Spots vs Stains
Did you know there is a big difference between a spot and a stain?
A Spot: Whether it is food, gum, rust, urine, vomit etc., if professionally treated within the first 24 hours can in most cases be completely removed. The best course of action before your carpet cleaner arrives is to blot ( do not rub) up as much as possible with an old towel. The next step will be to put another fresh ( but old ) towel on top of the spot and place a brick a rock or anything heavy and non-absorbent on top of it. This will allow the majority of the spot to wick out of the carpet and into the towel. A little trick I found that works well for small spot removal when you are between regular professional cleanings is to first blot the spot as described above. Next try using a little ( do not saturate ) window cleaning solution and blot again. Make sure to ALWAYS test solution in an inconspicuous area of carpet for color fastness. If you find a color change discontinue use immediately and give us a call.
A Stain: Is exactly as it infers by definition and can not be removed no matter what solution is used. Some examples of stains include( but are not limited to) the above mentioned if not removed within the first 24 hour time frame. It is also very common for some foods to have dyes in them including pet foods. Your pet can not digest these dyes just like humans and if either one gets sick ... well we all know how that turns out. The best course of action here is to follow the steps for spot removal to minimize the damage. Other stain examples can be rust ( in some cases), paint, paint thinner, furniture stain, makeup, nail polish remover, carbon shavings ( from recliner mechanisms ), food coloring, bleach and filter lines on the edges of your carpets. If you are still not sure what to do feel free to give us a call!
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