How to Remove Stubborn Substances [Pt 2]

Last week we talked about removing lipstick, shoe polish, and gum from soft surfaces. Today, we continue in our journey in carpet cleaning by talking about even more annoying things that get stuck in carpets and furniture. Some of these are more challenging to remove than others, especially those persistent, stubborn substances. These substances can cling to fibers and are a real headache to get rid of. Whether it’s spilled wax, food, or grease, we’ll cover how to tackle these pesky stains that seem to resist all efforts!

Nail Polish:

• As soon as the spill occurs, grab a cloth or paper towel and blot the stain, do not rub. Rubbing is likely to just push the nail polish into the fibers of the carpet or upholstery. Work from the outside in to prevent spreading the stain. Remove as much as you can without cleaning products before continuing.
• Be aware of how specific cleaning products will affect your carpet. Some cleaners can cause discoloration or texture change. Test products on areas unseen before testing it on the nail polish stain.
• Try non-acetone nail polish remover. Avoid acetone-based removers since the chemical can damage the carpet or upholstery. With dark carpets and fibers, try rubbing alcohol or hairspray. Apply to a rag and blot. Carpet cleaners and Windex are safe options as well if other methods do not work.
• If there is a strong smell of nail polish, remover, or cleaner, using a mix of dishwashing detergent and warm water can prove effective. Rinse with clean water and dab dry.
• If none of these work, contact us at Accents In Cleaning.

Ice Cream:

I scream, you scream, we all scream when ice cream spills in our home—especially when it hardens into those stubborn substances that refuse to budge from the carpet.

• The faster the spill can be cleaned, the better. Melting is the enemy. Remove the frozen portions without pressing the ice cream into the fibers. Use a clean towel and roll it in a reverse motion, moving forward into the spill to pull the substance out of the carpet.
• Combine dish soap and water and spray/apply to the spill, dab at it with a clean towel. Repeat as needed. Rinse with water.

Paint:

• Remove as much paint as possible using a white absorbent cloth, as quickly as possible. Blot the area. If possible, use a wet/dry vacuum as this should extract a lot of the paint without rubbing it into the carpet.
• Nail polish remover can remove nearly anything. Avoid acetone-based removers for colored carpets.
• Rinse well and use a towel or wet/dry vac.
• If stains persist, repeat the above methods or call a professional cleaning company.

With any spill, time is key. The sooner something can be removed, the less likely it is to stain and ruin furniture or carpets. Keeping a wet/dry vacuum can be helpful, but so is knowing of a good carpet cleaning company. Some messes are easy to clean, while others involve stubborn substances that need professional treatment.

We are more than happy to give you these tips so you can save your money for your full home or room cleaning instead of renting carpet cleaning machines from the grocery store at insane prices. Nail polish remover, hair spray, dish detergent, and wet-dry vacs are amazingly useful to keep around and we highly recommend it. For all of your deep cleaning needs, contact us to keep your home surfaces looking amazing—we guarantee your satisfaction.