Stains on Your Carpet? Here’s What to Do

Spills are bound to happen to a carpet sooner or later. To clean them, try the following procedures:

* Tar, grease, chewing gum or wax: First, remove as much of the solid as you can by gently scraping with a dull knife; then treat the stain with dry-cleaning fluid. For chewing gum, it’s helpful to apply ice cubes in a plastic bag to harden the gum before you scrape it.

* Cigarette burns: Complete repair can be achieved only with a patch, but damage can be masked. First, snip off the darkened fiber ends, then blot the area with a detergent-vinegar solution (1 teaspoon of each in a quart of warm water).

* Lipstick: To remove, gently blot the lipstick with a dry-cleaning solution, then rinse with a solution of 1 tablespoon of ammonia in a cup of water.

* Animal stains or fruit juices: If the stain is still wet, try sponging it repeatedly with lukewarm water, then blot dry and treat with a detergent-vinegar solution. Wait 15 minutes, then blot again and sponge with clean water. Unfortunately, stains that change the color of the carpet cannot be removed.

* Paint. Stains caused by oil-base paints can usually be removed with turpentine; water-base paints will clean up with water.

* Ink. Blot ballpoint-pen ink with denatured alcohol as soon as possible. Permanent ink holds true to its name, but the damage can be minimized if you blot the area with water.

* Fresh unidentified stains. Treat wet stains by blotting the soiled area with a clean, dry cloth. Next, apply a dry-cleaning fluid, then a solution of detergent and vinegar. Let dry. If needed, reapply whichever cleaner works best, and dry again.