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Cleaning oil stains off the Carpet

There are many kinds of oils that we use or come into contact with on a daily basis.  We use them to cook, in cosmetics and to help keep our cars running well.  Oils are necessary for everyday life, but they can become a nightmare if they get on your carpet.  Whether being tracked in on your shoes after working on the car or dropping a bottle of olive oil, these stains can set in fast and cause permanent stains, which makes carpet cleaning impossible.

The most important rule according to carpet cleaning Mount Eden is to start working on that stain as soon as it occurs.  Cleaning these types of stains can be very tricky, depending on the type and color of your carpet, what kind of oil was spilled and how big the stain is.  However, there are several tools that you can use to get your carpet back to its former glory, these include: absorbent cloths, paper towels, a sponge, rubbing alcohol, carpet cleaning solution and water.  In the case of motor oil, you should also have a large spoon, baking soda, a vacuum and a dry-cleaning solution.

Oil stains set in very fast so you need to start soaking up the excess oil as quickly as possible.  Paper towels are usually good enough, but if the stain is very big you might want to try newspaper, but be careful, otherwise the ink from the paper may make the stain worse.  Next, blot the stain with a small amount of rubbing alcohol on a cloth.  Be sure to test this on a small bit of hidden carpet first to make sure it doesn’t damage your carpet’s color.  Corn starch is also acceptable.  Then apply your carpet cleaning solution.  If you don’t have any you can mix a tablespoon of dishwashing liquid that doesn’t have lanolin or bleach in it, with around a quart of water.  Use the sponge to blot the stain until the stain is removed then flush the area with water and let it dry.

In the case of motor oil, carpet cleaning is more difficult.  Use the spoon to remove any excess oil, and then sprinkle baking soda heavily on the stain. Wait for at least ten minutes and then use a handheld vacuum to remove the baking soda.  Soak a cotton cloth with dry-cleaning solution and blot the stain.  Next, use a heavy-duty carpet cleaning solution or mix a similar solution as above only with an extra spoon of white vinegar.  Sponge the stain until it is gone.  Rinse the area with a damp cloth and then let it dry.

For more carpet cleaning tips, get in touch with a Mount Eden carpet cleaning service near you.