Carpet Stains

Kids, dogs, and company can lead to stains on your carpets, but with a few basic stain removal tricks some of the most common carpet stains shouldn't cause you problems anymore!

1. Act quickly, blot - don't wipe, as much as you can. If there are solids, scrape them away. As you treat the area work from the outside in so that you don't spread the stain.

2. For older stains, mix together a couple of teaspoons of dish detergent, 3 teaspoons of white vinegar and a quart of warm water. Use the solution and a clean sponge to gently blot the stain away.

3. For a fresh spill, quickly blot as much as you can. Spray some white shaving cream on a cloth and scrub the stain with that! When it's gone blot the area with a cloth and clean water. (If you don't have shaving cream, try powdered laundry detergent, warm water and a soft brush on the spot. Repeat until it disappears.

Cleaning Upholstered Furniture

Do you clean your upholstered furniture regularly? Don't wait until you can see the dust and dirt, add it to your weekly cleaning routine.

1. Look over the pieces carefully, if you see any spots or stains treat them immediately. Test any cleaning solution on a hidden part of the upholstery for colorfastness before trying any spot treatments.

2. For a generic spot treater, whip together two teaspoons of clear dish soap and a half a cup of water until it's nice and foamy. Use a damp white cloth to dab the mixture onto the stain. When you can see that the stain has lifted, dab the soap out with a second cloth and clean water.

3. Club Soda is a quick spot treater when you're entertaining and don't have time for a full treatment. Just dab some on and treat the spot later.

4. White shaving cream is a great spot treater. Use very little on a damp white cloth to treat all kinds of mystery stains. When the stain is gone, dab with a second cloth and clean water.

5. If you have a stain on a cushion, don't pull the cover off and throw it in the wash. This could cause damage and shrinkage. Unzip the back and put a towel in between the cushion and the fabric cover, then treat the stain.