Summertime means fun, sun, and a menu of seasonal foods. Along with the tasty treats your family eats comes an increased risk for stains or damage to your carpet. Take a look at the common culprits behind summer stains and what you can do to save your carpets.
Barbeque Sauce
The ribs from the grill didn't make it from your backyard to the dining room table. A barbeque drop can splatter sauce on your carpets. The result is a thick, sticky, dark mess. What should you do about an accidental sauce splash or splatter? Get to work immediately and:
- Remove the food. Carefully remove the food that fell onto the carpet. If the sauce was in a bowl or cup (and not on ribs, chicken, or another food) remove the container and scoop up as much sauce as possible.
- Blot the area. Don't rub the sauce deeper into your carpet's fibers. Instead, blot the excess mess away.
- Sponge the stain. Use a sponge and dishwashing soap to blot the rest of the stain. Spot test the soap first to make sure you don't add to the damage.
Sweet, sticky sauce can attract pests and can lasting damage. If a stain remains, call in the pros. A professional carpet cleaner can deep clean the area.
Popsicle Drips
The bright red popsicle your child totes across the family room can drip, drop, and stain your flooring within minutes. The bold coloring in many popsicle-type products is a challenge for most novice carpet cleaners to fully remove. This means a popsicle drop requires:
- Immediate attention. The sooner you remove the popsicle and clean the area, the less damage it will leave behind.
- Full product removal. Never leave the popsicle where it falls. The summertime treat will melt and sink deeper into your carpet's fibers.
- Professional help. If your best efforts to blot and wipe the stain away fail, you need an expert to completely clean your carpet.
Some parents attempt to prevent stains by serving light-colored or white popsicles. While these treats won't stain in the same way a red cherry popsicle would, a drop or drip still requires a deep clean. The remaining sticky liquid can cause your carpet fibers to harden and the sweet smell left behind can attract pests to the area.
Red Wine Sangria
While wine is a carpet-stainer year round, sangria is a summertime refresher that can ruin your carpet. Not only does sangria have a red wine base, but the fruit your recipe includes can leave behind a sticky mess.
If you or your guests spill a glass (or worse, an entire pitcher) of sangria, follow these simple steps to clean the area:
- Remove the fruit. Quickly scoop up pieces of fruit. Have a towel or bowl handy to put the fruit in/on. This reduces the risk you'll drip wine from the fruit back onto the carpet.
- Blot the liquid. Again, like with other liquids, don't rub the wine into the carpet. This will only push it deeper into your carpet and increase the likelihood of a permanent stain. Blot the wine with an absorbent cloth.
- Clean the carpet. Use a gentle hand dish washing liquid and water to clean the area. If the stain doesn't respond, repeat the steps. Make sure to blot the detergent-water mix instead of rubbing it into the floor.
Red wine is notoriously difficult to remove from carpets. If your best efforts fail, you may need to call a professional to complete the job. While there are plenty of commercially available carpet cleaning chemicals, these can bleach or stain your carpet. A professional has the expertise, experience, and equipment to clean the area correctly.