Holiday Floor & Wall Stain Removal

Spills are bound to happen in your home this holiday season, whether you’re entertaining guests or have a house full of toddlers. As with all stains, the best way to remove a stain from any type of flooring is to first know what caused it. This guide contains some of the most popular holiday food stains that could occur this year and how to remove them from your flooring and walls.

• Grease (Butter, Oil, Mayo): For grease stains on the carpet, use a dry solvent to treat the stained area, then rinse with isopropyl alcohol. Allow time for the garment to dry. Spray the remaining residue with diluted dishwashing soap, then soak the carpet in an enzyme detergent before machine washing. To remove grease from your walls, King of Prussia, PA painters recommend using 1/4 teaspoon of dish soap mixed with warm water to wipe the area.
• Fruit/Vegetable Juice: Remove sugars from the rug by spraying the area with diluted dish soap. To remove any remaining color, use an eyedropper to flush the stain with white vinegar and/or hydrogen peroxide. Finally, soak the area in an enzyme detergent prior to machine washing. For walls, use a cleaning solution and sponge to gently wipe the area – test an inconspicuous area first to avoid removing paint.
• Red Wine: Spray diluted dish soap onto the stain and use a soft-bristle brush to tamp the area. Be sure to brush softly to avoid pilling the carpet. Then, apply white vinegar and tamp again. After a few minutes, rinse the area with water. If the stain persists, try using hydrogen peroxide or ammonia, then treat with an enzyme detergent. To clean wine from your walls, use the same method you would for juice.
• White Wine: Unlike red wine, white wine is much easier to remove. Flush the area with cold water, then use a diluted dish soap solution to treat the rug. Follow up with a soak in an enzyme detergent. To clean wine from your walls, use the same method you would for red wine or juice.
• Coffee/Tea: Remove the stain by using an eyedropper to flush the area with lemon juice or white vinegar. If there was sugar or milk in the beverage, treat with a diluted dish detergent and then an enzyme detergent, then use a damp cloth to help remove any residue. To clean wine from your walls, use the same method you would juice or wine.
• Mustard: Remove excess mustard from the rug, dabbing to prevent spreading the stain. Use vinegar to flush the stain, then blot carefully with a diluted dish soap solution. Ammonia and cold water work best to remove mustard from walls.

Keep your home merry, clean, and bright this holiday season with these stain removal tips! This post brought to you by Clark Team Designs,  a group of Carmel interior decorators.