Stain tips
What to do straight after a spill, before you call anyone.
The basics
- Act quickly. Fresh stains are much easier to remove.
- Blot, don’t rub. Rubbing pushes the stain deeper and can damage the fibres.
- Work from the outside of the stain inwards so it doesn’t spread.
- Test anything you use on a hidden area first.
- Use as little liquid as you can. Too much can soak into the underlay.
Common stains
- Red wine
- Blot up as much as you can with a clean white cloth, then dab with cold water and blot again until no more colour lifts.
- Tea and coffee
- Blot straight away, then dab with cold water and a little washing-up liquid. Finish with plain water and blot dry.
- Muddy footprints
- Leave the mud to dry completely, then break it up and vacuum it away before treating any mark that’s left.
- Pet accidents
- Blot up as much as you can with kitchen roll and dab with cold water. Don’t use steam or hot water, as heat can set the smell.
- Grease and oil
- Sprinkle on bicarbonate of soda, leave it to soak up the grease, then vacuum and dab with a little washing-up liquid and water.
- Candle wax
- Let it harden, then gently lift off what you can. Don’t scrape hard, as this can pull at the pile.