Correct Techniques for Removing a Carpet Stain

SAN JOSE — If you find a stain on your carpet, your first inclination might be to apply a stain removal product. However, when attempting to remove a carpet stain, it’s more important to use the correct technique—if you don’t, you may wind up doing more harm than good. Here are a few important guidelines:

Don’t apply the cleaning product directly to the carpet. This can result in discoloration. Instead, apply the cleaning product to a moist, warm towel.

Don’t overdo it. A common problem that people make when cleaning a stain is over saturating the area, either by using too much product or reapplying too many times. This can actually cause the stain to flare up rather than disappear, and it can also result in a reoccurring stain or even damage the carpet padding. In most cases, two or three squirts of a cleaning product are sufficient.

Blot, don’t rub. Whereas rubbing can actually spread a stain and cause it to become more deeply embedded, putting mild pressure on the spot will allow your towel to absorb the stain.