Does water stain carpet? How to remove water stains?

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In this article, we will explain whether water stains carpet.

Cleaning dirty spots on your carpet seems easy until water stains appear. This may leave you thinking, that this process is more complicated than you originally thought. Water stains on the carpet are actually quite popular, and thankfully, easy to clean.

Each time you spill some water, there is a chance, that it leaves a stain. However, it will be only visible when the water dries, leaving traces of sediment behind. The best way to tackle this problem is to remove the excess right after you spill the water. Many times, this will prevent the stain.

If the stain already appeared on your carpet, this also won’t be too hard to battle. In this article, we will explain how to remove water stains from the carpet, without using any professional cleaning agents.

Without further ado, let’s get into the proper part of this article.

Does water stain the carpet?

Does-water-stain-carpet

While this may seem counterintuitive, yes, water can stain your carpet. Water, that is spilled on the carpet leaves sediment, which creates a visible stain. This often happens when you don’t clean up the spill immediately, and leave the water till it dries. Additionally, the water can absorb a lot of dirt from the carpet which makes the stain stand out even more.

Below we will discuss the most popular ways to get rid of old water stains. We won’t be talking about using professional cleaning agents, as no one likes additional costs. Household items are enough to clean up the dirt and leave the carpet fully refreshed.

How to remove water stain from carpet?

If you failed to clean up the water in time, there’s still a way to remove the stain from your carpet. Actually, this is quite easy, compared to other, more stubborn stains. As we said before, we won’t mention using professional cleaning agents, however, you can use those if you want.

  1. Remove the excess – If you have just spilled the water, removing the excess should be enough to prevent the stain. However, if the water has been seating there for a while, you may want to move to the next step.
  2. Choose your cleaning formula – We always highly recommend making your own, as this doesn’t require going to the store and spending money. Mild dish detergent, vinegar or baking soda mixed with water is usually good enough. 
  3. Start cleaning the stain – Dip white cloth in the cleaning solution, and gently tap the dirty area. You don’t want to rub in the stain, so be careful and work from the outside of the stain. Repeat the process until the stain is gone.
  4. Remove the cleaning formula – Use a different cloth rinsed with water, and start gently tapping the same area. You don’t want any detergent left in the carpet, as it can damage the fibers and leave a permanent residue on your carpet.
  5. Dry the carpet – You can start by tapping the area with a dry white cloth, and finish by airdrying. Keep in mind, that opening doors and windows will speed up the whole process. We do not recommend using any dryers, as they can damage the fibers of the carpet.

Those steps should be enough to remove water stains from your carpet. If the stain persists, try to repeat the process, or reach for more advanced carpet cleaning products. If you are scared, that you damage the carpet, you can always reach out to specialists.

Frequently asked questions

Does water ruin the carpet?

This may seem strange to some people but yes, water can damage the carpet. Cleaning the carpet too often, or leaving the water to sit can cause damage to the fibers. What’s more, mold is a real danger, that you have to look out for. Moderation is key when cleaning various spills, dirt, or dust.

Will wet carpet smell go away?

Wet carpet smell can be unbearable to some people, and may last for quite some time. We highly recommend using some natural deodorizers such as baking soda, essential oils, or coffee. Put baking soda in coups around your carpet, and leave it to sit for a couple of hours.

Is it bad to sleep in a room with a wet carpet?

Sleeping in the same room with a wet carpet isn’t the best idea. Wet carpets can have spores of mold, that can cause you to become sick. If you feel cold and have flu-like symptoms, there’s a good chance that mold is the reason. What’s more, this can be even more dangerous if you have asthma.

Conclusion

In conclusion – Yes, water can stain your carpet. This is very common if the spill is left on its own until the water dries. It will quickly attract dirt from the carpet, and make the spill stand out even more. The water leaves sediment, that can be seen only after the spot is dry.

That being said, it’s quite easy to remove water stains from your carpet. You have to choose a cleaning formula or make one on your own. Vinegar, dish soap, and baking soda work great for this purpose. The next step is to dip a cleaning cloth in the formula, and gently tap the stain until it’s gone. Remember to remove any leftover detergent, and airdry the carpet.

We hope, that after reading this article, you won’t have any problems with water stains on your carpet.