There are plenty of household items that can help you remove stains from carpets, walls, furniture, and even clothing. There is nothing worse when you notice a food coloring stain on your light colored carpet.
We’ve all seen those commercials where they show a stain magically disappearing after using a certain product. The reality is that these products don’t really work. They may temporarily hide the stain, but they won’t actually remove it.
There are several ways to get rid of stubborn stains. Some of them require professional cleaning services, while others can be done at home. In this article, we will be discovering how to get food coloring out of carpet at home.
Stain Removal Methods
There are a lot of ways that you can remove stains from your carpet. They all follow a simple method of:
Step 1. Blot the freshly stained area on your carpet.
Step 2. Apply your chosen stain removal substance.
Step 3. Once the stain has been removed following the stain removal instructions, absorb any remaining moisture on the carpet by using a paper towel.
Stain Removal Substances To Choose From
Vinegar
Vinegar is one of the most effective natural cleaners on the planet. It’s cheap, easy to use, and will not damage your carpet or flooring. You’ll find that vinegar works best when applied directly to the stained area.
If you’re dealing with a larger stain, try soaking a cloth in vinegar and wringing out the excess liquid before applying it to the stain.
White Vinegar And Detergent
As we have established above, vinegar is a great method, but sometimes it works better with a liquid dishwashing detergent.
Mix together one tablespoon of dishwashing liquid with one tablespoon of white vinegar. Then add this mixture to two cups of warm water.
With a clean cloth, dab the stain with the vinegar detergent mixture. If you blot frequently, this should absorb the color from the stain. Once the stain is removed, make sure that you blot away any leftover liquid away with water.
Baking Soda
Baking soda has been used as a cleaner since ancient times. In fact, many people still use baking soda today because it’s so inexpensive and easy to use.
Simply sprinkle baking soda over the affected area and let it sit for about an hour. Then vacuum up any remaining residue.
Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is another great way to get rid of stains. Squeeze lemon juice onto the stain and then blot away any excess liquid. This method works well if the stain is small and localized.
Salt
Salt is another affordable and effective solution for getting rid of stains. Sprinkle salt on the affected area and allow it to sit overnight. Rinse off the salt the next day and the stain should disappear.
Alkaline Soap
Alkaline soap is another popular option for cleaning stains. Simply mix together equal parts of water and detergent and apply it to the stain. Let it sit for a few minutes, and then rinse it off.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a powerful disinfectant that also gets rid of stains. Mix hydrogen peroxide with warm water until it forms a paste-like consistency.
Apply this mixture to the stain and leave it alone for about 10 minutes. Then wipe away any excess liquid.
Be careful with how much hydrogen peroxide you apply to your carpet. A 3% solution is safe for your carpet and should remove stains from your carpet.
However, a concentration of 6% or higher, could cause damage to your carpet and even bleach the dyes out.
Bleach
Bleach is probably the most dangerous stain remover available. However, it’s also very effective and can be used safely by adults and children alike.
Only dilute bleach with water (do NOT add detergent) and make sure to wear protective gear such as goggles and gloves.
Tips For Removing Stains From Your Carpet
Use a mild detergent like Dawn or Ivory instead of harsh chemicals.
If the stain is large, soak a rag in the detergent and wring it out.
Mix a bit of dish washing liquid into the detergent to help loosen stubborn stains.
Blot frequently to avoid spreading the stain.
Don’t rub the spot; just gently pat it dry.
Once the stain is gone, blot again to ensure there are no streaks left behind.
To prevent future staining, keep your home clean!
How Long Will It Take To Get Food Coloring Out Of Carpet?
Time to clean the carpet varies depending on the color and if the stain was set in. Stains that were recently applied should be removed quickly. Set-in stains require more time to get rid of them.
The actual color of the food coloring can determine how easy or difficult it will be to remove.
Blue food coloring is one of the easier stains to remove. While red food coloring is the most difficult color to try to remove. This is due to the chemical makeup of the food coloring, as it contains the chemical called Red #40.
Alongside this, certain yellows can be a pain to remove as well because they are resistant to dissolving in common chemicals.
As a result, some colors may take a bit more work to remove than others. So it is important to try to remove the stain as soon as possible. Removing food coloring stains can take a lot of patience.
A new stain could take only 5 minutes to remove, while an older stain could take anywhere from a couple of hours to even 24 hours to remove itself fully from your carpet.
Conclusion
Food coloring can be really easy to remove from your carpet. As long as you treat it as soon as possible as it occurs. We have given you various ways that you can use for removing food coloring stains from your carpet.
It may take some practice and some trial and error until you find a method that works well for you. However, as long as you follow the tips we have suggested, that food coloring stain shouldn’t be remaining on your carpet for much longer.
