Spot Cleaning Guide
Helpful hints on how to remove stains from carpet.
Quickly get to any spillages or stains, this decrease the opportunity that the stain will penetrate the carpet fibres. Liquids, especially hot liquids must be attended to straight away.
If allowed to cool or dry, the stain will be much harder to remove.
Carelessness during stain removal can result in the stain setting in and becoming permanent, pile distortion or loss of colour from the carpet.
1. Immediately remove as much of the spill as possible. For solids use a blunt knife or spoon. Blot up liquids by applying pressure with white paper towels or tissues. Use a wet / dry vacuum for large spills. NEVER scrub or rub the carpet during the stain removal (or rinsing) process as a fuzzy area may result. Always work from the outside of the stain or spillage towards the middle to avoid further spreading using a blotting or dabbing motion.
2. After the spill or stain has been treated, place several layers of white paper towels over the area and place a flat weight on them until dry.
A hair dryer may be used to speed up the drying process but do NOT overheat the area. Do not walk on the carpet until dry.
3. Sometimes stains will reappear due to ‘wicking’ as stains hidden in the pile resurface as the carpet dries. If so, allow the carpet to dry fully and repeat the above treatment until no stain is evident (this process may need to be repeated over several days).
4. If stains fail to respond adequately to treatment, call a professional carpet cleaner immediately.
It is important professional steam cleaners continually treat any areas affected by stains until there is no sign of discolouration in the carpet or removed water, following which the cleaning cycle should be repeated a number of times to minimise the risk of wicking.
Stains should be differentiated from soiling.
Ensure that any residue from spills or cleaning mixtures are fully removed. For example, many sugar based spills, such as soft drinks and coffee, leave a sugar residue after removal.
Similarly, when spills are cleaned with a detergent solution and the area is not sufficiently rinsed, a sticky detergent residue can remain. This sticky residue attracts soil from ordinary foot traffic and the resulting discolouration appears to be a stain. If so, repeat stain removal procedures above.
View the Feltex Care & Maintenance guide.
