Of all the different carpet stains a homeowner is likely to deal with in a lifetime, dried paint is one of the most challenging, not to mention one of the most annoying. Even if you’ve had to deal with pet stains, odor, and spilled wine, nothing compares to the agony of having to remove paint from your carpet, especially if it’s already dried down. However, it’s not an impossible task. Whether you decide to pursue professional Carpet Cleaning in Kingsland GA or go it alone, here are a few things to keep in mind while you’re getting that pesky paint stain out of your carpet for good.
Oil or Water?
Before you attack your stain, you’ve got to know what you’re dealing with. When it comes to paint, you should always find out about the type of base before attacking it with cleaning liquid. For instance, while oil paint stains might be tougher to deal with, water-based paint or kid’s watercolors are going to require a lot less elbow grease. If you’re dealing with latex, on the other hand, you might have to get out more serious cleaning fluids. Whatever you do, don’t assume one size fits all. In your attempt to get the paint out of your carpet, you could end up damaging your rug or creating a breeding ground for mold and mildew.
Go Gently
Before you start, remember that a gentle touch is always best. Even if your instinct is to full-on attack that stain and try to rip it out of your carpet, you need to be gentle and keep in mind the fact that your rug isn’t going to be restored to its former glory by you ripping out the offending fibers. Use blunt objects to scrape away the residue first. Using a butter knife or putty knife, gently scrape away everything that can be scraped without hurting your rug’s fibers. Vacuum up the residue, and put away your tools. It’s time to treat your remaining stain.
Use the Right Tools
Along with your physical tools, you also need to arm yourself with the right cleaning solution. For oil paint, you’ll want to use a small amount of hydrogen peroxide to help loosen the paint and make it easier to remove by hand. For water-based paint, a gentle mixture of warm water and dish soap will probably do the trick. For latex, try a specific treatment like “Goo Be Gone” and spray the area well. With all these solutions, however, be careful not to over-wet your rug. You don’t want to replace a stain with a moldy patch.
Spray and Set
However you treat your stain, it’s important to give it time to set. Don’t expect to magically disappear after one treatment. With paint and other stubborn dried stains, you might need to let your cleaner soak overnight. If you’re worried about mold, don’t be. As long as you’re using a wet spray with something dry to soak it up, such as baking soda, you’ll be able to kill bacteria and treat your stain properly.