors,
Watermelon, Whiskey, Wine, Vomit

Step 1
  • Use a spoon or dull knife to remove solid materials.  For liquid spills, blot up with a white
    towel or paper towel.
  • For large stains, work from the outside of the stain to the center to prevent spreading.
  • Mix a solution of 1/4 teaspoon of clear hand dish washing detergent with 1 cup of water.  
    Stir gently.
  • Apply detergent solution directly to a white cloth. Dampen the carpet fibers   in the stained
    area with the cloth, avoid saturating the carpet.
  • Wipe gently.  Turn cloth frequently.  Never rub, scrub or use a brush. This may damage
    carpet fibers.  
  • If necessary, use your fingertips to work the solution to the base of the stain.
  • Wet the stained carpet fibers with clear, luke warm water to rinse.
  • Cover the spot with an absorbent white towel or paper towel and apply pressure.
  • Repeat rinsing and blotting until all traces of the detergent have been removed.
  • If the stain is gone, place and absorbent white towel or paper towel over the area cleaned,
    and weigh towels down with a heavy colorfast object, such as a weighted plastic
    wastebasket.
  • Change towels or paper towels until the carpet dries.  
  • If the stain remains, proceed to step 2.
Step 2
Do NOT use on coffee, tea or urine stains.
  • Mix 2 tablespoons of non-bleaching, non sudsing household ammonia with 1 cup lukewarm
    water.
  • Apply ammonia solution, rinse and blot as outlined in Step 1.
  • Do not dry with paper towels.  Proceed  to Step 3 to neutralize the ammonia solution.
Step 3
  • Mix 1 cup of white vinegar with 2 cups of water.
  • Apply vinegar solution, rinse and blot as outlined in Step 1.