What Type Of A Cloth To Use To Absorb A Spill From A Carpet

 

We all spill things occasionally and we know we should blot up the spill as soon as possible. When it comes to spills on carpets or upholstery, there are things to consider. It just comes down to what is the best type of cloth to use to blot a spill with. Some people will use a paper towel, others may use items like a dishcloth, a sponge, or even a microfiber cloth. So which is best?

First, make sure whatever you use is clean and if it is a paper towel or paper napkin, please make sure it doesn’t have any color or print on it. It is very easy for the dye used in paper towels and napkins to transfer into the fibers of either carpets or upholstery. Remember this when you entertain a company. Leaving nice printed napkins with bright colors out will encourage them to use those on your nice white upholstery if there is a spill. Bad idea. 

Ideally, you want to use cellulose material because cellulose materials are made up of big molecules that consist of lots of tiny sugar molecules chained together. Have you ever seen how easily sugar dissolves in water? Because cellulose is made of sugar, water molecules rush into the cellulose fibers when cellulose and water meet.

When it comes to cellulose materials, you could use paper towels or cotton cloths. Since the cotton cloth is thicker than a paper towel, it has more fibers to absorb water or your liquid spill with. So, my advice is to use a white cotton cloth and blot frequently using a fresh part of the cloth. 

This is a great first step in dealing with a spill. If you would like further information on removing specific types of stains, read some of our other blogs which will give you advice on dealing with stains like red wine, blood, or pet stains just to name a few.

 

As always, please feel free to e-mail me with any specific questions you may have, at Alec@Alecscarpetcleaning.com, I will always respond to your questions.