With summertime quickly approaching, so comes fun-filled barbecues and get-togethers. Despite our guests’ best efforts spills are almost inevitable — especially by our littlest visitors. When spills happen it is important to act quickly to get the stain up before it sets. Try one of these cleaning hacks to keep your carpet stain-free in-between professional carpet cleanings.

Ketchup

With its natural red color, ketchup tends to stain fairly quickly. So it is important to treat ketchup spills as soon as you notice them.

What you need:

• 1 Tablespoon dishwashing liquid
• 2 Cups cool water 
• Start by scooping up as much of the spilled ketchup as possible, being especially careful not to rub it into the carpet fibers. Take a white or light coloured cloth and soak it into your dishwashing solution and sponge the stain. Using a clean dry light or white coloured cloth, blot up as much of the ketchup stain and solution as possible. Repeat until the stain has disappeared.

Once the stain has been removed, rinse the area with cold water to remove any cleaning solution residue and blot the moisture up with a towel until dry.

Mustard

Where there is ketchup, there is usually mustard. Like its condiment cousin, mustard tends to stain quickly so it’s imperative that you clean the spill as soon as you notice it.

What you need:

• 1 Teaspoon dishwashing liquid
• 1 Teaspoon white vinegar
• 1 Liter water 

Using a spoon, scoop up as much of the spilled mustard as possible being careful not to rub it into the carpet fibers. Treat the spill with your cleaning solution and let it sit for about a minute or so. Then, using a white or light coloured cloth, begin to blot up the stain working from the outside in. Repeat until the stain has disappeared.

Rinse the area with cold water to remove any cleaning solution reside and blot the moisture up with a towel until dry.

Grease

Grease is especially pernicious because it is hard to detect until the grease stains have started to make your carpet take on a spotted look.

What you need:

• 1 Cup warm water
• 1/4 Cup liquid dish detergent

Dip a white or light coloured cloth into your cleaning solution and apply to the stain, applying pressure as you work. Once the stained area has been treated, leave the solution on for five minutes. Using another cloth, blot up the stain. Once the stain has been removed, place a layer of paper towels over the area and weight them down with a heavy object overnight.

When spills happen, it is important to treat them as soon as possible. If you missed a spill and your carpet is stained, it is time to bring in your local Brampton professional carpet cleaning service. To schedule a quote or cleaning, please feel free to call Dr. Carpet 647-800-5199 today!