Every other bite of food you or your company take seems to wind up on the carpet? Trip and drop your glass of soda all over the place, creating a disaster? Here are a few hints to dissolve these and other disastrous spots and staining from your carpet.

Most Important

First and foremost, every time you or a guest enters the house, it is best to take off your shoes. Shoes pick up everything from the day, including dirt, gum, grime, oils and other substances which can lead a permanent trail of spots on the carpet. Try to wear socks or slippers as well. The oil coming from your skin may affect the carpet.

Coffee and Other Beverages

If you spill coffee, wine or another substance, the first thing to do is blot the area with cold water and a cloth, lifting the stain from the fibers. Only blot and dab--DO NOT rub the stain into the carpet or rug with your cloth, as this will destroy the fibers. If the stain has been removed and after the area has dried, vacuum to lift the fibers. Break cleaner may also be a good solution for removing food stains. First, put a small amount on the cloth and gently blot the area. Do not pour the solution directly on the carpet! This may weaken and break the fibers. Next, rinse the break cleaner with warm soap and water mixture. Let dry. Vacuum to lift the fibers.

Club Soda can be used to remove red stains, such as wine, Kool-Aid, and juices. Simply blot the area, and let dry, and then vacuum. Again, do not rub the soda into the carpet.

Pet Food and Drink Mixes

Stains that have come from spilled pet food and drink mixes may be easily removed with peroxide and water solution. Because peroxide is a bleach, first check to make sure that the carpet color will not come out. Do a small test, and dab a small amount of carpet with the peroxide and water solution. Note if the color fades or changes in any manner. Doing this will prevent a permanent bleached out spot of carpet in the future. Apply the mixture and wait for 20-30 minutes. Remove as much as the mixture as you can, lifting the fibers with a clean cloth. If the stain persists, continue to add more peroxide into the water, until the stain fades. Retreat if necessary. Vacuum.

Food Stains and Other Nuisances

Believe it or not, most food stains can be removed with shaving cream. Simply spray on to the spot, leave in for 10-20 minutes. Mix water and vinegar together to clean out the shaving cream, and then vacuum. DO NOT rub the shaving cream into the fibers. If chewing gum is stuck to the carpet, simply freeze the gum with ice cubes, until it lifts from the fibers. Carefully peel or chip off the gum with a sharp object like a letter opener or a knife.

If candle wax drips on the carpet, there is an easy way for it to be removed. Freeze the area with an ice cub, and chip the wax off with a knife. If this doesn’t work, then use a blow-dryer, melting the wax off the fibers. You can also use an iron. Put a small white hand towel over the affected area, and iron on top. The wax will transfer from the fibers to the towel. MAKE SURE YOU ARE NOT BURNING THE CARPET.

These are just some suggestions in aiding the stain removal for your carpet. If these fail, remember that there are companies and professionals you specialize in keeping your carpet looking brand-new.