How to Remove Stubborn Stains Yourself

Are you tired of looking at those spots and stains in your carpets, furniture, and floors which are a constant reminder of how clumsy you were? I know you are, and these fail-proof methods can help you deal with them. If you’re wondering how to remove stubborn stains yourself, these techniques will give you the tools to restore your home to its clean and fresh state.

Gum

Sometimes kids put gum on furniture. Sometimes adults accidentally lose control of their mouth and gum falls out. Sometimes gum can fall out of a trash can and get pressed into furniture or flooring. Next time gum shows up somewhere it doesn’t belong, try these methods to remove stubborn stains yourself:

• Ensure the gum is dried and hardened by using a can of compressed air or ice or an ice pack (be sure to keep moisture from ice away from the gum). Take a dull scraper to scrape up and lift off the gum. This can work on carpets as well, just be extra careful to avoid damage to the carpet fibers. Vacuum the area and wash with warm soapy water.
• Apply extra strength duct tape to the gum and quickly lift the tape, repeat until the gum is removed.
• Using a microfiber cloth, apply a product like Goo-Gone. Use circular motions and pressure to loosen the gum.

Lipstick

Lipstick from a napkin, a glass tipping onto the carpet, or simply falling asleep on your sofa before removing your makeup can leave embarrassing red marks. If you’re wondering how to remove stubborn stains yourself, follow these tips to restore your carpet or furniture to its pre-kissed glory.

• If the lipstick has not dried, apply toothpaste to the area to help remove the stain. This is a simple method to remove stubborn stains yourself, as the toothpaste acts as a gentle abrasive to lift the stain away.
• If the lipstick has dried, use a plastic knife or a scraper to remove as much as possible.

• To remove stubborn stains yourself, soak a cloth in ammonia and gently blot at the stain. Afterward, remove the ammonia from the surface with a clean cloth that has been soaked in water.

• Spray hairspray onto the stain, let sit for roughly 5 minutes and wipe down the area with a dry, clean cloth.

  Unfortunately, lipstick is a very stubborn thing to remove, but Accents in Cleaning can help you remove any and all stains. If you’re looking to remove stubborn stains yourself, there are a few effective methods to try at home before calling in the experts.

Shoe Polish

Shoe polish can make work boots and dress shoes look amazing. Whether you have a housemate who is in the military or someone who just likes polished shoes, somewhere in your house is bound to end up with a little-spilled shoe polish. If you ever find yourself with shoe polish stains, don’t worry—there are ways to remove stubborn stains yourself without damaging the fabric.

• To remove stubborn stains yourself, start by scraping away as much of the stain as possible without damaging the carpet or upholstery. Use a scraper or knife gently to lift the excess, taking care not to cause any harm to the fabric.
• Apply dry-cleaning fluid in a blotting fashion to the stain. Followed by a mixture of ammonia and dish soap applied with a clean paper towel (keeping the clean side on the stain at all times to reduce spreading). Rinse with cool water and blot with a clean, dry towel until dry.
• Use acetone nail polish remover. That stuff will remove just about anything!
• Mix a non-bleach laundry detergent with cold water and apply directly to the carpet and scrum.
• Combine water and ammonia, and scrub the carpet with a clean rag. Rinse with warm water and blot or vacuum dry.

If you feel your problems are best handled by professionals, then don’t hesitate to call Accents in Cleaning. Our trained and qualified technicians know exactly what to do to get you satisfied. If you’re looking to remove stubborn stains yourself, stay tuned for more DIY stain removal tips.

We continue this in the next blog post.