How to Remove a Juice Stain from Carpeting

Be sure to take immediate action, as the longer a stain is left to dry, the deeper it becomes ingrained in the carpet fibers.

Juice spills are a common household carpet stain that are notoriously difficult to remove. Ideally, juices would not be consumed over carpeting. Still, sometimes it cannot be avoided, whether there is carpeting in the kitchen or dining room, or the convenience of consuming juice in the living room is too tempting. Luckily, though juice stains are tough, removing them without professional help is possible. The following tips help prepare any homeowner for a juice spill on carpeting.

Wet juice spill

Be sure to take immediate action, as the longer a stain is left to dry, the deeper it becomes ingrained in the carpet fibers. A wet cleaning vacuum is ideal, but paper towels also work well. Use paper towels to soak up the juice spilled from the carpet completely. Once the stain has been removed with a vacuum cleaner or paper towels, pour cold water onto the stain to help absorb any remaining juice particles; avoid using hot water, which causes the stain to settle deeper. While pouring cold water, continuously remove the diluted juice with paper towels or a wet cleaning vacuum.

Repeat until nothing comes out of the carpet and the juice stain completely disappears. Then, cover the stained area with salt and let it sit overnight, as salt helps to absorb any color left behind by the juice. Once the area is dry, use a regular vacuum to clean up the salt. If the stain remains after this process, consider the following tips for a dried spill.

Dry juice spill

A dried stain is more difficult to remove, but, fortunately, not impossible. The most important factors are the carpet and stain conditions. Since the acidity of juice stains ranges from 3 to 4 on the pH scale, an alkaline cleaner is the best way to remove this spill. Vinegar is an affordable and accessible alkaline cleaner, so keeping this product on hand is advisable.

Ammonia is another product with a high success rate at removing dry juice stains. Mix eight parts of water and one part of ammonia to create a solution. Soak a white rag in the ammonia-water solution and use it to blot the stain; do not use a rag with any color, as the dye could rub off onto the carpet.

With either vinegar or ammonia, be careful to blot and not rub the stain, or it could damage the carpet fibers. Also, do not pour the solution directly into the carpet, as too much dampness could overwhelm and damage the carpet fibers. Blot the stains with a soaked white rag until the stain is completely gone.

If there is still a stain after applying the ammonia solution, mix one-part baking soda with three parts water, then gently work the paste into the stain until completely covered. Once dried, vacuum the baking soda paste to eliminate any colors that are left behind. Repeat the process until the colors are entirely removed. Then, use cold water to rinse the area and absorb the water with paper towels or a wet cleaning vacuum. Repeat this process until the cleaning solution is completely removed. Let the spot dry completely, and then vacuum the carpet thoroughly.

Call a professional

If these home remedies do not work, call a professional. Some stains are too harsh for novice care, and it’s best to consult expert care to avoid permanent damage to the carpet. Though expert care comes at a cost, it’s sure to be cheaper than replacing the carpet.

Do not wait until a juice stain has already happened to try to learn how to remove it. Owners of homes with carpeting should keep these tips in mind so they’re ready to take action before a juice stain can set in.

3D Carpet Cleaning and Restoration offers home service cleaning and sanitation, air duct cleaning, and 24-hour flood service in Tampa & South Florida. Call (813) 833 - 4126 today.