Stain Guide

Here is a quick guide on how to cleanup and prevent major disasters.

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General Cleaning Tips

Where ever possible read fabric labels BEFORE you use a cleaning solution on the carpet or fabric. Using improper solutions can do permanent damage to fibers. If you are unsure, call a professional. You could do more damage than good.
Don't over saturate the fabric or carpet with water. You can cause problems such as mildew or permanent stains.
To absorb and remove the stain, you should blot (not rub) using an absorbent white cloth such as a terry cloth or flour sack dish towel. Colored cloths may transfer color to the material you are cleaning. Harsh rubbing or scrubbing may damage the fibers and set the stain farther into the material.

Each of the stain removal methods below uses a combination of commonly available cleaning solutions. See the list of these solutions on the right side panel of this page.

Stain Removal

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Beer
1. Apply detergent solution
2. Apply vinegar solution
3. Apply warm water and blot dry
Blood
1. Apply cool water
2. Apply solution of meat tenderizer
3. Apply cool ammonia solution
4. Apply cool detergent solution
5. Apply warm water and towel dry
Butter
1. Apply dry cleaning fluid
2. Apply detergent solution
3. Apply ammonia solution
4. Apply vinegar solution
5. Apply warm water and towel dry
Catsup
1. Apply detergent solution
2. Apply ammonia solution
3. Apply vinegar solution
4. Apply warm water and towel dry
Chocolate
1. Apply cool water
2. Apply solution of meat tenderizer
3. Apply cool ammonia solution
4. Apply cool detergent solution
5. Apply warm water and towel dry
Coffee
1. Apply cool water
2. Apply solution of meat tenderizer
3. Apply cool ammonia solution
4. Apply cool detergent solution
5. Apply warm water and towel dry
Cola
1. Apply detergent solution
2. Apply ammonia solution
3. Apply vinegar solution
4. Apply warm water and towel dry
Cosmetics
1. Apply detergent solution
2. Apply vinegar solution
3. Apply warm water and towel dry
Crayon
1. Apply detergent solution
2. Apply vinegar solution
3. Apply warm water and towel dry
Finger Paint
1. Apply detergent solution
2. Apply ammonia solution
3. Apply vinegar solution
4. Apply warm water and towel dry
Food (greasy)
1. Apply dry cleaning fluid
2. Apply detergent solution
3. Apply ammonia solution
4. Apply vinegar solution
5. Apply warm water and towel dry
Food (general)
1. Apply detergent solution
2. Apply ammonia solution
3. Apply vinegar solution
4. Apply warm water and towel dry
Furniture Polish
1. Apply nail polish remover
2. Apply dry cleaning fluid
3. Apply detergent solution
4. Apply ammonia solution
5. Apply vinegar solution
6. Apply warm water and towel dry
Fruit Juice
1. Apply detergent solution
2. Apply ammonia solution
3. Apply vinegar solution
4. Apply warm water and towel dry
Glue (animal)
1. Apply detergent solution
2. Apply ammonia solution
3. Apply vinegar solution
4. Apply warm water and towel dry
Gravy
1. Apply dry cleaning fluid
2. Apply detergent solution
3. Apply ammonia solution
4. Apply vinegar solution
5. Apply warm water and towel dry
Grass
1. Apply nail polish remover
2. Apply dry cleaning fluid
3. Apply detergent solution
4. Apply ammonia solution
5. Apply vinegar solution
6. Apply warm water and towel dry
Grease (auto)
1. Apply detergent solution
2. Apply vinegar solution
3. Apply warm water and towel dry
Gum
1. Apply ice cube to area to chill then shatter gum
2. Apply dry cleaning fluid then blot to remove residue
Hand Cream
1. Apply detergent solution
2. Apply vinegar solution
3. Apply warm water and towel dry
Ice Cream
1. Apply detergent solution
2. Apply ammonia solution
3. Apply vinegar solution
4. Apply warm water and towel dry
Ink (ball point)
1. Apply dry cleaning fluid
2. Apply rubbing alcohol
3. Apply detergent solution
4. Apply warm water and blot with towel to dry
Jelly
1. Apply detergent solution
2. Apply ammonia solution
3. Apply vinegar solution
4. Apply warm water and towel dry
Lipstick
1. Apply nail polish remover
2. Apply dry cleaning fluid
3. Apply detergent solution
4. Apply ammonia solution
5. Apply vinegar solution
6. Apply warm water and towel dry
Liquor
1. Apply detergent solution
2. Apply ammonia solution
3. Apply vinegar solution
4. Apply warm water and towel dry
Medicine
1. Apply nail polish remover
2. Apply dry cleaning fluid
3. Apply detergent solution
4. Apply ammonia solution
5. Apply vinegar solution
6. Apply warm water and towel dry
Milk
1. Apply dry cleaning fluid
2. Apply solution of meat tenderizer
3. Apply detergent solution
4. Apply warm water and towel dry
Mustard
1. Apply detergent solution
2. Apply vinegar solution
3. Apply warm water and blot dry
Nail Polish
1. Apply nail polish remover
2. Apply dry cleaning fluid
3. Apply detergent solution
4. Apply ammonia solution
5. Apply vinegar solution
6. Apply warm water and towel dry
Newsprint
1. Apply detergent solution
2. Apply vinegar solution
3. Apply warm water and towel dry
Oil (car)
1. Apply detergent solution
2. Apply vinegar solution
3. Apply warm water and towel dry
Plant Food
1. Apply detergent solution
2. Apply ammonia solution
3. Apply vinegar solution
4. Apply warm water and towel dry
Rust
1. Apply rust remover (from grocery or hardware store).
2. Apply ammonia solution
3. Apply vinegar solution
4. Apply warm water and towel dry
Sauce
1. Apply nail polish remover
2. Apply dry cleaning fluid
3. Apply detergent solution
4. Apply ammonia solution
5. Apply vinegar solution
6. Apply warm water and towel dry
Shoe Polish
1. Apply dry cleaning fluid
2. Apply detergent solution
3. Apply ammonia solution
4. Apply vinegar solution
5. Apply warm water and towel dry
Soot
1. Apply detergent solution
2. Apply vinegar solution
3. Apply warm water and towel dry
Tar
1. Apply dry cleaning fluid
2. Apply detergent solution
3. Apply ammonia solution
4. Apply vinegar solution
5. Apply warm water and towel dry
Tea
1. Apply ammonia solution
2. Apply vinegar solution
3. Apply warm water and towel dry
Urine
1. Apply detergent solution
2. Apply vinegar solution
3. Apply warm water and blot dry
Wax
1. Cover with several layers of paper toweling
2. Place iron set on moderate heat over toweling
3. Apply dry cleaning fluid to remove residue
Wine
1. Apply detergent solution
2. Apply vinegar solution
3. Apply warm water and blot dry

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Dry Cleaning Fluid: Select a non-flammable spot removing liquid. This is easy to find at the grocery, hardware, or drug store. One well-know brand is Energine.

Nail Polish Remover: Nail polish remover is a liquid lacquer thinner. Purchase at the grocery or drug store.

Detergent Solution: Mix one-half teaspoon of mild powdered non-bleaching laundry detergent with 1 pint (2 measuring cups) of lukewarm water.

Warm Water: Lukewarm tap water

Amonia Solution: Mix one tablespoon of household ammonia with one measuring cup of water.

Vinegar Solution: Mix one cup of white vinegar with 1 measuring cup of water.

Stain Guide

General Cleaning Tips

Stain Removal

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