If any spillage occurs, the quicker it is treated and removed, the easier and better the result.

   Stains fall into two categories: oil based and water based. Water based stains can be tackled with a detergent while oil based stains should be cleaned using a solvent. As an alternative to detergent and solvent, you can use proper carpet stain removal chemicals, widely availalable from a variety of outlets.

   Do's and do not's:

• Do not rub - blot wet spillages with a cloth, sponge or paper towel
• Do not spread the stain - work your way from the edged of the stain towards the inside of the affected area, not the other way around
• Scoop solid materials with a spoon, spatula or a blunt knife
• Always try the cleaning materials and method on a less visible piece of carpet to check the colour fastness of the carpet
• When no more stain is being transferred to the onto the cleaning cloth, stop trying to clean it, apply clean water to the stained area to remove the detergent and blot to remove excess moisture
• After cleaning the stain, apply a wad of tissues over the it, weighted by some books or any other heavy object. Place some plastic foil between the object and the tissues to stop the transfer of colours between the heavy object and the carpet

   To clean a stain you could use a variety of tools and things that you can usually find around the house like: spatula, spoon, pieces of cloth, sponges or paper kitchen towels.

   It is a good idea to make sure you have a cleaning kit in the house. A cleaning kit should include:

• Detergent - a crystalising carpet detergent will avoid resoilig caused by any detergent residue left in the carpet. Should be used in a solution of two tablespoons per litre of water 
• Ammonia - clear household ammonia used in solution of two tablespoons to a litre of water
• Vinegar - white vinegar used in a solution of two tablespoonfuls per litre of water
• Solvent - dry cleaning solvent or spot remover
• Blotting material - clean white cloth or white paper towels without printing

• Asphalt - Solvent > blot > detergent > blot > warm water > blot
• Beer - Detergent > blot > white vinegar > detergent > blot > water > blot
• Berries - Detergent > blot > white vinegar > detergent > blot > water > blot
• Blood - Detergent > blot > vinegar > blot > ammonia > blot > detergent > blot > water > blot
• Butter/Margarine - Solvent > blot > detergent > blot > water > blot
• Cheese - Detergent > blot > ammonia > blot > detergent > blot > water > blot
• Chewing Gum - Freeze with ice cubes > shatter with blunt object > vacuum > solvent > wait several minutes >blot > repeat if necessary
• Chocolate - Detergent > blot > ammonia > blot > detergent > blot > water > blot
• Coffee - Detergent > blot > white vinegar > detergent > blot > water > blot
• Cooking oil - Solvent > blot > detergent > blot > water > blot
• Cough Syrup - Detergent > blot > ammonia > blot > white vinegar > blot > water > blot
• Crayons - Solvent > blot > detergent > blot > water > blot
• Curry - Use cold ingredients! - Detergent > blot > ammonia > blot > detergent > blot > water > blot
• Dye - Use cold ingredients! - Detergent > blot > ammonia > blot > detergent > blot > water > blot
• Egg - Detergent > blot > ammonia > blot > detergent > blot > water > blot
• Excrements - Detergent > blot > ammonia > blot > detergent > blot > water > blot
• Foundation cream - Solvent > blot > detergent > blot > water > blot
• Fruit Juice - Detergent > blot > white vinegar > detergent > blot > water > blot
• Furniture stain - Denatured alcohol > blot > repeat if necessary call a carpet cleaning professional
• Garden soil - Detergent > blot > ammonia > blot > detergent > blot > water > blot
• Gravy and other culinary sauces - Solvent > blot > detergent > blot > water > blot
• Hair oil - Solvent > blot > detergent > blot > water > blot
• Hair spray - Solvent > blot > detergent > blot > water > blot
• Hand lotion - Solvent > blot > detergent > blot > water > blot
• Ice cream - Detergent > blot > ammonia > blot > detergent > blot > water > blot
• Ink (ball point pen) - Solvent > blot > detergent > blot > water > blot
• Ink (felt-tip marker) - Solvent > blot > detergent > blot > water > blot
• Ink (fountain pen) - Detergent > blot > white vinegar > blot > ammonia > blot > water > blot
• Ink (permanent) - Detergent > blot > ammonia > blot > white vinegar > blot > water > blot
• Ketchup - Detergent > blot > ammonia > blot > detergent > blot > water > blot
• Lard - Solvent > blot > detergent > blot > water > blot
• Linseed oil - Solvent > blot > detergent > blot > water > blot
• Machine oil - Solvent > blot > detergent > blot > water > blot
• Mascara - Solvent > blot > detergent > blot > water > blot
• Mayonnaise - Detergent > blot > ammonia > blot > detergent > blot > water > blot
• Milk - Detergent > blot > ammonia > blot > detergent > blot > water > blot
• Mixed drinks - Detergent > blot > white vinegar > detergent > blot > water > blot
• Nail varnish - Solvent > blot > detergent > blot > water > blot
• Paint (latex) - Solvent > blot > detergent > blot > water > blot
• Rust - Use cold ingredients! - Detergent > blot > ammonia > blot > detergent > blot > water > blot
• Salad dressing - Solvent > blot > detergent > blot > water > blot
• Shoe polish (liquid) - Detergent > blot > vinegar > blot > ammonia > blot > detergent > blot > water > blot
• Shoe polish (paste) - Solvent > blot > detergent > blot > water > blot
• Soft drinks - Detergent > blot > white vinegar > detergent > blot > water > blot
• Solder - Detergent > blot > vinegar > blot > ammonia > blot > detergent > blot > water > blot
• Soya sauce - Detergent > blot > ammonia > blot > detergent > blot > water > blot
• Starch - Detergent > blot > ammonia > blot > detergent > blot > water > blot
• Sweets - Detergent > blot > white vinegar > detergent > blot > water > blot
• Tar, soot - Solvent > blot > detergent > blot > water > blot
• Tea - Detergent > blot > white vinegar > detergent > blot > water > blot
• Toothpaste - Detergent > blot > ammonia > blot > detergent > blot > water > blot
• Typewriter ribbon - Solvent > blot > detergent > blot > water > blot
• Urine - Blot > water > blot > ammonia > detergent > blot > water > blot
• Varnish - Solvent > detergent > blot > water > blot
• Vomit - Detergent > blot > ammonia > blot > white vinegar > blot > water > blot
• Wax (candle) - Freeze with ice cubes > shatter with blunt object > vacuum > solvent > wait several minutes >blot > repeat if necessary
• Wax (paste) - Solvent > blot > detergent > blot > water > blot
• White glue - Detergent > blot > ammonia > blot > detergent > blot > water > blot

• Wine - Detergent > blot > white vinegar > detergent > blot > water > blot

Please note that the cleaning methods and solutions described on this page are only meant as a guide . For optimum results, always use a qualified carpet cleaning service. Ashburn Carpets cannot be held responsible for any damage you may cause to your carpet should you choose to follow the cleaning methods described on this page.