Carpet cleaning: DIY guide for Thanksgiving stains

Gathering the family around a big table with lots of delicious food is a big chunk of what Thanksgiving is about. But with all the long-lasting memories and festive joy, carpet woes also come. Spilled red wine, gravy mishaps, or cranberry sauce splatters can leave unsightly stains and carpet chaos.

With over 50 years of combined experience, we at Restore-It understand the challenges that holiday stains present. And we have some ideas about how you can treat the stains yourself and make your carpets look fresh and clean again.

Today, we'll guide you through quick, effective methods to tackle the most common Thanksgiving carpet stains. You'll find easy steps to make the stain-removal process less stressful. So, let's get into it and keep your home spotless this holiday season!

1. Basic carpet cleaning for red wine stains

A nice dinner goes great with a glass of wine, but do you know what can dampen the mood? A splash of red on your light-colored carpet. To restore your carpet (and your sanity!), follow these simple steps:

1. Blot, don't rub. Grab a clean cloth or paper towel and blot the stain to absorb as much liquid as possible. Don't rub, or you will spread the stain.
2. Apply salt. Cover the stain with a generous amount of salt while wet. Salt absorbs the moisture, lifting the wine away from carpet fibers. Let it sit for a few minutes, then vacuum the salt away.
3. Use a vinegar solution. For stubborn stains, mix equal parts white vinegar and dishwashing soap with two cups of water. Blot this solution onto the stain with a clean cloth, then rinse with cold water and blot dry.

For a more in-depth look at this topic, we wrote a complete guide on how to treat red wine stains, including a detailed explanation of each step, multiple methods, and how to deal with dried stains.

2. Carpet care treatment for coffee stains

There is a saying that says there are two inevitable things in life: death and taxes. If you have an after-dinner coffee with your guests, coffee spills might also be added to that list. Thankfully, dealing with coffee stains is much less dramatic than the previous two. Here is what to do:

1. Blot quickly. Blot with a clean cloth to absorb the coffee, avoiding rubbing.
2. Mix a cleaning solution. Combine a teaspoon of dish soap, a tablespoon of white vinegar, and two cups of water. Apply the solution to the stain with a sponge, blotting gently as you go.
3. Rinse and blot dry. Once the stain lightens, rinse the area with cold water and blot dry with a clean cloth.

3. Remove gravy stains and keep your carpet clean

While delicious on your turkey plate, gravy is far less welcome on your carpet. Its greasiness and starch-rich content can impact your carpet. Here's a method to handle this savory spill:

1. Scoop and blot. Carefully scoop up as much gravy as possible with a spoon, then blot the area to soak up any excess liquid.
2. Apply a mild dish soap solution. Mix a few drops of dish soap with water and apply it to the stain using a clean cloth. Blot gently.
3. Rinse and repeat. Rinse with cold water and blot until the stain fades. Repeat if necessary.

4. Cleanup cranberry sauce stains on your carpet

A staple in many South Arkansas homes during Thanksgiving, cranberry sauce can leave a very bright red (and difficult to hide) stain on your carpet. To prevent this disaster from ruining your night, here is what to do:

1. Blot the spill. Use a spoon to remove any excess sauce. Then, use a cloth to blot the stain gently, taking care not to press it further into the carpet.
2. Use a vinegar and soap solution. Apply a mixture of white vinegar, a drop of dish soap, and water. Blot the stain until it begins to lift.
3. Rinse and blot dry. Rinse with cold water, then blot with a towel until dry. Repeat if any color remains.

5. Get rid of chocolate stains from your carpet

Perhaps it was the chilly weather calling for cozy drinks, or maybe dessert just needed that extra touch of decadence. Whatever the reason—be it hot cocoa after dinner or a little one sneaking chocolate treats—chocolate stains are some of the trickiest to tackle. Here's how to clean them up:

1. Scrape off the excess. Carefully remove any solid chocolate with a spoon, avoiding pressing it into the carpet fibers.
2. Apply dish soap solution. Mix a small amount of dish soap with water and blot the stain. Work gently from the outside in.
3. Rinse and blot dry. Rinse with cold water and blot dry with a clean cloth.

6. Clean grease or butter stains from your carpet

Grease or oil stains on carpets are tough to deal with. They are also—sadly—quite common: from mashed potatoes to buttered rolls and all the meals in between, there is bound to be some greasy food on the table. And with them come the stains. Here's an approach to do the cleanup:

1. Sprinkle baking soda or cornstarch. Cover the stain to absorb the oil. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes, then vacuum it up.
2. Blot with dish soap solution. Mix a few drops of dish soap with water and blot the stain. Avoid oversaturating, as grease stains can spread easily.
3. Rinse and dry. Once the stain has lifted, rinse with cold water and blot dry.

7. Treat soda or juice stains on your carpet

With every family gathering, kids' drinks will end up on the floor sooner rather than later. These accidents are almost unavoidable, so here's what to do:

1. Blot the stain. Start by blotting as much as possible.
2. Use a vinegar solution. Mix equal parts vinegar and water and blot gently.
3. Rinse and blot dry. Rinse the area with a bit of cold water, then blot dry.

While a few spills will likely happen during Thanksgiving, they don't have to ruin your carpet (or your day). Now that we have taught you how quick action and the proper cleaning techniques can help you keep stains under control, consider professional cleaning for those rough spots. Whether you still have stubborn stains or are ready for a thorough post-holiday clean, Restore-It is here to help. Call us and let us handle the dirty work so you can enjoy the rest of the holiday season.