Over the last 37 years I’ve worked on every conceivable stain you can get on a carpet in the Redmond-Kirkland area. While professional carpet cleaners can get out a lot of tough stains, there are some unfortunately that can be permanent. Back when we used to do mostly apartment carpets, permanent stains were common and to take care of them we would simply use a carpet knife and cut a square around the stain and cut a piece from a closet and seam it in to make it look like new.

I know many people think a professional carpet cleaner should be able to clean out any stain, but that isn’t the case. Some carpets tend to stain easier than others.  Polypropylene carpets resist many stains but hold on to oily stains, whereas a good quality Stain Master carpet will almost always clean up like new. So while we can remove all sorts of stains, there are a number of variables that affect the cleanability of certain stains. So before removing a stain it’s important to know what exactly caused the stain, for example red juice stains are removed differently than red wine stains.  It’s also important to know what kind of carpet it is, is it nylon, wool, polyester, polypropylene, wool blend, olefin etc. Also the construction, is it a cut pile or loop pile or commercial glue down. Certain types of cleaning products can only be used on certain types of carpets without damaging them.

Here we’ll discuss a few types of the more difficult stains that can usually be removed by professional carpet cleaners:

Coffee Stains
Coffee stains are one of the most common stains found on carpets. They are notoriously difficult to remove, especially if they have been left untreated for a long time. Professional carpet cleaners can remove coffee stains using various methods, such as hot water extraction, and low moisture cleaning. The method isn’t as important as the product used and depends on the severity of the stain and the type of carpet. They will usually use special cleaning solutions that penetrate the fibers and break down the coffee stain molecules.

Pet Stains
Pet stains are another common type of stain found on carpets. These stains not only leave unsightly marks but also produce unpleasant odors. Professional carpet cleaners use specialized equipment and solutions to remove pet stains from carpets. They use enzymatic or peroxide cleaners that break down the organic matter in the stains, neutralizing the odor and removing the stain from the fibers. The cleaner is applied to the stain, allowed to sit for a few minutes to break down the stain and odor.

Ink Stains
Ink stains can be difficult to remove from carpets, especially if they are not treated immediately. Professional carpet cleaners can remove ink stains using specialized solvents and cleaning agents. They apply the solvent to the stain and let it sit for a few minutes to allow the ink to dissolve.  The process is repeated until the stain is completely removed. The type of ink and type of carpet make all the difference here as there are many cases where ink can prove to leave a permanent stain especially if it’s in liquid form and spilled to the base of the carpet fibers.

Blood Stains
Blood stains can be challenging to remove from carpets, and they can also leave unpleasant odors. Professional carpet cleaners use specialized cleaning solutions that break down the protein molecules in the bloodstains. They apply the solution to the stain and allow it to sit for a few minutes to allow the solution to penetrate the fibers. The process is repeated until the stain and the odor are completely removed.

Red Wine Stains
Red wine stains are some of the toughest stains to remove from carpets. Professional carpet cleaners use specialized cleaning solutions that break down the tannins in the red wine. They apply the solution to the stain and let it sit for a few minutes to allow the solution to penetrate the fibers. The process is repeated until the stain is completely removed.

In conclusion, as professional carpet cleaners, we can remove various types of stains from carpets, making them look as good as new. We use specialized equipment and cleaning solutions that penetrate the fibers and break down the stains. If you have tough stains on your carpet that you can’t remove yourself, it’s always best to call in a professional carpet cleaner to do the job. They have the knowledge, equipment, and experience to remove even the toughest stains from your carpet, leaving it clean, fresh, and hygienic.