Remove Soft Drink Spill Marks from Carpeting

You can help prevent soda spills from ruining carpeting or rugs by promptly cleaning spills and choosing the correct cleaning solutions for your carpeting. Applying cleaning solutions can also help you remove set in soda stains.

Steps

  1. Blot the soda spill immediately with a clean white cloth or paper towel without a pattern. You want to remove as much of the spilled liquid as possible before it soaks into the carpet. Be careful not to scrub the carpet with the cloth to avoid working the soda further into the carpet and damaging the carpet fibers.
  2. Determine the carpeting material. It's important to know what material the carpet is made from so that you can choose the correct cleaning solution and application method.
    • Check on the underside of area rugs for a label. The label should list the carpet material.
    • Contact the manufacturer if you need to find out from which material wall-to-wall carpeting is made.
  3. Gather cleaning supplies. You will need 3 to 4 white cloths or a roll of non-patterned paper towels, a gentle non-bleach detergent, lukewarm water, 2 to 3 bowls, 2 spray bottles, white vinegar, and a heavy, flat-bottomed object you can use as a weight.
  4. Prepare a detergent solution.
    • Mix together 1/4 tsp. (1.23 ml) detergent, such as a dishwashing liquid, with 32 oz. (.94 L) lukewarm water in bowl or measuring cup if the soda spill is fresh. Use only 8 oz. (.24 L) water if it is a set in soda stain.
  5. Prepare a vinegar solution.
    • Add white vinegar and water to a bowl in a 1 to 2 ratio.
  6. Perform a spot test.
    • Dab a little of the detergent and vinegar solutions on an inconspicuous area of the carpet.
    • Wait until the solution dries and then check to make sure there is no stain or lightening of the carpet.
  7. Dip a white cloth or paper towel into the bowl of prepared detergent solution.
  8. Pat the soda stain with the cloth or paper towel.
  9. Press gently for a few seconds and remove the cloth or paper towel.
  10. Wait 15 minutes to allow the detergent time to help break down the stain.
  11. Dab the carpet with a dry cloth to soak up the detergent solution.
  12. Take another cloth or paper towel and dip it into the bowl of vinegar solution.
  13. Dab the stain with the vinegar solution and leave for 15 additional minutes. Place a heavy, flat bottomed object like a glass cooking dish on top of the cloth/paper towel. The vinegar solution will help remove the detergent from the carpet.
  14. Wet a new cloth or paper towel, and blot the stain area again to remove the vinegar solution.
  15. Blot the area with a dry cloth or paper towel. Start blotting at the outside of the wet area and work inwards until the spot is dry.
  16. Wait until the stain is dry. Repeat the process if the stain is still visible.

Remove Soda Stains from Natural Fiber Carpet

  1. Pour the detergent solution and vinegar solution into 2 separate spray bottles.
  2. Spray the soda stain with the detergent solution, and dab the wet area with a dry white cloth or paper towel.
  3. Rinse the area with lukewarm water using another cloth or paper towel if the detergent solution removes the stain.
  4. Spray the stain with the vinegar solution if the stain is still visible. Use another dry cloth or paper towel to blot the area where you sprayed the solution.
  5. Use a cloth or paper towel dipped in lukewarm water to blot the area.
  6. Continue applying the detergent and vinegar solutions if the stain lightens, but is still visible. You may need to allow the area to dry between applications to make sure the stain is still there.



Tips

  • White vinegar is especially effective on soda stains caused by sodas containing red, orange or purple dyes.

Warnings

  • Avoid using solutions that contain ammonia on natural fibers, especially wool or wool-blend carpets or rugs.
  • Don't use excess water. You don't want the cleaning solutions or the rinsing water to soak too deeply into the carpet fibers. Blot up water immediately if you accidentally use too much at once.

Things You'll Need

  • White cloths or paper towels without patterns
  • 2 to 3 bowls
  • Lukewarm water
  • Non-bleach detergent
  • White vinegar
  • Spray bottle
  • Heavy, flat-bottomed object to use as a weight

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Sources and Citations

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