A Comfortable Stay

Posted on: 21 March 2016

Easter can be a fun time for children. Unfortunately, it can also be messy. These messes can lead to carpet stains if the mess is not properly cleaned as soon as it occurs. Here are a few items that may be spilled on your carpeting during the festivities and the ways you can go about attempting to lift and remove the stain.

Easter Egg Dye

Easter egg dye can transform a plain white egg into a colorful one. Unfortunately, it can also transform the color of your carpet if the dye is spilled or dye drips onto the carpet. The sooner you notice and attempt to remove the dye, the more likely it is that you will be able to remove it. Follow these steps to attempt to remove Easter egg dye from your carpet:

1. Add 1/4 teaspoon of liquid dish soap with one cup of warm water.
2. Dip a clean white cloth or paper towel in the soapy water. Blot at the stain. Do not rub as this can spread the dye. Rinse your cloth as needed. Continue blotting until the dye is removed or no longer lifts.
3. Dampen a new cloth and dab at the spot to remove soap residue. It is important to do a thorough job as soap may attract dust and dirt that can make that spot on the carpet look dirty.
4. If the dye hasn't lifted, mix one tablespoon of ammonia with one cup of warm water.
5. Dip a white cloth or paper towel in the mixture. Dab at an inconspicuous area of your carpet. If the cloth is turning the color of your carpet, the dye from your carpet is bleeding due to the ammonia and you cannot use this removal method as it will cause permanent discoloration. If you do not notice a transfer to the cloth, proceed to dab at the affected area of your carpet to remove the stain. Continue dabbing at the Easter egg dye spot until the spot has lifted.
6. Dampen a new cloth or paper towel in cool water and lightly blot the affected area to remove any ammonia residue.
7. Allow the carpet to air dry before walking across it.

Chocolate

If your child received a chocolate bunny for Easter, they may enjoy eating it. However, in their excitement they may drop some chocolate on the carpet that melts, or even wipe their chocolate-covered hands on your carpet, leaving a spot behind. Follow these directions to remove chocolate from your carpet:

1. Use a butter knife to gently scrape away any clumps of dried chocolate that you can. Vacuum the area to remove any flakes before you proceed to the next step.
2. Place a couple of paper towels directly over the chocolate spot.
3. Turn your iron on to the lowest non-steam setting. Move the iron slowly over the paper towels without pressing too firmly. As the iron runs over the carpet, it will melt the chocolate, causing it to stick to the paper towels. Repeat this process until you have removed all of the chocolate or you can't lift anymore. 
4. If any chocolate remains, dab at the area with your preferred household carpet cleaner or a mixture of 1/4 teaspoon liquid dish soap and one cup of water. Blot at the affected area to get the stain to lift.

Bunny Urine

If your child has been asking for a bunny rabbit, you might purchase them one for Easter. However, in all of the excitement, your child may let the bunny out of his cage and he may urinate on your carpet. Here are the steps you should follow to remove bunny urine from your carpeting:

1. Lay a towel or paper towels over the spot and press downward to lift as much of the liquid up as you can.
2. Add full strength white vinegar to a spray bottle. Spray the affected area. The vinegar helps to lift the stain and neutralize the smell. Allow the vinegar to sit for a couple of minutes.
3. Lay another towel, rag, cloth or paper towel over the affected area and press downward to soak up the vinegar.
4. Dampen a cloth or sponge with room temperature water and blot at the stain. This removes any lingering bunny urine and vinegar.
5. Lay another towel or cloth over the area and press downward to lift any remaining moisture.
6. Repeat these steps as needed to remove the stain or smell.

If you notice Easter egg dye, chocolate or bunny urine on your carpet during Easter, you will want to work quickly to remove it. However, despite your best efforts, you may be unable to remove every stain on your own. If the stain will not lift, a professional carpet cleaner, such as those at 5 Star Carpet Cleaning, can help to remove deep and set in stains, making your carpet look spot-free once again.