Life happens. When accidents happen on your floors at home or the office, refer to this helpful list to spot clean the mess.
General Instructions for Spot Cleaning:
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- Keep a first aid kit for carpets consisting of: liquid and granular detergent, oxygen bleach (DO NOT use chlorine bleach, EVER!) grease solvent, nail polish remover, rubbing alcohol, turpentine.
- Act fast! Scrape or blot up all excess spill or blemish. You can also use a wet dry vacuum to suck up any excess liquid.
- Pre-Treat. When water is called for, use only lukewarm to avoid setting the stain.
Notes:
- Dry carpets as completely as possible immediately after spotting to avoid other damage, especially mildew. Raise dampened area off the floor when possible, to improve circulation.
- Spotting means to work lightly. Work from the center to the edges. In the event of a major mishap call us for suggestions or wait until help arrives.

- Candle Wax - Scrape off excess wax with a dull knife. Sponge spot with grease solvent.
- Car Grease - Apply cooking oil sparingly and let stand 15 min. Blot up excess oil and sponge with grease solvent
- Catsup - Sponge with cool water and mild detergent.
- Crayon - Moisten spot and rub in full strength liquid or granular detergent. Rinse well.
- Fingernail Polish - Sponge with acetone or nail polish remover. Blot up color and repeat as often as necessary.
- Fruit/Berry Juice - Sponge immediately with cool water. If stain remains, use oxygen bleach. Rinse well. Sponge with detergent and suds.
- Glue (household) - Blot with warm water. Sponge with detergent and suds.
- Grass - The same as for crayons
- Grease - Sponge with grease solvent. Work liquid or granular detergent into spot. Rinse thoroughly.
- Gum - Harden gum with ice cube, then scrape off with dull knife. Sponge with grease solvent and rinse well.
- Ink (washable) - Flush with cool water and blot up excess. Work in detergent suds and rinse.
- Lipstick, Rouge or Eye Shadow - Rub liquid or granular detergent into dampened stain. Rinse and repeat until gone. Treat with oxygen bleach if necessary.
- Liquor - Same as for fruit/berry juice.
- Mud - Let dry then brush.
- Mucus - Sponge in solution of ¼ cup salt to 1 quart of lukewarm water. Wash with detergent suds. Rinse well.
- Mustard - Rub full strength detergent into stain and rinse. Repeat and use oxygen bleach. Rinse well.
- Oil (Lubricating or Cooking) - Same as for grease.
- Paint - Sponge with thinner as recommended on paint can or with turpentine, until paint disappears. Work full strength detergent into stain and rinse well.
- Rust - Usually requires professional cleaning for removal but fresh stains can be helped by working detergent solution into spot and rinsing with lukewarm water.
- Soft Drinks - Sponge immediately with cool water. Work liquid detergent into stain. Rinse well.
- Shoe Polish - Treat with grease solvent. Blot and sponge with detergent suds. Rinse well.
- Tar - Sponge with turpentine. Work in full strength detergent and rinse well.
- Urine - Must be treated before spot dries! Sponge repeatedly with cool water. Work liquid detergent into stain and rinse well. If still discolored, sponge with white vinegar and let stand 15 minutes before rinsing.
- Vomit - Same as for mucus.