Highlighters can leave behind unsightly stains on your carpet. It is important that you deal with such stains immediately they occur, this is because they will be still fresh and easy to remove.
Our guide will teach you how to get highlighter out of carpet but make sure you have the correct supplies and you follow the instructions correctly. There are different ways to remove highlighter stain from carpet and we’re going to discuss all of them.
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How to Get Highlighter Out Of Carpet
Table of Contents
There are two methods you can try to remove highlighter from your carpet, but before you begin any of the processes, ensure you have the supplies that are listed below handy.
Start with the least evasive method like soap and water before moving on to rubbing alcohol and safety pins if the stain persists.
Materials You Will Need:
- A roll of paper towels
- Bowl
- Coldwater
- Dish soap
- White vinegar
- Several lint-free white cloths
- Rubbing alcohol
- Safety pins
- Liquid laundry soap
Use Soap
The combination of dish soap and white vinegar is very effective in removing different carpet stains, including highlighter ink.
Start by mixing the solution by adding 1 tablespoon of both liquid dish soap and white vinegar and 2 cups of cold water to a bowl. Then saturate a lint-free white cloth into the solution.
Use this saturated cloth to soak the stain. Press the cloth into the stain releasing some of the water into the carpet to help transfer the stain onto the cloth from the carpet.
Do this with caution to avoid soaking the surrounding area with too much water which can cause the ink to leak and spread. To reduce the amount of water released you can fold the cloth before using it.
Repeat this step for about 5 to 10 minutes before taking a dry lint-free white cloth to blot the spot and dry the area. Ensure to switch the sides of the cloth frequently as you blot the area dry to avoid transferring the ink back onto the carpet.
Rinse the soap residue out of your carpet and squeeze out the excess water. To dry the carpet further take another dry cloth and dab the area until all the excess water in the carpet is soaked up.
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Rubbing Alcohol
If the stain still persists even after wiping it off with the soapy solution, you can try rubbing alcohol. But remember to spot test an inconspicuous area of your carpet before using the rubbing alcohol on a visible part of the carpet, this is because rubbing alcohol is known to stain certain surfaces and carpets.
If the rubbing alcohol doesn’t produce any undesirable effect on your carpet, you can use it to lift the stain.
Do this by soaking a paper towel with a small amount of rubbing alcohol and dab on the stain. If the stain is too large and saturated, you can pour the alcohol directly onto the stain.
Blot the area with a paper towel rubbing the carpet fibers using a moderate amount of pressure. Frequently inspect the paper towel to see if the stain is lifting. If it is, ensure to constantly change the paper towels as you rub off the stain to avoid embedding the stain deeper into the carpet.
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Clean the Area
To clean the carpet, create a solution in a bowl by mixing a few drops of liquid laundry detergent and two cups of cold water. Saturate a lint-free white cloth with the solution and use it to scrub the stain. This will help to the stain further as well as the rubbing alcohol.
Now using safety pins, press them into the middle of the stain that you just treated, so you can identify the spots even after it has dried. Then give your carpet at least an hour to dry.
After the carpet has dried for a while you need to inspect the stains and check the spots where you placed the safety pins. If the stain is still visible, you can repeat the procedure to lift the stain even more.
Allow the area to dry after you’ve successfully lifted all the stains. Use a clean towel, to scrub your carpet until it becomes relatively dry. You can also use a fan to hasten the drying process.
If you’re finding it difficult to scrub the carpet properly with a cloth or paper towel, you can use a soft bristle scrub brush or a rough-textured washcloth.
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Baking Soda
If none of the above steps were effective, you can introduce baking soda into the mixture.
Create the solution by combining 2 tablespoons of both white vinegar and liquid dish soap with two cups of cold water. Then add about 1 to 2 teaspoons of baking soda into your soapy solution and thoroughly mix it until the baking soda is fully dissolved.
Fill a spray bottle with the solution and apply it to the stained area generously. Make sure to thoroughly soak the site of the stain with the solution, but only use this method after trying every other method with no success.
Allow the solution to sit on the carpet for about 10 to 15 minutes to allow it to work its magic. Afterward, dab the area with a wet white cloth. Finally use a clean cloth to wipe the area until it’s damp, then allow it to air dry completely.
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Conclusion
After implementing any of the above-mentioned methods on how to get highlighter out of carpet, the stain should be lifted from your carpet, and the area should look as good as new! Only use lint-free white cloths so that you do not introduce inked lint into your carpet fibers, this will create a bigger mess and will defeat the entire purpose of removing the stain.
If any of these methods prove ineffective, you can add some baking soda into a vinegar mixture, this will cause a chemical reaction that will bubble the stain out of your carpet.