Sometimes you may not differentiate between normal and soot stains. You may try scrubbing the soot stain, but it gets deeper. When the carpet accidentally comes across such stains, you may wonder how to remove these soot stains from the carpet.
Unlike normal dirt stains, soot stains contain carbon, dirt, and oil. These stains are more stubborn than any normal stains and require more effort. As its nature is to spread easily, some practical steps and professional help can do the trick.
We have mentioned six easy steps that will guide you through effective ways to remove soot stains from your carpet.
6 Easy Steps To Get Soot Stains Out Of The Carpet
Step 1: Pick Large Chunks Using A Spoon
Wait before you actually work on soot stains. First, you need to discard any visible lumps using a spoon. Lift the large chunks without pushing them even deep into the carpet.
You can use the normal size of a spoon and ensure you clean it entirely after use. However, a paper towel can be an option if you feel comfortable with it.
Step 2: Sprinkle baking soda, cornstarch, or any absorbent ingredient
Once you lift the large chunks, sprinkle some baking soda over the stains. You can also use some other adsorbents, such as cornstarch or white talcum powder. Cover the stains with enough absorbent entirely to absorb the stains efficiently.
However, using baking soda is also a great way to deodorize your carpet. Let the absorbent sit for an hour before proceeding to the next step.
Step 3: Let it sit and vacuum after an hour
You can easily vacuum the cake-like substance, the absorbent created with the soot stain. Most of the stains can be entirely cleared within an hour. But some stubborn stains may last up to 8 hours.
Set the vacuum cleaner to high power and vacuum the cake-like substance from the stain by repeating the strokes on the soot stain. You can also attach a hose to your vacuum cleaner and use that to get the soot stains out, which are hard to reach.
Step 4: Blot with a white cloth and hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol
Now it's time to clean and restore the color of the carpet. Depending on the color of your carpet, you can use two different DIY cleaners; hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol.
If the color is lighter, use 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of hydrogen peroxide with 3 tablespoons (44 mL) of warm water and apply that to the white cloth. Due to the bleaching effect, first try rubbing the cloth on a hidden part of the carpet before blotting it on the stain to prevent carpet fading.
In other cases, if your carpet has a darker color or is dyed, use 1 tbsp of rubbing alcohol, as it does not have the same bleaching effect as hydrogen peroxide.
Step 5: Remove the solvent completely
After blotting, dab the stained area with a fresh cloth dampened with warm water. Make sure to completely dry the stained area of the carpet, as excess moisture can encourage the growth of mold. Lastly, give it a thorough rinse with a cloth soaked in freshwater before blot-drying.
Step 6: Repeat until you find traces of the soot stain
After the initial cleaning, the soot stain usually becomes less noticeable but still remains. To completely remove the soot stain, apply the absorbent, vacuum it, and blot a cleaning solution onto the stained areas again if needed.
Summing Up
Soot stains can be a headache, and it takes a lot of time to remove them from the carpet. However, using the mentioned method and some easy steps like using adsorbents, vacuuming thoroughly, and a cleaning solvent can help.
However, in other cases, when it is too stubborn to handle, we recommend reaching out to professional carpet cleaning experts. They have the right stain removal solutions and professional expertise to remove soot stains effectively.