Mistakes happen! Whether it’s an adult spilling wine, a child spilling juice or an animal spilling… well, you know, IT HAPPENS. My first piece of advice: BEFORE your carpet is installed, read through some of the care and maintenance instructions. Ensure that you are using the methods they recommend in order to avoid voiding your warranty. Also, if you already have a basic idea of how to treat your carpet for stains, it will save you precious time when one does occur and you need to act.
It is important to note that when it comes to getting stains out of carpet, the most essential thing is timing. The faster you can get to that stain, the more likely you are to get it out completely.
Carpet today, for the most part, is produced with solution dyed fibers which essentially means the color is NOT “painted on top” of the fibers but rather produced within them instead. This means that it is extremely difficult to remove or wash out the color from the fibers. This feature allows it to be cleaned with just about any solution (see Dreamweavers stain guide).
Even with premium stain resistance, carpet will still hold stains that have been left in place for some time. You may even think you removed the stain completely just to see it resurface within a day or two. This is extremely common with professional wall-to-wall carpet cleanings. If this happens, it is likely the stain is there for good, and you may want to consider replacement.
But what should I replace my stained carpet with?
You have a few options.
- Carpet with a heathered blend of medium to dark colors tends to hide stains very well and is the least expensive option for replacement.
- Luxury vinyl is a great option for those looking to make a bigger change. While not quite as cozy underfoot, luxury vinyl provides just the right mix of softness, durability and stain resistance for clients looking for something livable but updated.
- Tile floors are going to be the most durable and stain resistant option you can go with. A major change from carpet, it is also the longest lasting option that will cost you the most upfront.
This client had stains caused by puppy accidents throughout her home and decided to replace all the carpet with luxury vinyl.
