We are in the fall season now. The leaves have started changing color, the weather is getting cooler, and our children have begun choosing this year's Halloween costume! The kiddos are off to school and now is a great time to have your carpets cleaned and sanitized from all the Summer traffic that occurred these past few months. The next few months are going to be crazy busy with all the holiday planning and entertaining that will be going on. So why not plan ahead and get your carpets steam cleaned before the chaos ensues? In light of the upcoming holiday, many households will have kids digging into their Halloween candy bowls, and this means that some of the candy might not end up just in our kids' mouths, but on our carpets too! Nobody wants to clean caramel candies or chocolate off their freshly cleaned floors, but never fear! Ameribest Carpet Cleaning has the tricks of the trade to make this experience a little less stressful for you!
Like any carpet stains, acting quickly will give you the best results for stain removal. With children, nothing is guaranteed, you may not find it until the next day which will make the stain a bit harder to remove. To start, you will need; a butter knife or other dull knife, a vacuum cleaner, paper towels or white rag, and a clothes iron.
Step 1: If the chocolate is dried, use a dull knife to scrape the chunks off. Get as much as you can.
Step 2: After you've removed as much of the dried chocolate as possible, vacuum directly over the stain to remove any chunks or flakes that are left lingering.
Step 3: Cover the stain with your paper towels or white rag.
Step 4: Grab your iron, on the lowest non-steam setting, gently move the iron over your paper towels or rag slowly and smoothly. This should make the chocolate stick to the rag.
Step 5: You may need to repeat steps 1-4 a few times until the stain is gone to your liking.
Step 6: If any dark spots still remain, you may use a carpet cleaning solution by following the manufacturers recommended instructions to remove the remaining stain.
You will need a clean white cloth, a plastic spray bottle, a dull knife, liquid hand soap, warm water and possibly white vinegar.
Step 1: Using a dull knife or your fingers, remove any chunks of candy that are still on the carpet, if the candy is stuck hard onto the carpet, soak it in a bit of cold water to loosen the candy then dispose of them into a trash can to avoid any extra stains. (If it’s a caramel candy you can use a cotton ball that has been soaked in rubbing alcohol to lift the candy)
Step 2: Mix ¼ teaspoon of liquid hand soap and a cup of warm water inside a plastic spray bottle and apply the cleaning solution to the affected area. (Most dish detergents use bleaching agents, avoid using this when possible to avoid discoloring your carpets)
Step 3: Use a clean white cloth to blot the stain working from the outside inwards, be sure to use a clean part of the cloth with each pass to avoid reintroducing the stain back to carpet.
Step 4: If the stain is still visible, get another clean cloth and blot the stain with white vinegar.
Step 5: Now you will want to remove any lingering cleaning solution by rinsing the affected area with clean water, followed by blotting the stain with a dry cloth to dry the affected area.
If the stains are still visible after all attempts to clean them, call Ameribest Carpet Cleaning. You will benefit from a professional steam clean! We want to wish you a safe, and happy Halloween! Contact us for all your pre-party and after party floor and upholstery cleaning.