ProX Carpet Cleaning

Stain Removal Guide

Tips & Warnings: Don't combine ammonia with chlorine or bleach. Rewash kitchen items

to make sure no ammonia remains on them. If you choose to use, or experiment with any

of the techniques below, you are doing so at your own risk.

ACID

Acid will start working immediately dissolving coloring from non-colorfast fibers and may even breakdown some of the fibers itself. You should act quickly to try to remove as much of the acid as possible while it is still wet. Vacuum and blot heavily. Work dry baking soda into the spot and vacuum again. This should remove most of the acid. You now want to dilute that which remains. Apply ammonia solution and blot. Rinse with warm water, blot dry. Place an absorbent towel over the stain and weigh it down with books and leave overnight. This will draw more of the moister and acid. You won't be able to assess the full damage till the following day since any remaining acid will continue working at breaking down the coloring. Professional cleaners cannot remove certain spots because of chemical changes which have taken place before the rug reaches them. By using the above method, when the rug is professionally cleaned you will be less likely to have a spot show up.

ACNE MEDICATION

Apply dry cleaning solvent, blot Apply detergent solution, blot Apply ammonia solution, blot

Apply vinegar solution, blot Rinse with warm water - blot until dry Possible permanent change

ALCOHOL

Apply detergent solution. Blot.

Apply vinegar solution. Blot.

Bleach with hydrogen peroxide if necessary.

Rinse with cold water. Blot dry.

AMONIA

Apply vinegar solution, blot Rinse with warm water, blot until dry

BALL POINT INK

Caution *(do not use this method for ink on clothing)

Apply nail polish remover to towel and blot Repeat using dry cleaning solvent, blot

Remove as much as possible, then apply detergent solution, blot

Apply ammonia solution, then vinegar solution, rinse with water, blot dry

NOTE: Hairspray can be applied and blotted. Use caution when using

BATTERY ACID

Apply ammonia solution, blot Rinse with warm water Probable permanent change

BEER

Apply detergent solution, blot Apply vinegar solution, blot Rinse with warm water, blot dry

BEET JUICE

Apply detergent solution, blot Apply ammonia solution, blot Apply vinegar solution, blot

Rinse with warm water, blot dry Probable permanent change

BLEACH

Bleach will start working immediately dissolving coloring from non-colorfast fibers and may

even breakdown some of the fibers itself. You should act quickly to try to remove as much of the bleach

as possible while it is still wet. Vacuum and blot heavily. Work dry detergent into the spot and vacuum again.

This should remove most of the bleach. You now want to dilute that which remains. Apply detergent solution

and blot. Rinse with warm water, blot dry. Place an absorbent towel over the stain and weigh it down with books

and leave overnight. This will draw more of the moister and bleach. You won't be able to assess the full damage

till the following day since any remaining bleach will continue working at breaking down the coloring.

Professional cleaners cannot remove certain spots because of chemical changes which have taken place

before the rug reaches them. By using the above method, when the rug is professionally cleaned you will be less likely to have a spot show up.

BLOOD

Blood is a protein which most laundry detergents should dissolve. The same thing that removes grass stains should remove that blood stain. Apply cool detergent solution, blot

Apply ammonia solution, blot

Apply vinegar solution Rinse with water

If stain remains, an application of rust remover may help Again, rinse thoroughly with water, blot dry

BUTTER

Apply dry cleaning solvent, blot Apply detergent solution, blot Apply ammonia solution, blot

Apply vinegar solution, blot Rinse with warm water, blot dry

CANDLE WAX

Scrape off all you can. Ice cubes will make it brittle for easier scraping.

A hot iron (on low heat setting) over a damp cloth or paper towel will melt and absorb remaining wax.

Apply dry-cleaning solvent. Blot.

CANDY

Scrape off all you can with a dull knife. Sponge with detergent solution. Blot. Rinse.

Be sure all traces of sugar are gone. Sugars left in carpet will cause a rapid re-soiling problem.

CHOCOLATE

Scrape off all you can first. Sponge with dry-cleaning solvent. Blot.

Sponge with detergent solution. Blot. Rinse. If stain remains, bleach with hydrogen peroxide.

CIGARETTE BURNS

If the burn is slight, rub with dry steel wool - or if you feel confident, trim the damaged tufts.

If the burn is bad, take a razor blade and scrape some fibers from a hidden area and use super glue

to patch the burn with the fibers.

COCKTAILS

Apply detergent solution, blot Apply ammonia solution, blot Apply vinegar solution, blot

Rinse with war water, blot until dry

COFFEE

Blot with detergent solution. Rinse. Blot with vinegar. Rinse. Air dry.

If stain remains, sponge with dry cleaning solvent. Bleach remaining stain with hydrogen peroxide.

Coffee is a very difficult stain, and can in many cases be permanent.

COLA

Apply detergent solution, blot Apply ammonia solution, blot

Apply vinegar solution, blot Rinse with warm water, blot until dry

COLOGNE

Apply detergent solution, blot Apply ammonia solution, blot

Apply vinegar solution, blot Rinse with warm water, blot until dry

COOKING OIL

Apply dry cleaning solvent, blot Apply detergent solution, blot

Apply ammonia solution, blot Rinse with warm water, blot until dry

COSMETICS

Apply nail polish remover, blot Apply dry cleaning solvent, blot

Apply detergent solution, blot Apply ammonia solution, blot Apply vinegar solution, blot

Rinse with warm water, blot until dry Possible permanent damage

COUGH SYRUP

Apply detergent solution, blot Apply ammonia solution, blot

Apply vinegar solution, blot Rinse with water, blot until dry

CRAYONS

Scrape off all you can. Just as with candle wax, use a hot iron and a damp cloth to melt

and absorb the remaining wax.

Apply dry cleaning solvent. Blot. Apply detergent solution. Rinse. Blot dry.

EGG

Blot up as much as possible Apply detergent solution, blot

Apply ammonia solution, blotRinse with warm water, blot until dry

FECES

Apply detergent solution, blot Apply ammonia solution, blot

Apply vinegar solution, blot Rinse with warm water, blot until dry

FOOD DYE

Apply dry cleaning solvent Apply detergent solution, being careful not to spread the spot

Apply ammonia solution, blot Apply vinegar solution, blot Rinse thoroughly with warm water, blot until dry

Possible permanent change

FRUIT JUICE

Apply detergent solution, blot Apply ammonia solution, blot Apply vinegar solution, blot

Rinse with warm water, blot until dry Possible permanent change

FURNITURE WOOD STAIN

Apply nail polish remover, blot Apply dry cleaning solution, blot Apply detergent solution, blot

Apply ammonia solution, blot Rinse with warm water, blot until dry

Probable permanent change, especially if the stain has dried

FURNITURE POLISH

If solvent based Apply nail polish remove rApply dry cleaning solvent

Apply detergent solution, blot Apply ammonia solution, blot Apply vinegar solution, blot

Rinse with warm water, blot until dry Possible permanent damage

Start with detergent solution and Follow the last four steps above.

GELATIN

Apply detergent solution, blot Apply ammonia solution, blot Rinse with warm water, blot until dry

GLUE (SCHOOL)

Apply water, blot Apply detergent solution, blot

Apply ammonia solution, blot Rinse with warm water, blot until dry

GRAVY

Apply detergent solution, blot Apply ammonia solution, blot

Apply vinegar solution, blot Rinse with water, blot until dry

GRASS

Apply nail polish remover Apply detergent solution, blot

Apply ammonia solution, blot Apply vinegar solution, blot

Rinse with warm water, blot until dry Possible permanent damage

GREASY FOODS

Apply dry cleaning solvent. Work to center to avoid ring. Blot.

Apply light detergent solution. Rinse. Blot dry.

GUM

Use aerosol gum freeze or ice cube to harden the gum and make it brittle,

then strike and break into pieces. Scrape them up with a dull butter knife.

Remove residue with dry cleaning solvent.

ICE CREAM

Don't wait. Blot up all you can immediately with a dry cloth.

Apply ammonia solution or protein digester. Rinse. If area is large, shampoo afterward.

IODINE

Apply dry cleaning solvent by placing on rag and blotting Apply detergent solution

Apply ammonia solution Apply vinegar solution Rinse with warm water, blot until dry

Possible permanent damage

INK

Sponge with detergent solution. Rinse. If stain remains, saturate with cheap hair spray

and blot. Always work from the outside in to avoid making the spot bigger.

JAM/JELLY

Apply detergent solution. Let sit to soften. Blot. Apply vinegar solution. Blot. Rinse. Blot dry.

KETCHUP

Apply cool detergent solution, blot Apply ammonia solution, blot Apply vinegar solution, blot

Rinse with water Blot until dry Possible permanent damage

LIPSTICK

Scrape off all you can, taking care not to spread the stain. Apply dry cleaning solvent

and blot repeatedly until color is gone. Apply detergent solution. Blot.

Apply ammonia solution. Blot. Rinse. Blot.

LIQUOR

Apply detergent solution, blotApply ammonia solution, blot

Apply vinegar solution, blotRinse with warm water, blot until dry

MILDEW

Dry-brush to remove as much as possible. Sponge area with disinfectant solution. Blot.

Sponge with ammonia. Rinse. Bleach with hydrogen peroxide.

MILK

Apply cool detergent solution, blot Apply ammonia solution, blot

Apply vinegar solution, blot Rinse with water, blot until dry Apply drycleaning solution, blot

MUD

Allow to dry and vacuum or brush off as much as possible.

Apply detergent or ammonia solution. Blot. Rinse. Blot dry.

If stain remains, apply dry cleaning solvent. Blot dry.

MUSTARD

Apply vinegar solution. Blot. Apply detergent solution. Blot.

If stain remains apply rust remover or hydrogen peroxide solution. Blot.

Do not use ammonia or alkaline cleaners which could turn stain brown

NAIL POLISH

Blot acetone or non-oily nail polish remover through the stain into a clean absorbent pad.

No acetone on acetate, modacrylic, silk, or wool. Use amyl acetate from a pharmacy.

Flush with dry cleaning fluid. Air-dry.

NEWSPRINT

Apply dry cleaning solvent Apply POG Alternate 1st two steps, blotting frequently

Apply detergent solution, blot Apply ammonia solution, blot Apply vinegar solution, blot

Rinse with warm water, blot until dry Possible permanent change

OIL Apply dry cleaning solvent. Work to center to avoid ring. Blot.

Apply light detergent solution. Rinse. Blot.

PAINT/VARNISH

Oil-based paint or varnish: if fresh, flush with mineral spirits.

If dry, carefully soften with lacquer thinner (test first for fabric damage) then flush with appropriate solvent.

PAINT (WATER BASE)

Apply detergent solution, blot, repeat Apply ammonia solution, blot

Apply POG to remove old hardened paint Apply dry cleaning solvent to remove POG, blot

NOTE: Cured latex paint is almost impossible to remove

PET STAINS

Blot out all liquid possible by placing a clean towel on the spot and standing on it.

Apply bacteria/enzyme digester according to directions.

When dry, remove any remaining stain with detergent solution. Rinse. Blot dry.

PLASTER

Vacuum or scrape off as much as possible Apply detergent solution

Rinse with warm water, blot until dry Repeat as necessary

POTTING SOIL

Do not wet when attempting to clean up Vacuum up as much as possible using wet-dry vac

DO NOT use a vacuum cleaner with a beater bar Wait over night or until completely dry

and vacuum up using a beater bar vacuum.

CAUTION make sure the remaining soil is dry before vacuuming as you may spread

the stain around if still damp. If it needs further cleaning, clean the area using an extraction

cleaning machine Possible permanent damage

RUBBER CEMENT

Roll the hardened glue off Apply dry cleaning solvent, blot

Apply POG Apply dry cleaning solvent, blot Apply detergent solution, blot

Rinse with warm water, blot until dry

RUST

Rub with steel wool or rust remover. If you use professional rust remover,

be careful not to get any on your skin.

Don't apply it to glass, porcelain or enamel surfaces. Rinse. Blot dry

SALAD DRESSING

Apply dry cleaning solvent Apply detergent solution, blot

Rinse with warm water, blot until dry Possible permanent change

SHOE POLISH

Gently scrape off all you can, being extra careful not to spread the stain.

Blot dry cleaning solvent through the stain into a clean absorbent pad.

Sponge with detergent solution. Blot. Sponge with ammonia. Rinse.

If stain remains, try alcohol, then hydrogen peroxide.

SOFT DRINKS

Blot up all you can. Blot with detergent solution. Rinse. Air dry.

If stain remains, soak with glycerin for 30 minutes and rinse.

SYRUP

Apply detergent solution, blot Apply ammonia solution, blot

Rinse with warm water, blot until dry

TEA

Apply dry cleaning solvent Apply detergent solution, blot

Rinse with warm water, blot until dry Possible permanent change

TAR

Scrape up all you can, then remove residue by blotting with paint thinner or dry cleaning solvent.

Blot with detergent solution. Rinse. Blot dry.

TOOTHPASTE

Apply detergent solution, blot Apply ammonia solution, blot

Apply vinegar solution, blot Rinse with warm water, blot until dry

VOMIT

Scrape up as much as possible. Apply bacteria/enzyme digester according to directions.

When dry, remove any remaining stain with detergent solution. Rinse. Blot dry.

URINE

Blot up as much as possible with white absorbent towels Apply detergent solution, blot

Apply ammonia solution, blot Apply vinegar solution, blot

Rinse with warm water, blot until dry

Could cause permanent dye removal from fabric

VASELINE

Scrape off as much as possible Apply dry cleaning solvent

Rinse with warm water, blot until dry

WAX

Scrape off all you can. Ice cubes will make it brittle for easier scraping.

A hot iron (on low heat setting) over a damp cloth or paper towel will melt and absorb remaining wax.

Apply dry-cleaning solvent. Blot.

WINE

Blot up excess wine Apply detergent solution, blot Apply ammonia solution, blot

Apply vinegar solution, blot Rinse with warm water, blot until dry Possible permanent damage