Some compounds will act the same as dye stains on your rug. They can be very difficult to remove, but it’s actually not impossible with the right tools and a bit of effort.
What Do You Need?
Your first tool (and in fact, your best friend) is a wet/dry vacuum cleaner. It’s very well-suited for stain removal. Simply take out the bags and filters, and use it as a wet vac. Suck up as much of the liquid that caused the stain as you can.
If you don’t have a wet/dry vac, use clean towels to get up as much of the liquid as possible. You can also use paper towels, using them to blot up the liquid and then discarding them.
Rinse with clear, warm water.
Try Club Soda
Club soda also can work very well on liquid stains, and in fact, we suggest that you should always have some on hand. You don’t have to worry about it adding to the problem, since it’s nothing more than carbonated water – it won’t harm the surface of your carpet, or the backing, and it won’t leave a residue.
Use Dish Soap
For serious stains, you can mix up a teaspoon of any kind of liquid dish detergent in a couple of cups of warm water – not hot, since that could set the stain. Then, you can rinse with clear water or club soda.
Try Hydrogen Peroxide
Mix a tablespoon of at least 3% H2O2 hydrogen peroxide in 3 tablespoons of warm water. This will lift dye stains very effectively, but should only be used on light areas of your carpet, since it can have a bleaching effect. If you’re uncertain as to whether this is a good idea, try it on a less visible area of the rug first.
Use Ammonia
Mix a quarter cup of clear ammonia into a cup of warm water, and apply to the dye stain. Again, use only on light areas as this, too, has a bleaching effect.
Take It Slow
Keep in mind that a lot of the time, a dye stain won’t come out easily. You might not get it out on the first attempt, and you’ll need to use the same procedure over and over. Always follow this procedure, though – apply and rinse, apply and rinse, apply and… well, you get the idea. Don’t use the cleaning solution repeatedly without rinsing between applications.
Know When to Call a Pro
You might not always be able to deal with dye stains on your own. If that happens, get in touch with a professional rug and carpet cleaner. The last thing you want to do is permanently damage a valuable rug.
Meta: You can handle some dyes stains in your rug on your own, using basic household items. If the stain won’t come out, though, call a pro rather than risk further damage.