Modern carpeting is designed to resist stains, so you can usually remove them if you use the right method. Refer to these tips, and remember: the sooner you get to a stain, the easier it will be to remove.
1. Chewing gum
Freeze with ice cubes in a plastic bag; then scrape off with a butter knife and blot with trichloroethylene (dry-cleaning fluid, available at drug and hardware stores).
2. Animal Urine
Immediately blot up excess with paper towels; soak with club soda; blot again; scrub with diluted carpet shampoo.
3. Coffee, Beer, Milk
Blot up excess with paper towels, scrub with diluted carpet shampoo; cover with paper towels and weigh down for 2 to 3 hours.
4. Fruit Juices, Soft Drinks
Blot up excess; sponge with a solution of 1 teaspoon of powdered laundry detergent and 1 teaspoon of white vinegar dissolved in 1 quart (1 liter) of warm water.
5. Blood
If fresh, blot up with cold water (not hot). If dried, cover with equal parts cold water and meat tenderizer. Let stand for 30 minutes. Sponge off with cold water.
6. Grease, Oil, Lipstick, Butter
Blot up excess with paper towels; sponge with dry-cleaning fluid; work from edges to center.
7. Shoe Polish, Ink, Dry Paint
Dab with paint remover; if that fails, use dry-cleaning fluid.
8. Wax
Scrape off as much as possible; then place a brown paper bag over the area and run a warm iron over it. The bag will act as a blotter and absorb the wax.
