Most household spills can be easily removed using the steps shown. To start, locate your stain on the Common Stains Chart (below) and follow these steps:
First, use a spoon, dull knife, or a Mohawk Carpet Cleaning Key to remove as much solid material as possible.
Always work from the outside of the stain to the center to prevent spreading, especially with large stains.
Blot up liquid spills with a white towel or paper towel.
For best results, try to remove the remaining stain with warm water only. If the stain cannot be removed with warm water extraction, or a clean, warm, wet cloth, use Mohawk FloorCare Essentials™ Carpet Spot Remover and Cleaning Kit and follow the directions given (call 1-800-266-4295 for a FloorCare Essentials retailer near you). If FloorCare Essentials products are not available, perform the following:
Procedure A (for water-based, special water-based and greasy, oil-based stains)
- Mix a solution of ¼ teaspoon of clear hand dishwashing 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. Do not over-saturate carpet; use small amounts of solution and blot frequently.
- Wet the stained carpet fibers with clear, lukewarm water to rinse.
- Cover the spot with an absorbent white towel or paper towel and apply pressure to blot.
- Repeat the rinsing and blotting procedures until you are sure all traces of the detergent have been removed.
- If the stain is gone place an absorbent white towel or paper towel over the area cleaned, and weigh down with a heavy colorfast object such as a weighted plastic wastebasket.
- Change towels or paper towels until carpet dries.
- If stain remains, preform Procedure B (for coffee, tea, or urine, skip Procedure B and perform Procedure C)
Procedure B (Do NOT use on coffee, tea, or urine stains)
- Mix 2 tablespoons of non-bleaching, non-sudsing household ammonia with 1 cup of lukewarm water.
- Apply ammonia solution, rinse and blot as outlined in Procedure A
- Do not dry with paper towels. Follow Procedure C to neutralize the ammonia solution.
Procedure C
- Mix ½ cup of white vinegar with 1 cup of lukewarm water.
- Apply vinegar solution, rinse and blot as outlined in Procedure A.
