How to remove carpet stains using an iron and other household cleaners

It’s such a bummer when you discover a stain on the carpeted floors in your home. Whether caused by messy kids, a sick pet or just a clumsy person holding a coffee mug, carpet stains can be tricky to remove even under the best of circumstances.

However, before you call up a cleaning pro or shop for new carpets, you might want to try removing the stain yourself. Professional carpet cleaning can be expensive, and you may find that you’re able to save your carpets without having to shell out a ton of cash or use harsh chemicals. All you need is a clothing iron and some other products you may already have around your house. Check it:

Get Rid Of The Excess From Your Spill

First off, blot any excessive liquid with a paper towel. (But don’t scrub!)

Mix Up This Easy-Peasy Cleaning Formula

In a spray bottle, mix together white vinegar and hot water and spray it onto the stain.

Let It Set

Allow the mixture to sit for several minutes before placing a rag or towel that’s larger than the stain over the wet spot.

(Note: this fabric will be responsible for soaking up the stain, so don’t use a towel you care about.) If your rag is thin, you may want to stack multiple wet rags on top of each other to better protect your carpet from the heat.

Whip Out The Iron

Set your iron to a medium or high steam setting and then iron over the rag for about 10 seconds. Be very careful to ensure the iron does not come in direct contact with the carpet, and make sure you keep the iron moving around. You don’t want the heat to stay in one spot for too long, or for the rag to dry out.

Et voilà! Lift up the rag, and you should see that the stain has transferred to the fabric and is no longer on your carpet! If you still see the stain on the carpet, rinse the rag out and try repeating the process again. After you’re satisfied that the stain has come out as much as possible, allow the carpet to air dry, or use a blow dryer on a low setting.

Here’s a quickie video of these steps in action:

It’s like magic!

[h/t: Clark]

MORE: 7 ways to keep your rugs clean when you have pets