Wine, pasta, pet feces... our carpets have seen it all. When faced with a stain, it's tempting to bust out the sponge and start scrubbing. But do yourself a favor and take an extra two minutes to plan your attack, as the right strategy could mean the difference between a clean carpet and a stain that lingers forever. There are indeed different methods to best clean different types of stains (see below). But before getting to the nitty-gritty, a few universal rules apply for carpet cleaning. 1. Clean the stain ASAP. "The most important thing is to get to the stain before it has a chance to set," says Bahram Shabahang, co-founder of carpet design house Orley Shabahang. Don't let stains sit around. 2. Blot instead of scrub. Before cleaning, absorb whatever goo or gunk you can with a cloth or sponge."The goal is to pull out as much liquid as possible, to reduce the size and spread of the stain," Shabahang adds. After that, always use a dabbing motion instead of rigorously scrubbing.

3. Use as little product as possible.pool cleaning jobs az This reduces both the drying time and the risk of staining your carpet. carpet cleaning sacramento ca couponsFor most stains, it's ideal to use club soda or dish soap as a cleaning product. best home remedy for cleaning dog urine(See the guide below.)best pool cleaner for fiberglass pool Blot thoroughly with a towel after you clean, as carpet that remains damp could grow mold. carpet cleaner sydney hireYou can also use a fan or hair dryer to gently speed the process, Shabahang says.carpet cleaning prices essex

After learning the basics of carpet stain removal, we wanted to see if DIY carpet-cleaning methods actually worked. So we made some stains and let them sit for 24 hours or more ('cuz let's face it, we do NOT always address our stains right away). We used Shabahang's recommended cleaning methods, unless otherwise noted. Here's how it went: Expert says: Scrape off what you can. Mix one part soap and four parts water, and apply with a sponge. Rinse with lukewarm water.10 out of 10 stars. Expert says: Scrape off with a knife, then layer paper towels on top of the stain. Turn your iron on lowest heat, and iron the paper towels to lift the grease. Apply a mix of white vinegar, soap and lukewarm water, then rinse.10 out of 10. HuffPost Lifestyle is a daily newsletter that will make you happier and healthier — one email at a time. Expert says: Blot the stain, and rinse with club soda. If needed, brush the spot with soapy water and rinse.Better than we ever thought.

8 out of 10. For this trial, we used advice from Into the Gloss. Expert says: Dip a rag in clear-colored acetone, and use it to blot the stain.Yes, but not enough. There was plenty of nail polish on the rag but a LOT left on the carpet when we were done. 3 out of 10. Expert says: Remove what you can, then rinse with club soda. If needed, brush the spot with soapy water and rinse.The stain improved, but not enough to pass as "clean." However we did let the poop sit for 24 hours, which is not a typical scenario. 6 out of 10. We used advice from eHow. Expert says: Dampen carpet, rub with dish soap, and pat dry. Dab lingering stains with three drops of dry-cleaning solvent.Dry-cleaning solvent is hard to find in grocery stores, so we used normal makeup remover instead. While it worked great, we can't verify that our carpet fibers weren't damaged from the remover. 10 out of 10 in the visual department. Expert says: Wrap ice in a towel, and place it on the gum.

Then scrape it off.Pretty well, considering we REALLY rubbed the gum into the carpet to make the stain. The stain was fresh when we cleaned it, but it didn't totally disappear. 7 out of 10. Hplifestyle Carpet Carpet Cleaning Diy Carpet Cleaning Food Out Of CarpetTen CleaningHousehold CleaningCleaning StuffNatural CleaningCleaning IdeasRecipe CleaningCleaning SchedulesGreen CleaningHousehold CleanersForwardPaying to have your carpets cleaned can get pretty expensive, and renting a…Here's the thing about carpeting: the plush, dense fibers we love to feel underfoot are also really great at clinging to dust, dirt, smoke, pet odor, and whatever other grime comes through the door.Carolyn Forte, director of the Home Appliances and Cleaning Products lab at the Good Housekeeping Research Institute, and Dennis Blake, former chairman of the World Floor Covering Association Board, spilled their tips for lifting dinge and stink out of carpeting.1. Shop smart when you rent (or buy) a carpet-cleaning machine.

When we tested these machines in the GHRI, we learned a lot. Choose one that you're able to lift and maneuver easily, and remember to factor in the cost of cleaning solution as you're budgeting.2. "Don't clean your carpet on a humid day," warns Forte. "You don't want it to take too long to dry." Extra moisture could invite mold and mildew, so open windows when your carpet is drying.3. Before you deep clean with the machine, suck up loose dirt and debris with a thorough vacuuming. Otherwise, you might end up grinding dirt deeper in the fibers.4. Remember to spot clean. Give your carpet's dirtiest spots and spills attention first. "Pretreat the worst stains with a spotting solution," says Blake. "Let it sit for the recommended length — it will need some time to work." We recommend the pretreaters by Bissell.If your pets are accident prone, be sure to use a pretreating solution with enzymes (check the packaging), advises Forte. "Pets tend make messes in the same areas," she says.