Scrape up excess ketchup:
Take action as soon as possible after the spillage. The longer you leave a stain the tougher it will be to remove. Remove as much ketchup as you can using the blunt edge of the knife. Be gentle so as not to damage the carpet fibers.
Check Carpet type:
Different carpets react to stain removal techniques in different ways.
Using the wrong removal method could cause the stain to become permanent or leave a worse mark than the stain itself. Carpets made of natural materials such as grass, sisal or wool can be severely damaged by liquid treatments. If you are in any doubt as to your carpet's suitability contact a professional carpet cleaner.
Before applying any solution to your carpet, you should always do a patch test. Choose an out of the way area of the carpet and apply a small amount. Wait a few minutes to ensure that problems don't develop. If your carpet starts to go brown or lighter in colour, immediately rinse the solution with cold water. Do not continue and call a professional.
Carpet Cleaning products:
There are many good carpet cleaning products on the market but experts tend to be wary of using them. They're not stain specific and may include ingredients which are not applicable to your stain and could do more harm that good.
If it has dried:
Scrape up as much as possible with an knife. Then soften it with some lukewarm water before continuing.
Prepare the solution:
Make sure your rubber gloves are on. Take a quarter of a teaspoon of mild carpet shampoo or colourless detergent. Add it to a litre of cold water. Do not use hot water as it will set the stain
Apply the solution:
Do a quick patch test. If it's safe to continue, dampen the whole cloth in the solution and lay it over the stain.
Massage the stain:
Use the bottom of the spoon to work the liquid into the carpet without damaging the fibers. Work from the outside in to prevent the stain from spreading.
Rinse:
To finish, spray with clean water to rinse the carpet. If you don't have a spray bottle to hand, apply warm water to a sponge and gently dab it on the stain. Spray the patch with warm water. If you don't have a spray bottle to hand, apply the warm water with a sponge and gently dab it on the stain.
Dry:
To completely dry the carpet and get rid of any final remaining stains, stack a few pieces of kitchen towel over the stain. Cover with a heavy weight, like a book. If the weight is coloured or porous, put a plastic bag between it and the kitchen towel. This will protect the weight and prevent its dye from leaking into the carpet.
Wait:
Leave the weight on the stain for a few hours, ideally overnight. Then remove the weight and kitchen towel. The stain should now be completely gone. |
