What should I do if I have a spill? Well, don’t panic, but do try to react quickly. Often, the longer you wait, the more difficult it will be to remove a spot or stain.
First, you should understand the difference between a spot and a stain. A spot is any substance that is on or in the fiber that has not bonded to it or the dyes. These are generally easy to remove. A stain, by definition, has absorbed into the fiber or the dye and this may often not be able to be completely removed or reversed. In some situations, we can still manipulate the fibers and dyes resulting in improving the appearance of the stain and often to the extent that it’s no longer visible!
If you have a spill: Immediately scoop up as much of the spill as possible using a spoon or dull knife. Then blot, do not rub, with a clean, white absorbent cloth or paper towels to remove excess moisture. Press down lightly at first, change clothes, then blot again but this time firmly to remove as much moisture as possible. Repeat until no stain is evident on cloth or towels. If the stain is either ink, nail polish or oil-based paint stop there and call us for assistance.
If you have a small portable spot cleaning machine capable of rinsing the stain, use that to rinse the area with just plain water. You can add a small amount of detergent that came with the machine if you have some and it is approved for that type of fiber you are trying to clean. If the stain remains and is acidic such as wine, coffee, tea, urine or vomit then put a sprayer into a fresh bottle of club soda and spray anywhere the stain appears to wet all fibers to the same depth as the original staining substance. Let sit for a few minutes and blot or rinse again. When completely dry, you may need to vacuum or brush the pile to restore the original texture.
Remember try not to over-wet any carpet or rug. Over-wetting can cause shrinkage, bleeding, or migration of colors in jute backings.
If you are not sure how to proceed, call Alec’s Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning and we’ll either guide you through it or send a carpet cleaning technician to your home in Boston, Wellesley, Weston, Hingham, or any place in the greater Boston area or Cape Cod to take care of the problem for you.
In an emergency and after-hours always try to contact us through e-mail at Alec@Alecscarpetcleaning.com