Every Toronto area homeowner knows, that if you don’t clean your carpets often enough, you’ll eventually end up with old, set-in stains. These can be tough to identify since you may not know where they came from or what they’re made of. But never fear! We’ll review how to identify different types of old carpet stains.
Quick Tips For Identifying Old and Stubborn Carpet Stains
1 – Knowing Stains vs. Spots
There’s a big difference between stains and spots. Think of spots as small, roundish water stains. These are caused by water, soda or some other kind of liquid. Stains are usually bigger, longer, wider and/or splotchy. Those are usually caused by dirt, mud, and other types of dry matter.
2 – Recognizing Dirty Spots
A dirty spot is basically a stain that’s made up of dirt and other stains. This can be a sign that you need to clean your carpet more often. It’s a good idea to clean carpets at least once a year. Otherwise, the buildup from multiple dirty spots can eventually damage your carpet.
3 – Finding the Source of Old Carpet Stains
Not all stains are caused by an obvious source. If you can’t figure out where a stain came from just by looking at it, then you’ll probably have to clean the entire carpet to make sure it’s gone. The same goes if you can’t figure out exactly what the stain contains. Your best bet? Don’t try to clean it yourself; let a professional take care of it!
There’s a huge difference between stains and spots. Stains are usually bigger, longer, wider and/or splotchy. Those are usually caused by dirt, mud, and other types of dry matter.
4 – Identifying Animal Stains
The best way to figure out whether a stain is caused by an animal is by identifying the type of animal. Horses, cows, sheep and dogs leave behind different types of stains. For example, horse urine is reddish in colour, dog urine is yellow, and sheep urine is a brownish colour. Also, the chances you have horse or sheep stains is likely very rare, in those cases I’d suggest it’s a teenager-based stain. That is a whole different type of animal that can cause stains even the most hardened carpet cleaning professionals are surprised by.
5 – Smell the Stain
If the stain is unclear and you can’t figure out what it is, then you can test it with your nose. The easiest method is to get a piece of clean cotton and drag it across the stain. If the stain smells bad, then you can be sure it’s a type of animal urine.
Why Identifying Stains Is Crucial for Health
It may be hard to believe, but some stains can be harmful to your health. Animal urine is the worst offender. That’s because it can contain high levels of ammonia. The minerals found in human urine are also a common cause for concern. If you’re unsure about the source of a stain, you can always test it for health concerns by putting a small amount on a piece of clean cotton. If the cotton turns yellow or red after a few minutes, then you can be sure that it’s urine or blood. Applying a spotting agent recommended by your cleaning professional or using club soda and blotting is the best, first step, to dealing with stubborn stains. If all else fails, calling in a professional carpet cleaner is the way to go.
Hire the services of the truly competent carpet cleaners at All Star Chem-Dry! We provide professional carpet, upholstery, oriental and area rug cleaning services using green-certified cleaning products.