Carpet stains are a fast way to lose out on your security deposit. Try these tactics to cleaning the most stubborn carpet stains around.

Living on your own and renting a house or apartment is great during college and only gets a little more boring once you graduate. While you don’t have to follow mom and dad’s house rules anymore, you are responsible for almost everything else.

Part of that responsibility is moving out of the apartment or rental home in the same condition it was when you moved on. 1 in 4 renters don’t get their security deposit back. While some renters don’t see their deposit again due to breaking the lease agreement or because of pet damage, 36% of renters are never given a reason.

Some wear and tear is expected, especially stained carpeting. You want to do everything you can to ensure you get your full security deposit back.

Here are the most common carpet stains and how to remove them. Read on to learn more!

1. Coffee

If you spill hot coffee on your carpet, it will stick to your fabric as soon as it cools. Make sure to begin working on it right away to avoid a permanent stain. There are a few techniques available to remove a coffee stain.

The first one is to blot with a towel dipped in hot water. Never scrub or rub at the area – this will set the stain or spread it even further. If there is a lot of spillage, you may need to use a different cleaning method.

Another option is to spray the area with hydrogen peroxide. Take a wet towel, wring it out, and lay it on top of the stain. Using your iron on full steam mode, put it on top of the towel and let it sit for 15-20 seconds. Remove the towel – you will see some of the coffee stain transferred to it.

Get a fresh towel and repeat the above steps until the stain is gone. It might take more than a couple of tries, but the stain will come up leaving no trace of the spill.

The last option is to spray the spill with a mixture of water and bleach. Make sure your carpet material will safely respond to this treatment. Combine 1/4 cup of bleach to 1 1/4 cup of water, spraying the affected it area. Let the stain soak then blot, rinse with warm water, and repeat until the stain is gone.

2. Pet Stains

As pet owners, we sometimes have to clean up an accident or two from our furry friends. As much as we love them, a stained carpet with a distinct odor won’t help get the security deposit back. We have a few tips to rid your carpet of any pet stains and their odors.

Clean up the initial accident by blotting with a new piece of paper towel each time and disposing of any debris left behind. Continue blotting until the area is mostly dry.

If you find it after it has already dried, re-wet by spraying it with a mixture of water with a stain-fighting laundry detergent. Let it soak, then bloat and rinse with warm water. Repeat as necessary.

If the smell is lingering, mix equal parts water and white vinegar (or white wine) in a spray bottle and spritz over the area. After letting it soak for a few minutes begin blotting with clean paper towels. Repeat until the spot is dry and the odor is gone.

3. Blood Stains

Blood stains seem intimidating, but like many other stains the sooner you find and treat it, the better.

Using a mixture of cold water and 2 teaspoons of a grease-fighting liquid dish detergent, spray the area until soaked. Using clean paper towels or a dry white cloth, blot the spot, rinsing with cold water as necessary.

Another option is to use hydrogen peroxide. Mix two parts hydrogen peroxide to one part dish soap in a bottle or container. Apply to the stained area and let it soak for a few minutes. Using a clean cloth, blot the stain, re-apply, and repeat.

Because we use soap with these stain removers you’ll need to clean the area of any soap residue once the stain is gone. Use cold water and a clean towel to flush the area and avoid a ghost stain.

4. Red Wine Stains

A red wine stain is a hard one to face, not just because it’s difficult to clean but because it’s a waste of good wine! There are a few cleaning solutions you can use which will leave you stain-free, and they don’t involve white wine.

Like many other stains, start by blotting the area as much as you can. Using club soda, pour just enough to cover the stain.

As the bubbles from the soda break the stain away from the carpet fibers, you can lift the stain out by blotting again. Repeat as necessary.

If that doesn’t remove the stain completely, try 1/4 teaspoon of white vinegar or nonbleach detergent mixed with 32 ounces of water. Use the same tactics and watch the stain disappear.

5. Grease Stains

A tough stain to remove from carpeting are grease stains because they deflect water. To rid your carpet from these stains you’ll need a detergent meant to lift them, like dishwashing soap.

Blot the stain with a cloth dabbed in dish soap to remove the stain from your carpet. It’s easy and effective!

Stubborn Carpet Stains and How to Clean Them

Before following any of these carpet cleaning methods, ensure none of the chemicals will damage your carpet by testing it on a small, discreet area. If the chemicals work well with your carpet, proceed to treat the stain according to the tips above.

While most of these carpet stains are treatable, some may need professional help if they’ve sat for too long or dried in the carpet fibers. Visit our website for a free quote on cleaning your carpet, or contact us with questions or for more information!