Does Water Stain Carpet? (Find Out)

does water stain carpet

The big question running through your mind right now is “does water stain carpet?” Well, we’re about to find out.

Yes water does stain carpet. If you had water spill on your carpet and it’s not cleaned up immediately, the water sinks into the carpet and absorb dirt and dust particles in the carpet, this discolors the water and thereby your carpet. .

Water stain on a carpet can totally ruin its look, especially if it’s a light colored carpet. Water stains can also be caused by sediments that are sometimes present in the water being left behind once the spillage or leak dries out.

Read: Does do urine cause mold in carpet

How to Remove Water Stains from Carpet

Locate The Source

Before we try to remove the water stain, you need to locate the source of the spill or leakage in order to prevent the stain from reoccurring. If the stain was from a glass of water spill, then you know the cause of the stain and should go ahead and remove it.

But if you suspect the cause to be a leak, you can try turning off the water supply at the main and then turn on all taps in your home till the pipes have run dry; this will prevent the spread of the leak all over the floor which can cause greater damage. 

Hire a plumbing professor to come look at your pipes and repair it if necessary if you suspect that the stain is a result of a plumbing issue. Once the source of the problem is located, you need to ensure that it is completely repaired so that the stain does not return or lead to further damage.

Read: How to remove grease stain from carpet

Using Soap and Water

Soap and water can be used as a quick fix for those accidental spills. Start by using a clean towel to blot up the moisture making sure to remove as much of the water as you can. If it’s a fresh spill, you can go in with another clean white cloth and press it lightly against the water stain.

Depending on the amount of water that was spilled, you can even try walking on the cloth to get more of the water to transfer from the carpet to the cloth.

Paper towels can also be used for this process, and you can even try placing a heavy object on the paper towels and allowing it to sit for at least an hour in other to really push out the water from the carpet.

After blotting the area completely, mix one teaspoon dishwashing soap with some water in a bowl or bucket, and soak a clean cloth into the mixture. Using this mixture to remove the sediment or dirt is very necessary as they can further stain your carpet.

For this process, you want to make sure to use only non-bleach detergent because a detergent with bleach can discolor your carpet.

Next, use the clean cloth saturated with soapy water to gently scrub on the stain; there’s an emphasis on the word “gentle” because rubbing your carpet fiber too hard can make them look worn.

You want to start rubbing at the edges of the stain and gradually work your way inward. In some areas, you may not need to rub at all as the soap-and-water just lifts up the stain.

This method is most effective for fresh or small spills, but if it doesn’t work, there are other methods.

Using Vinegar

Vinegar is another cleaning solution that can be used to remove water stain in cases where soap and water weren’t effective enough.

For this process, you can only make use of white vinegar. Simply mix 14 teaspoon of white vinegar for every 4 cups of water.

Saturate a clean cloth with the vinegar and water mixture and apply the solution on the water-stained area of the carpet. You can also pour the vinegar mixture into a bottle with a spray nozzle or use a hand-held sprayer for easy application.

Then using another clean cloth, press lightly onto the carpet and allow the pH in the vinegar to remove the water stain from the carpet.

Allow the carpet to air dry completely because the effect of the cleaning will only be fully visible when the carpet is dry.

Once the carpet has completely dried, you should be able to tell if the water stain has disappeared or not; if the stain persists, you can also repeat the procedure until you achieve your desired results.

For even better results, you can try allowing the vinegar mixture to sit on the stain for a couple of minutes before using another cloth to rub it off.

When waiting for your carpet to dry, do not try to hasten it up by using heat, and you should make sure that no one walks on it in that area until it dries completely.

After achieving your desire result, you can Place one teaspoon of baking soda on the carpet when it’s about to dry. This helps to dry out and deodorize the fabric.

Read: How to get soot out of Carpet

Using a Steam Iron

If the water-and-vinegar mixture did not completely remove the stain, you could try using a steam iron.

First, place a clean towel over the stained area; this will help to protect the carpet fibers from the direct heat of the iron. Set your steam iron on low on the steaming function. This helps to direct hot steam toward the stain.

Then place the iron on the towel for a few minutes, and press gently onto the carpet and remove it.

Using Chemicals

There are different cleaning chemicals you can use to water stains, especially those that were created by a leak that went unnoticed for long or water damage.

Ammonia And Hot Water

If the water stain on your carpet has a color, ammonia is the best fix. Simply mix one-part ammonia and 1 part hot water. Then, apply the mixture to the stain. Place a clean white towel or cloth on top of the stain, and start rubbing the stained area gently.

Continue repeating this process until the stain is gone. Only use this after the detergent and water, or vinegar and water methods were ineffective.

Read: How to get highlighter out of carpet

Carpet Cleaner

You can also use carpet cleaners, which can be found at most grocery stores in spray bottles to remove water stain.

You might find that most carpet cleaners are designed to remove pet stains, like dog urine, from carpet, but do not worry; they will also work on water stains.

Always try homemade fixes like the vinegar or soap mixture before turning to chemicals, only Move

on to using chemicals when the natural procedures fail due to hardier stains.

Also, even with chemicals, you need to make sure you allow the carpet air dry completely before walking over the area.

Using Professional Carpet Cleaners

If you have really severe water damage, for example, if a pipe burst in your basement or your home was flooded, you may need to call professional carpet cleaners.

They have more expertise and tools to suck up water from the carpet. They can also steam clean carpet to remove stubborn stains.

If you the carpet has really severe water damage or there’s mold buildup, you may need to just replace the carpet.

Even if it’s a minor stain, calling professional cleaning is recommended if you have carpet from natural fibers; it might be a good idea to call a professional because such carpets can be quite difficult to clean on your own.

Related: How to get wrinkles out of carpet without a carpet stretcher

Using A Steam Cleaner

If you decide to fix severe water damage on your carpet, you are going to need a steam cleaner, and you can decide to rent or buy one at most home improvement stores and even some grocery stores.

Steam cleaners are very powerful when it comes to cleaning activities, so you might as well purchase a steam cleaner because they are basically vacuum cleaners that apply a cleaning solution and water mixture to the carpet to clean it; you can find them online or at home improvement stores.

To remove severe water damage, you can also try a water/dry vacuum. They are special vacuums that are designed to suck up water.

Read: How to lay carpet without a knee kicker

Conclusion

If you own a carpet and you are wondering if water stains carpet, the answer is yes, and there are different ways on how to remove water stains from carpet. You just have to make sure all the cleaning solution you use is suitable for your carpet to avoid damaging it.

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