When it comes to rug stains, the single most effective course of action is to act fast. The sooner you treat the stain, the less likely it is to leave a lasting mark. For liquid spills, blot up as much as you can before applying the recommended cleaning solution. For dried stains, use a butter knife to scrape off any flakes and then vacuum the area prior to cleaning it.

How to Clean Blood

What you'll need:

• Cold water

• Gentle carpet shampoo

If the blood is fresh, mix one or two tablespoons of carpet shampoo with two cups of cold water and blot out the stain using a sponge or washcloth. If the stain has already dried, use a brush to loosen the deposit prior to applying the cleaning solution. Once the stain is gone, press the area with cold water and blot dry. No carpet shampoo on hand? Use a scent-free liquid dishwashing detergent instead.

Tip: Using a light-colored washcloth helps to ensure you get all the residual blood out of the carpet.

How to Remove Chocolate from a Rug

What you’ll need:

• 1 oz. ammonia with 1 cup water

• Gentle carpet shampoo

• 1 part white vinegar with 2 parts water

Combine 1 oz. ammonia with 1 cup of room-temperature water. Then mix the solution with gentle carpet cleaner, 1 part white vinegar and 2 parts water. Apply it to the chocolate stain and blot until clean.

How to Clean Spilled Coffee from the Floor

What you’ll need:

• Cold water

• Gentle carpet shampoo

• Dry-cleaning solvent

Blot up the coffee with paper towels or a washcloth before applying the cleaning solution. Mix carpet shampoo with dry-cleaning solvent and cold water. Using a clean, white cloth, sponge the stain until it’s gone and blot dry.

How to Clean Dark Soda from the Rug

What you'll need:

• Cold water

• Gentle carpet shampoo

Blot up as much of the cola as possible before applying the cleaning solution. Mix plain water with carpet shampoo and apply to the stain until it’s thoroughly lifted.

How to Get Fruit Juice Out of the Carpet

What you’ll need:

• Cold water

• Gentle carpet shampoo

Soak up as much of the fruit juice as possible first with a paper towel. Remove the stain with one liter of cold water mixed with ¼ teaspoon of carpet shampoo.

Removing Ball-Point Ink from a Rug

What you’ll need:

• Methylated spirits or mineral turpentine

• Dry-cleaning solvent

• Gentle carpet shampoo

Ballpoint ink is less absorbent than other ink, which makes it simpler to clean. Mix carpet shampoo with dry-cleaning solvent and either methylated spirits or mineral turpentine to lift the stain. Also, be sure to keep rotating your washcloth as you clean up the stain to avoid accidental ink transfers.

Tip: You can also use hairspray to remove ballpoint ink stains thanks to its high alcohol content.

Removing Felt-Tip Ink from the Rug

What you’ll need:

• Warm water

• Gentle carpet shampoo

Stains left behind from felt-tip pens and markers can be lifted with a combination of warm water and carpet shampoo. After you’ve cleaned the stain, blot it with plain water using a washcloth or sponge.

Tip: For stubborn ink stains, try sponging the rug with rubbing alcohol before sponging it with cold water.

How to Get Lipstick Out of a Rug

What you’ll need:

• Dry-cleaning solvent

• Gentle carpet shampoo

Scrape off any excess lipstick from the carpet before applying the cleaning solution. Combine a dry-cleaning solvent with carpet shampoo and blot the stain with it using a clean cloth. Continue blotting the stain until it’s removed. Finally, dab it with cold water and blot dry.

How to Remove Oil and Grease from the Carpet

What you’ll need:

• Dry-cleaning solvent

• Gentle cleaning shampoo

From car repairs to culinary splashes, oil and grease stains are notoriously challenging to clean. We recommend mixing dry-cleaning solvent with gent;e carpet shampoo and then sponging a generous amount onto the stain to help lift it from your rug.

Cleaning Paint & Latex from a Rug

What you’ll need:

• Cold water

• Gentle carpet shampoo

• Dry-cleaning solvent

If you happen to spill a latex-based paint on your rug, first saturate the stain with water and then vacuum the area with a wet/dry vac. Mix cold water with carpet shampoo and dry-cleaning solvent, and apply the mixture to the stain. Then, scrub out the paint with a scrub brush.

How to Clean Paint and Oil from a Rug

What you’ll need:

• Methylated spirits or mineral turpentine

• Dry-cleaning solvent

• Gentle carpet shampoo

For oil-based paint stains (or stubborn latex paint that won’t come out), first use a steam cleaner to remove the wet paint as needed. Combine dry-cleaning solvent with carpet shampoo and either methylated spirits or mineral turpentine. Apply the mixture to the stain and blot the paint out with a cloth.

Cleaning Spilled Tea

What you’ll need:

• Cold water

• Gentle carpet shampoo

• Dry-cleaning solvent

Tea may stain your pearly whites, but it doesn’t have to stain your favorite area rug. Mix cold water with carpet shampoo and dry-cleaning solvent, and then apply the solution to the stain. Using a washcloth, scrub out the tea until it’s completely lifted.

How to Clean Fresh Pet Urine from the Carpet

What you’ll need:

• Cold water

• Gentle carpet shampoo

If Fido has an accident, all you need is some cold water mixed with carpet shampoo. Absorb the urine with a towel before you start cleaning, and then apply the cleaning solution to the affected area. Scrub the stain with a scrub brush, and then vacuum the area once it’s dry.

Pro Tip: Standing on the towel can help absorb more of the urine prior to cleaning.

How to Remove Old Urine from Your Rug

What you’ll need:

    1 oz. ammonia with 1 cup water

    Gentle carpet shampoo

    1 part white vinegar with 2 parts water

If the pet urine is already dry, rinse it first with water or a wet vac. Follow with an odor-neutralizing spray, and then combine 1 oz. ammonia with 1 cup water. Add in carpet cleaner and a solution of 1 part white vinegar with 2 parts water. Blot the stain until it’s removed.

How to Get Wine Out from the Rug

What you’ll need:

• Absorbent powder

• Cold water

• Gentle carpet shampoo

Blot the stain with a clean cloth or paper towels as needed, and then sprinkle cornstarch or baking soda onto the stain. Let it sit for 15 minutes before vacuuming the affected area. Mix carpet shampoo with cold water, and then apply the solution to the wine stain until clean.

How to Clean Vomit from the Rug

What you’ll need:

• Cold water

• Gentle carpet shampoo

Wipe up as much of the vomit as you can. If it’s already dried, scrape off the flakes and vacuum the stain before cleaning it. Next, mix one tablespoon of carpet shampoo or dishwashing detergent with cold water, and then sponge the stain until it’s gone.

Tip: You can also sprinkle cornstarch or baking soda onto the wet stain and let it sit for 15 minutes to help absorb it prior to vacuuming.