Old stains can be a real eyesore on your carpet, but you don't have to live with them. A combination of baking soda and vinegar is one of the most effective methods for removing old stains from carpets. This method is especially useful for grease stains, but it's important to test it on a hidden area of the carpet before treating the stain. To get started, mix two tablespoons of clear dishwashing liquid, two tablespoons of white vinegar, and four cups of warm water.
Use this mixture to scrub the stain until it starts to disappear. Once you've finished scrubbing, sprinkle baking soda on the stain and let it sit overnight. Baking soda is a popular solution for carpet stains, but there is some debate about how long you should leave it on the stain. Old stains can be more difficult to remove than fresh ones, so it's important to treat them as soon as possible. You'd be surprised at what you can do with white vinegar and baking soda.
If the stains are too stubborn, you may need to call in a professional carpet cleaning service. When using baking soda as a stain remover, you don't have to worry about toxicity. Sprinkling baking soda on a stain will help prevent corrosive substances from releasing unpleasant odors into the air. You also don't have to worry about the carpet changing color or leaving any white residue. You may want to buy an economy-sized jar of vinegar from your local big box store since you'll be using a lot of it. After you're done cleaning, make sure to empty the vacuum filter and be careful not to vacuum up the baking soda too often as it can clog the vacuum hose.
