How to Remove Spots From Carpet Just Like a Professional Carpet Cleaner
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In this post, I'll show you how to remove virtually any kind of spot from carpet.
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This method is derived from a technique that I use as a professional carpet cleaner. I've simply adapted it and simplified it so that anyone can use it.
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This simple technique will work on virtually any type of spot - red wine, pet urine, coffee, grease, oil, juice, pasta sauce, Nutella, beer, shoe polish, makeup, mud, feces, and much more.
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SKIP TO:
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Homemade Carpet Spotter Recipe
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The most important item that we need to remove spots from carpet is a cleaning solution, known as a spotter.
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A spotter will break up and lift the contaminants away from the carpet fibers allowing contaminants to be easily removed from the carpet.
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I'll show you my homemade spotter recipe that I call DIY Spotter. DIY Spotter is cheap, easy to make, and works like magic!
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This homemade spotter contains 3 ingredients: water, dawn dish soap, and isopropyl alcohol.
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Dish soap is an exceptional all purpose cleaner that can clean virtually any surface. One end of a soap molecule is attracted to water, the other is attracted to soils, oils, and grease. This means that soap will surround the contaminants and suspend them in the spotter solution, allowing them to be easily removed from the carpet.
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Isopropyl alcohol is a degreaser - it dissolves and suspends grease, oils, and other petroleum products in the spotter solution, allowing the contaminants to be easily dislodged from the surface of the carpet.
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DIY Spotter has a long shelf life and will last many years, provided it is stored in a closed container. Give DIY Spotter a gentle stir or shake every time before using it!
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DIY Spotter Recipe:
1 cup of water
2 cups of 70% isopropyl alcohol
1 tsp dawn dish soap
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YOU WILL NEED:
1) 2 Spray Bottles (USA, UK, CAN)
3) 70% Isopropyl Alcohol (USA, UK, CAN)
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Using a Mini Extractor
There is no question that professional carpet cleaners have significantly better and more powerful equipment than your everyday do-it-yourselfer.
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Professional cleaners are typically using powerful truck mount vacuums that can suck spots, stains, or contaminants out of the carpets they clean.
There is a simple way this technique can be copied on a small scale, simply by using a mini wet/dry vacuum, or a mini portable carpet cleaning machine.
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Most do-it-youselfers use a store bought spotter and a cloth to remove spots from carpet. This method ends up pushing a lot of the contaminants downwards and into the carpet backing or carpet underlay.
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The suction power from a mini wet/dry vacuum will help work against gravity to lift/flush the contaminants up and out of the carpet.
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YOU WILL NEED:
1) Mini Wet/Dry Vacuum (USA, UK, CAN)
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2) Mini Extractor (USA, UK, CAN)
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Remove Spots From Carpet (Step-By-Step Guide)
Step 1 - Make the DIY Spotter Solution - Fill an empty spray bottle with 1 teaspoon of liquid dish soap, 2 cups (16 oz) of 70% isopropyl alcohol, and 1 cup (8 oz) of water.
Spray the DIY Spotter Solution liberally around the stained area.
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Step 2 - If using a mini wet/dry vacuum, or a mini extractor, use the vacuum to suck the spots and cleaning solution out of the carpet.
If using a mini extractor, fill the solution tank with water only, then use the mini extractor to flush and rinse the cleaning solution and spots out of the carpet.
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Repeat steps one and two until the spots have fully come out of the carpet. For difficult spots, use a brush or the end of the vacuum nozzle to agitate the stained area.
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Step 3 - Once the spots have been removed, it is important to rinse the DIY Spotter Solution from of the carpet with water.
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If using a mini wet/dry vacuum, using a spray bottle filled with water, spray the affected areas with water, then use the wet dry vacuum to suck the water out of the carpet. one or two rinses should remove enough to remove all the soap residue.
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If using a mini extractor, further rinsing with water is not required, as the solution tank is filled with water.
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Step 4 - The final step is to dry the carpet. To accelerate the drying time, a dry white towel can be used to absorb any excess moisture from the carpet. Using your whole body will help absorb as much water as possible.
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Step 5 - Here is the final result. For a complete demo, check out the video instructions below.
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Remove Practically Any Spot From Carpet Video Instructions
This video will demonstrate how to remove spots from carpet just like a professional carpet cleaner. ​
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