Spot-On Tips for Removing Spills from Carpeting

Whoops! There goes another spill on your new carpeting. Accidents happen and you can't control them. But you can be prepared to clean them up and preserve the original beauty of your building's investment. With the right tools, appropriate cleaning agents, and a little education, you'll be on your way to beautiful, longer-lasting carpeting no matter who has an accident.

TIP! Act quickly before spots turn into stains

According to Sanitary Maintenance, the difference between a spot and a stain is 24 hours.¹ If spills are addressed promptly, water may be all that's needed to remove a spot. Don't put off for the night shift what you can do today. The sooner you act, the better chance your spot won't turn into a permanent stain.

Tools for the Job

• Carpet Brush
• Clean, White Terry Cloths or White Paper Towels
• Clear Water Spray Bottle
• Carpet Extractor (optional, if desired to replace water rinsing & hand blotting steps)
• Personal Protective Equipment

STEP 1 - ID the Spot

Information is power when it comes to spot removal. Blood. Ink. Gum. Each may require a different chemical and removal technique. It's also a good idea to know the type of carpet fiber you're dealing with. The more you know, the better you can effectively remove the spot and ensure it doesn't return again. 

Note: Always Pre-test carpet spot remover for color-fastness before use. Do not use chemical if carpet is not color-fast and color is removed, faded or otherwise changed.

STEP 2 - Remove Solids and Blot

If your mess has solid material, gently scoop it up with a spoon. Run a vacuum over the area to remove any remaining dry material. If your spot has liquids or moisture in it, blot with a white terry cloth or paper towel until no more stain can be seen on the cloth.

STEP 3 - Circle the Perimeter

Apply a small amount of spotter around the outer perimeter of your spot, working your way into the center until the surface is lightly wet. Give your chemical a few minutes to do its thing.

STEP 4 - Work It!

Gently work your spot with the blunt end of a carpet brush or blunt object, starting from the outside edges toward the center of the stain to prevent it from spreading. Now blot with a clean, damp white cloth. (Optionally, you can remove materials with the vacuum feature of a carpet extraction machine if you have one available.) Change your cloth when it becomes saturated with soil. Similar to before you applied the spotting chemical, blot-blot-blot until your cloth is no longer removing soil and spotter. Absorb as much as possible and repeat steps 3 and 4 if you need to.

STEP 5 - Rinse and Blot Again

Lightly spray your area with clear water to rinse. Blot (yes, again!) with a clean, dry cloth or paper towels (or rinse and extract with clear water using a carpet extraction machine). If you don't rinse the chemical out of the carpet, the carpet will more easily resoil with foot traffic.

Extra Credit!

If you really want to do a bang-up job, place a dry cloth or a layer of paper towels over the treated area and put a weighted object on top, then let it stand overnight. Carpet spots can penetrate to the mid and lower section of carpet fibers, so leaving the cloth to set overnight allows time for spots to “wick” to the top surface of the carpet fiber and into the cloth. This will prevent the spot from reappearing later!

Recommended Products for Common Spots and Issues

We recommend you have the following items on-hand though, for the most common commercial carpet problems:

If you have a specific stain that you don't see on our chart and don't know how to remove it, consult a Nassco carpet specialist at 800-729-6726 or ask a Nassco expert.

¹ What's the Difference Between a Spot and a Stain?, cleanlink.com