Had an accident? -   Although no carpet is completely stain proof, most modern carpets have been treated to render them stain resistant.  If you act quickly, most spills can be removed easily.  A delay in taking action will increase the probability of the stain's becoming permanent.  With some spilled substances- children's fruit drinks, for instance- you have only minutes before the stain sets permanently. 

     Do not scrub the stained area.  Doing so can cause pile distortion.  Whenever possible, immediately blot up spills using a clean white absorbent material to avoid the possibility of dye transfer and to facilitate inspection of the stain removal process while stains transfer to the towel.  When the stain has been removed, continue to blot with dry cloths or paper towels until the area is completely dry. 

     One of the best products to have on hand to treat nearly every spotting used is a HOST SPOT KIT.  Call for more information.

Reoccurring Spots-  Why is it that after treating spots yourself that they look like they're gone?  However, a couple of weeks later, a darkish brown area appears larger in size than the original spot!

Many of the "over-the-counter" carpet spotters are designed to get an immediate result.  However, most of these cleaners are alkaline based (Have a pH greater than "7") and leave a residue behind.  Since most soils are on the acid side (less than "7" on the pH scale.), foot traffic over those treated areas will cause a discoloration.  The alkaline residues will actually attract soils like a magnet.

     Thus, if you were to use an "over-the-counter'" spot cleaner, make sure to neutralize those treated spots with a 1/3 to 2/3 mixture of white vinegar (Acetic acid) to water and blot, blot, blot.  Do not Scrub!  To be extra safe, cover your treated spot with a couple layers of paper towels and a weight such as a plate overnight.  This should absorb the excess moisture and leave no residues.

 Liquid Spills- The most important first step to take is to blot, blot, blot!! Use a clean , white absorbent towel to absorb as much of the spill as possible. Avoid the temptation to scrub. Aggressive scrubbing on most cut-pile carpets will lead to a "flowering" of the carpet yarn tips.

Of course, depending on the type of liquid spill, treatment with a particular cleaning agent will vary. As a general rule, anything with a color of red or drinks containing food dyes need immediate treatment before they dry.

A word of caution, using the wrong product to treat spots can sometimes "lock in" some stains making it nearly impossible to remove by a professional.

For less serious spills, place a stack of paper toweling over the spots overnight with a weight on top. This will help reduce the amount of moisture that may get absorbed into the carpet yarns.