Dealing with Spots, Stains and Emergencies
No matter how often carpets are vacuumed and how many protective mats are in place, spots and stains will occur now and then.
General Advice for Dealing with Spills on Carpet:
- Soak up liquids with white kitchen roll, tissues, toilet roll or a clean cloth
- Scoop up or scrape off solids
- Try to identify unknown spots prior to treatment – if unsure, use solvent first
- If using a substance for the first time, test it on a small hidden area of the carpet first
- Always work from the edge of the spot inwards
- BLOT, do NOT rub
- Use small quantities of spot remover at a time, applied to a cloth, NOT directly to the spot; work into the spot with a small, soft brush or sponge
- When using solvents ensure there is plenty of fresh air ventilation
- Always thoroughly rinse out water based spotters with clean water
- Dry the spot, if possible, with a hairdryer
- Be patient: some stains respond slowly
After a procedure has been completed, blot with a damp, clean cloth to remove any stickiness from the carpet, then blot with white paper towels.
Depending on the nature of the stain/spot, follow the actions recommended in our Spot &Stain Removal Guide.
First Aid for Carpets
It's a good idea to keep a Carpet First Aid Kit on hand. It should consist of some overall of the treatments listed in the table. When choosing a cleaning agent, always look for the ‘WoolSafe Approved’ logo to indicate which products have been approved for use on wool carpets.
The Woolsafe Organisation
The WoolSafe Organisation (www.woolsafe.org) operates a worldwide accreditation programme for carpet and upholstery maintenance products suitable for wool and other fibres. Listed on their website are a number of cleaning products and methods suitable for wool products.
Spot and Stain Removal
When tackling spots and stains, follow these procedures. Always start off with the Action in Step 1, the blot area. If there is still sign of the stain, then try Step 2, blot and finally try Step3.
| STAIN |
ACTION 1 |
ACTION 2 |
ACTION 3 |
| Bleach |
3 |
17 |
|
| Blood |
1 |
4 |
3 |
| Butter |
12 |
1 |
|
| Burn or Scorch Mark |
10 |
11 |
|
| Candle Wax |
5 |
12 |
|
| Central Heating Fluid |
1 |
4 |
16 |
| Chewing Gum |
6 |
|
|
| Chocolate/Cocca |
1 |
12 |
4 |
| Coffee |
2 |
4 |
|
| Colas |
3 |
1 |
4 |
| Cream |
12 |
1 |
|
| Egg |
1 |
4 |
|
| Felt Tip Pen |
8/12 |
15 |
1 |
| Floor Wax |
12 |
1 |
|
| Fruit Juice |
3 |
1 |
|
| Furniture Polish |
12 |
1 |
|
| Glue (plastic based) |
14 |
8 |
|
| Gravy & Sauces |
1 |
4 |
|
| Herbal Tea |
3 |
4 |
|
| Ink (fountain pen) |
3 |
4 |
1 |
| Ink (ballpoint pen) |
15 |
|
|
| Lipstick |
12 |
|
|
| Metal Polish |
1 |
|
|
| Milk |
2 |
1 |
13 |
| Mud |
10 |
18 |
|
| Mustard |
1 |
4 |
|
| Nail Polish |
14 |
|
|
| Oil and Grease |
12 |
1 |
|
| Paint (emulsion) |
3 |
1 |
|
| Paint (oil) |
8 |
|
|
| Red Wine |
7 |
4 |
|
| Rust |
16 |
|
|
| Shoe Polish |
12 |
1 |
|
| Soft Drinks |
3 |
4 |
|
| Soot |
4 |
1 |
9 |
| Tar |
12 |
|
|
| Tea |
3 |
1 |
4 |
| Urine (fresh stain) |
3 |
1 |
13 |
| Urine (old stain) |
4 |
13 |
|
| Vomit |
1 |
4 |
13 |
Recommended Spot Removal Agents
1 WOOLSAFE - approved carpet shampoo (diluted)
2 Warm water
3 Cold water
4 WOOLSAFE - approved spot remover for water based stains
5 Absorbent paper and hot iron
6 WOOLSAFE – approved chewing gum remover – solvent or freeze type
7 Blot with white kitchen roll or paper tissues
8 White spirit
9 Vacuum clean
10 Rub with a coin
11 Rub gently with coarse sandpaper
12 WOOLSAFE – approved spot remover for greasy/oily stains
13 WOOLSAFE – approved disinfectant or deodoriser
14 Acetone or nail varnish remover
15 Surgical spirit (ethyl or alcohol or ethanol)
16 Rust remover
17 Carpet re-colouring treatment consult WOOLSAFE Certified Operator
18 A paste of enzyme detergent
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