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Having a few common cleaning products on hand, and keeping our Carpet Spot Removal Guide handy, can reduce the anxiety if spills occur.  With any spill, the first step is to remove as much of the spill as is possible before applying any cleaning product.

If liquid is spilled, blot (don’t rub!) as much liquid as possible with a white cotton cloth or white paper towels until you no longer see a transfer of the spilled substance onto the toweling.  If your carpet had a stain-resist treatment applied, this may be all you need to do.

If the spill is semi-solid, remove the majority of the spill using a spoon or other dull-edged tool. The exception would be for chewing gum or caulk, which may be more easily removed if left on the surface of the carpet nap and peeled away after it has hardened.  (We suggest avoiding doing any caulking during your holiday party.)

Build a Spot Removal Kit
To be prepared to remove spots before they can become permanent stains, a few common products will help:  dishwashing liquid (mild detergent), household ammonia, white vinegar, rubbing alcohol and a “dry” solvent are what you’ll need for your spot removal kit.

Our Spot Off carpet spotter is a great option for the mild detergent, but in a pinch you can use a few drops of dishwashing liquid in a cup of water.  Naphtha has proven to be a good choice as a general “dry” cleaning solvent; just remember that it is flammable and can damage a carpet backing if applied too freely!

To learn the spill-specific techniques you can follow This Link to the handy D. A. Burns Carpet Spot Removal Guide.  Organized by types of spill, you can scroll over the red text to show the proper recipe for your spot removal effort.

TIP:  Keep this link on your phone and you can be the spot removal hero wherever you go!

What if a spill occurs on upholstered furniture?
The basic ‘blot first’ still applies, and if the fabric was treated with a stain protectant you have a greater chance of just blotting being successful.

Spot removal from upholstery fabric is more complex than carpeting due to differences in the fibers and fiber blends used.  Be cautious about using tips from the Carpet Spot Removal Guide on upholstered furniture, as you’ll need to know if the fabric is sensitive to water or dry solvents.

We’ve found that a relatively safe product to use on many fabrics is “K2R Spot Lifter”, a dry solvent/dry powder compound that comes in an aerosol form and can be readily found in grocery and hardware stores, as well as marine supply companies.  As with anything used for cleaning, it helps to apply some solution in an inconspicuous area to determine if there will be an adverse effect before using it on a more visible area.

Furniture Cleaning Codes
The furniture manufacturer may have included fabric upholstery cleaning codes to help you determine which cleaning agents may be safely used:

W     means water-based cleaners can be used.

S    indicates the use of dry cleaning solvent only.

W/S     denotes that you can use water or solvent based products.

X     would suggest you keep the furniture in a safe place for the duration of your event, as there is little you can do after a spill occurs.

Leather upholstery also has cleaning codes:

P     is for leather that is protected (painted) and will usually allow you to wipe up a spill.

N & A     are more like the “X” rated upholstery fabric, as both can be quickly and permanently affected by a liquid spill.

Broyhill Cleaning Codes
Hopefully with these tips you can take care of most minor spills before they become permanent stains.  If earning the title “Master of Spot Removal” is not on your bucket list, call D. A. Burns at 206.782.2268.  We can do some coaching by phone or send one of our friendly, experienced technicians to the rescue.

Enjoy the holidays!