With Halloween fast approaching, many have begun engaging in traditional events and activities. For some, a favorite tradition is sitting in front of the TV and while watching their favorite Halloween movies, they carve their pumpkin(s). However the most frightening part of these activities is the accidental pumpkin stains. While the kids are watching out for those spooky characters, you’re probably watching out for the unavoidable messes. Salt Lake Carpet Care is here to help you deal with your worst fears and walk you through the steps of how to remove pumpkin stain out of your carpets.
What Removes Pumpkin Carpet Stains?
There are three different cleaning mixtures that can be used to clean the stain. Salt Lake Carpet Care will first break down each cleaning mixture followed by step by step directions on how you should clean pumpkin stains and restore your carpets.
Dish Soap – Mix together ¼ teaspoon of liquid dish soap with 1 cup of warm water into a bowl. Don’t substitute dish soap with laundry detergent. Laundry soap isn’t designed to care for or clean carpet. They are made up of two very different compositions.
Vinegar – For this cleaning mixture, combine 1 cup of vinegar with either white wine or apple cider vinegar with 2 cups of cold water. You probably won’t use the entire mixture. However you can use this cleaner in a spray bottle and store for later use. Diluted vinegar is a great multi-purpose cleaner that can be used anywhere inside your home.
Ammonia – Mix either in a bowl or spray bottle, 1 tablespoon of ammonia with one cup of water. Ammonia does a wonderful job cleaning stains out of carpet and can clean just about any stain. However as it does a great job cleaning, one should also be cautious. Be aware that ammonia can remove the dye from certain carpets, so make sure to test the mixture in a discrete area first. Additionally for those with indoor pets–namely dogs or cats–the ammonia can encourage pets to urinate on the ammonia.
Rinses – After cleaning with the mixture of choice, you will want to rinse the area out afterwards. When rinsing, always use warm water. Don’t try to get fancy and add laundry rinse.
How to Clean Pumpkin Stains on Carpeting
• When the stain is first discovered, remove any of the pumpkin pit or chunks off of your carpet. If the pit dried onto the carpet use a butter knife to scrape it off.
• With the stain cleared away of all chunks from the pumpkin, apply your preferred cleaning mixture on the stain. If you’re using a spray bottle, spray down the entire stain and blot at the stain. If you’re using a bowl technique, then dab a cloth into the mixture and blot at the stain.
• When you blot at the stain, start on the outside edges of the stain and work your way inward. Continue to blot and re-apply the mixture until the stain is gone.
• After the stain has dissolved away, make sure to rinse the area with water. Once the carpet has had time to dry, vacuum the area to help restore the carpet fibers. In some cases, the carpet can lay a little flat after cleaning up stains.
Carpet, Rug and Upholstery Cleaning, Protection & Stain Removal in Salt Lake City, Herriman, West Jordan, Murray & Sandy Utah
If you need help cleaning your carpets, rugs, upholstery, or even your hard surface floors, contact Salt Lake Carpet Care and schedule one of our many services today.
