News

How to Get BBQ Out of Your Carpet

The summer is in full swing, and all of us at Sloane’s Carpet Secret are loving it! We get to spend so much time outside, enjoying each other’s company and eating great food. It all feels so carefree until your feast turns into a carpet stain. Never fear: we have all kinds of tips for you this month for picnic stain removal!

Ketchup / Barbecue Sauce / General Condiment Stains

It might seem like removing condiments from your carpet would be nearly impossible, but luckily it is fairly easy to do. The earlier you catch the stain the better because if given time to set, it will be more difficult to remove. You will need a knife, a white cloth, a tablespoon of dish soap and cold water.

1. Use the knife to scrape up any excess condiment that is sitting on the carpet.
2. Mix the dish soap with 2 cups of cool water, and soak your white cloth in the solution.
3. Use your white cloth to blot the stain—NEVER RUB—and keep blotting until the stain is gone. You may need to grab a new cloth and repeat this process depending on how set the stain is.
4. Rinse the area with more cold water to remove the soap and blot dry.

Soda

Chances are, if you are having friends over for a picnic or even just bringing the family together, the kids and the non-imbibing adults will enjoy a soda or two. When these sodas inevitably end up on the carpet, follow the tips below to remove the stain. You will need several cloths, warm water, dish soap and white vinegar.

1. Use a cloth (or a paper towel works fine, too) to blot as much of the stain as possible. What have we learned? Yes: never rub!
2. Mix a tablespoon of soap and a tablespoon of white vinegar with 2 cups of warm water.
3. Grab another cloth or paper towel, and use it to sponge the stain a little bit at a time while blotting with a dry cloth.
4. When the stain is gone, apply cold water to the area and blot dry.

Wine

Wine stains are the homeowner’s nemesis. Luckily if you catch the stain early, removing it is easier than it seems. First, try the steps we laid out above for soda. If that does not remove the stain, follow the directions below. You will need dish soap, hydrogen peroxide and two cloths.

1. Mix one part dish soap to two parts hydrogen peroxide. You know the size of your stain, so mix accordingly.
2. Use one cloth to sponge the solution onto the stain and the other cloth to blot dry.
3. Rinse the area very well with cool water—you really do not want leftover hydrogen peroxide hanging out in your carpet!

You may have other picnic-related stains pop up in your life this summer, and the best advice we can offer is to work on removal as early as possible and practice your blotting. If you notice a stain and do not have soap or other cleaning agents on hand, start with warm water. It is better than nothing and will at least begin the stain removal process!

How to Use This Information

Here at Sloane’s Carpet Secret, we are always on the lookout for the best carpet cleaning tips for you. However, sometimes the stains can add up and your carpet will need to be replaced. Whenever you are in the market for new carpet, Sloane’s has the best styles and deals in town. Call us at (303) 300-9555 or contact us online!