Don't panic, but get right to the spill! No matter how careful you and your family may be, spills on your new carpet are likely to happen. If you treat these spots and stains immediately, they'll be easier to remove. Some stains can become permanent if allowed to stand even a few hours. Ordinary household materials will usually get the job done. For more difficult spots and stains, always consult with a professional cleaner.
If the spill is thick, remove as much as possible with a spoon or knife blade. With white paper towels or a clean white towel, try to absorb as much of the spill as possible. Continue blotting until no additional spot shows on the towel. DO NOT RUB.
If a spot or stain remains after blotting, treat with one of the procedures from the Table below. Use a clean white towel and always apply the cleaning material to the towel. Avoid rubbing. Wipe the cleaning material onto the spot in single direction strokes. Blot the spill area between each cleaning agent.
The codes in the Table below indicate the cleaning agents or mixture and indicates the order in which the cleaning agent is used.
Spot &
Stain Removal Guide
Stains and sequence of cleaning agents
| Type of spot or stain | Cleaning formula | Type of spot or stain | Cleaning formula | |
| Airplane Cement | A,E,F | Iodine Tincture 2% | A,C,H,F | |
| Animal Glue | F,A,F | Iron Rust | Vacuum, D,F | |
| Ballpoint Ink | C,B,C,E,D | Latex Paint | A,G,F,B,C | |
| Beer | A,H,F, or I | Linseed Oil | C,I | |
| Butter | C,A,H,F |
Lipstick |
B,C,A,G,H,F | |
| Blood | A,G,A,F,D | Liquor | A,H | |
| Calamine Lotion | A,F | Mayonnaise | C,A,H,F | |
| Carbon Black | Vacuum,C,A,F | Merthiolate | A,G,H,F | |
| Chocolate | C,A | Metal Polish | C | |
| Chocolate Milk | A,G,H,A,F | Milk | A,G,H,F,A,F,C | |
| Catsup | A,G,A,F | Mustard | A,H,A,D | |
| Chewing Gum | Ice Cubes, C | Nail Polish | C,B,E,A,G,H,F | |
| Clay | Vacuum, C,A,F | Oil, Car | C,B,A,G,H,F, or I | |
| Cola | A,G,H,F, or I | Oil Paint | C,B,C,A,G,F | |
| Coffee | A,F, or I | Oil, Salad | C,A,H,F | |
| Coffee, C&S | A,H,A,F | Pepto Bismol | C,A,F | |
| Coffee, Instant,C&S | A,H,A,F | Permanent Ink | C,B,C,A,G,F | |
| Colored Paper | C,B,A,F | Rouge | C,B,A,F | |
| Crayon | C,B,C,A,F | Rubber Cement | C,B,C,A,F | |
| Duco Cement | C.E.F | Shoe Dye | C,B,C,A,F | |
| Egg | A,G,A,F, or I | Shoe Polish, Liquid | C,B,C,A,G,F | |
| Excrement | Remove Solids A,H,A,G,F |
Shoe Polish, Wax | C,B,C,A,G,F | |
| Food Dye | A,G,F | Soot | Vacuum, A | |
| Food Stains | Remove Solids C,A |
Syrup | A | |
| Fruit Juice | A,G,H,F | Tar | C,B,A,F, or I | |
| Furniture Dye | C,B,C,A,F | Tea | A | |
| Furniture Polish | C,B,C,A,F | Toothpaste | A | |
| Gelatin | A | Urine | A,G,H,F,D | |
| Grape Drink | A,G,H,F | Vaseline | C | |
| Grass | C,A, | Washable Ink | A,F,G,F | |
| Gravy | A,G,H,A,F, or I | Water Colors | A,F,G,F | |
| Grease, Car | C,B,A,F, or I | Wax (candles) | C,B,C | |
| Ice Cream | A,G,H,A,F,C, or I | Wine | A,H |
The codes in the Table above indicate the cleaning agents or mixture and indicates the order in which the cleaning agent is used.
Cleaning Formulas
A - One teaspoon of clothes washing detergent to one cup of warm water.
B - Paint remover with no oil in it.
C - Dry cleaning fluid.
D - Rust remover.
E - Acetone or fingernail polish remover (with no oil in it)
F - Water
G - One tablespoon of clear household ammonia to one-half cup of water
H - One-third cup of white vinegar to two-thirds cup of water
I - HOST dry compound cleaner