How to Remove Stubborn Substances from Surfaces [Pt 1]

Accidents happen and that shouldn’t mean your furniture and floors are ruined. Today we’ll discuss some tips for removing stubborn things like gum, lipstick, and shoe polish from carpets, upholstery, and more.

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.

1. 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.
2. Apply extra strength duct tape to the gum and quickly lift the tape, repeat until the gum is removed.
3. 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. Follow these tips to restore your carpet or furniture to its pre-kissed glory.

1. If the lipstick has not dried, apply toothpaste to the area to help remove the stain.
2. If the lipstick has dried, use a plastic knife or a scraper to remove as much as possible.
3. Soak a cloth in ammonia and gently blot at the stain. Remove ammonia from the surface with a clean cloth which has been soaked in water.
4. 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.

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.

1. Scrape away as much as possible (without damaging the carpet or upholstery) with a scraper or knife.
2. 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.
3. Use acetone nail polish remover. That stuff will remove just about anything!
4. Mix a non-bleach laundry detergent with cold water and apply directly to the carpet and scrum.
5. Combine water and ammonia, and scrub the carpet with a clean rag. Rinse with warm water and blot or vacuum dry.

If none of these methods work or you don’t want to clean the stains yourself, call us at Accents in Cleaning and we’ll get your floors and furniture looking good as new! Our trained professionals will leave you 100% satisfied, guaranteed! Check in next week for more stain removal tips.