You know the ones… those unsightly stains that just won’t seem to budge! The key is acting quickly; however sometimes a spill goes unnoticed making the stain much harder to remove. Whether it is an old stain you need to remove, or a particularly troublesome new one, these tips and tricks should help.

If it is a new stain, first blot away the excess liquid with a clean, dry cloth. Never rub as this will only push the stain deeper into the carpet.

For the majority of stains, including old stains, combine ¾ cup of white vinegar with ¼ cup warm water in a spray bottle. Spray the stain and let it sit for five to ten minutes. With a dry cloth, blot the vinegar and repeat this process until the stain has lifted. Once the cloth is saturated, switch to a clean, dry cloth.

If the stain is particularly troublesome, such as wine, blood or animal urine, try using a solution of 1 tbsp of ammonia with 1 cup of warm water instead, following the same process of spraying, letting sit and blotting until the stain is removed. (NOTE: don’t use ammonia on woollen carpet).

These are simple, yet effective DIY solutions that can be made at home. There are a lot of specialised products out there that can also work quite well. There are also some occasions where these products and home solutions just aren’t enough and that is when you are best to call a professional carpet cleaning company.