How to Remove Grease Stains From Your Carpets?

Grease stains are unpleasant and can ruin your valuable carpet if not appropriately treated. So whenever you drop a food bite or spill oily sauce on the flooring, it’s essential to treat the stain with a suitable cleaning method that will lift the dirt without damaging the rug. Cleaner Cleaner’s experts share how to remove grease stains from your carpet easily.

Read also: Which carpet cleaning method is the best?

How to Deal with Fresh Grease Stains 

There’s a huge difference between removing an old and a fresh stain on your carpet. It’s best to treat spills as soon as they occur – your chances of cleaning the rug well are better before the spot dries.

• Make sure to scrape off as much of the solids as possible using a spoon or the dull side of a butter knife. Be careful because if you push or rub too vigorously, you will force the oil deeper into the carpet fibres and spread it, making the stain larger.
• The next thing you want to do is soak up the liquid. One way to do it is to lay a paper towel over the area and blot gently to help transfer the oils into the napkin. This method is suitable for large spills. However, there’s a risk of spreading the dirt if you push too hard.
• Another way to lift the excessive grease is to sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda over the spot. The substance will soak up the liquid in 10-15 minutes, and then you can carefully vacuum it from the carpet. We have heard people trying the same method with other powders like talc or cornstarch. Take in mind that these substances are finer and more difficult to suck with your vacuum cleaner, so we don’t recommend using them.
• Your next move is to determine the type of stain you’re dealing with. Is it a plain substance like cooking oil or a cooked dish like gravy sauce or cream? Is it animal fat like butter, vegetable oil like canola, or is it something like engine oil? Don’t forget that many beauty and hair products also contain oils, so a makeup stain is also a greasy stain. There are carpet stain removers designed to clean all the substances above, so choose the most suitable product.
• Whatever you do, do not mix different solutions, as you will most likely mix a concoction that will be difficult to remove, even for a professional cleaner.
• After you’ve chosen the right stain remover for your situation, use it according to the instructions on the label. Most products require the area to be slightly wet. You can achieve that by spraying clean tepid water. Use a spray bottle to distribute the liquid evenly without oversoaking the carpet. Apply the stain remover to the affected area and let it do its magic. Before rinsing the product, you can blot the stain carefully with a clean white cloth, but make sure you’re not rubbing it in. Keep blotting lightly until no more dirt is transferred from the carpet to your towel.
• “Rinse” the spot with a clean cloth dipped in cold water. Blot gently to remove any product residue from the carpet.  

Now, in the past few years, many cleaning blogs have suggested all types of DIY recipes to prepare your own carpet cleaners. Some can actually work on certain stains, while you don’t need to be an expert to see that others are simply ridiculous. That is why we recommend using a specialised carpet cleaning product when dealing with grease stains. However, if you don’t have anything else to hand, you can use a few drops of strong dish soap diluted in lukewarm water. Whisk until you have thick suds, and use only the suds to treat the stain. Still, we think if you have to remove a grease stain from a valuable rug, it’s better to use an appropriate product.

Read also: 9 Things You Need to Know About Stain Protection for Carpets and Upholstery

How to Remove Old Grease Stains

Dealing with an old grease stain from carpets is quite challenging, and we honestly think it’s better to book a professional stain removal service. The substance has already dried and stayed on the fabric. The grease had time to bind with the fibres, unlike when having a fresh spill. Depending on your carpet type, these bonds can be really strong and difficult to break if using store-bought cleaning products. Not to mention that old stains need more effort to clean, which tempts people to rub the area very hard. So even if they manage to remove the dirt, they have weakened the fibres and shortened their carpet’s lifespan. 

On the other hand, professionals have tens of specialised stain removal products to choose from, each designed to fight various stains from various carpet materials. Having the right product is not enough. Every pro cleaner has undergone extensive training on how to use these solutions. So, before you grab your stain remover, think again: Is saving a few pounds worth ruining your carpet? Well, the choice is yours. However, if you need help bringing the spotless look of your carpet, don’t hesitate to call, get a quote and book a our stain removal service. Combine it with a professional carpet cleaning to get the most of our skills, and you won’t regret it!