Spills Happen… Stains Don't Have To.

Nobody can predict when a glass of wine, painted fingers, plate of food, or hundreds of other things will accidentally end up on you carpets and upholstery. But accidents do happen, and when they do the best defense is to be prepared and know how to properly treat the spill for the best results. This guide covers what you need to know to be able to promptly and properly remove spots from your home.

If you have any questions or would like SPRUCE-IT-UP to assist you in preserving the beauty of your carpet you can call us at 604-828-5900. We frequently see clients try to remove spots on their own and end up permanently damaging their carpet. Many times the carpet dye is removed and leaves a white bleached out spot in your otherwise beautiful carpeting. We also find that often the cleaning agent is over applied which leaves residue in the carpet which then attracts dirt making the spot worse that before. That is why we made this spotting guide and give all of our clients a FREE bottle of our professional SPOT REMOVER!

10 STEPS FOR REMOVING SPOTS

Step 1.

Catch it while it's fresh, when chances of removal are 75% better. Don't iron or hot-air dry until the stain is gone. Heat will set most stains. DON’T WAIT!

Step 2.

Remove as much of the spill as possible. Scrape away solid or semi-solid stains with a blunt spatula or spoon. Blot up as much of a liquid stain as possible using a soft, white, absorbent material such as a towel or napkin. Be careful not to spread the stain. NEVER RUB!

Step 3.

If already dry or a dry spill, vacuum away as much dry solid as possible to aid in the spotting.

Step 4.

Apply warm, not hot, water to the stained area and blot until the spot stops transferring to the cloth.

Step 5.

Pre-test the spot removal agent on an inconspicuous area. Apply a few drops to each colour in the carpet/upholstery. Press a clean, white towel or napkin lightly over it for approximately 30 seconds. Check both the towel (or napkin) and the carpet/upholstery for colour transfer, colour change or any other damage. NEVER USE BLEACH!

Step 6.

Use SPRUCE-IT-UP SPOT REMOVER* working from the edges towards the centre of the spot to prevent it from spreading. Continue as long as the stain is getting transferred onto the towel. BE PATIENT! Apply more solution and repeat the process as long as the stain is being removed. DO NOT RUB!

Step 7.

After the spill has been removed, rinse out the affected area with water and blot dry to remove the cleaning solution as any residue may attract soil or cause damage to the carpet/upholstery. To effectively blot up the water, you may use clean, white, dry towels weighed down by a flat, heavy object such as a book in a plastic bag; keep changing the towel as they become saturated. You can use a fan or blow dryer to speed drying times.

Step 8.

NEVER OVER WET the area. Over wetting of carpets and upholstery while cleaning may cause more damage than the spot or spill.

Step 9.

When the carpet is dry, vacuum to restore the texture.

Step 10.

If you can see the stain after all this, repeat steps 6 through 9. It means the stain penetrated deep into the pile and has wicked up to the surface

If you are having problems with your spot, give SPRUCE-IT-UP a call 604-828-5900 and we will take care of it for you.

* If you do not have your bottle of our professional SPOT REMOVER available or have ran out, be very careful about using store-bought cleaners. Most are too powerful and can damage carpet. Always test in an inconspicuous area when you first purchase a product.

IN-A-PINCH if you are out of our professional SPOT REMOVER you can make your own. It will not remove as much as our spot remover will but it will work on most spots.

Detergent Solution - (non-bleach and non-lanolin) Mix one fourth (1/4) teaspoon of a basic liquid dishwashing detergent per one (1) cup of lukewarm water. NEVER USE A STRONGER CONCENTRATION! It is the safest household product to use on carpet because it will not "set" stains as will most cleaners.

You can also try this spotting guide link that gives instructions for specific spots.

Carpet and Rug Institute Spotting Guide

SPOTTING GUIDE

Spills Happen… Stains Don't Have To.