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Category: Home Interior Tips

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How to Clean Urine Stains from Carpet

How to Clean Urine Stains from Carpet

Ideally, you would catch the culprit who’s peeing on your carpet right away in order to have the most success in not only stopping them, but being able to clean urine stains from carpet right away! 

clean urine
How to Clean Urine from Carpet

Tools & Chemicals:

Dishwashing or fine fabric detergent, white terry towels, white vinegar, cool water, measuring cup.

Technique:

Work on removing the stain as soon as you notice it. The longer the stain is left on the carpet the greater the chances are of the stain setting.

If the urine is fresh and wet, blot, tamp down and absorb wet urine using a white terry towel. Vacuum any excess dried urine bits or gently scrape up materials with a spoon, if necessary

Mix 1/2 tsp. of dish washing soap or fine fabric detergent into 1 (8 oz.)cup of cool water.

In a small, inconspicuous area, apply a small amount of the cleaning mixture to test that it doesn’t damage or react with the carpet fibers. If there is no damage or reaction, blot or tamp and repeat on the urine spot until the stain is removed. Be patient. Complete removal may require repeating the same step several times. Tamp down on the carpet, do not scrub as this may distort the texture of the pile.

Cover the stain with the towel and press down repeatedly to absorb the stain material and detergent.

Once the stain is completely removed, rinse the area with cold water; blot with a dry white terry towel until all moisture is removed. Repeat this process several times to remove cleaning solution residue. If residue is left on the carpet, it can attract dirt and soils.

If the spot or stain turns brownish when dry, mix 1 part white vinegar and two parts water. Apply a test spot on a small, inconspicuous area of carpet to check for reaction or damage first. If the test spot is fine, then apply a small amount to the stain and blot. Repeat only once.

Precautions:
Never use a stronger concentration than is recommended. Never use laundry detergent or automatic dish washing detergents because they may destroy or dye some fibers.

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Tea stains from carpet

General Info:

Be sure to check the helpful hints for the Do’s and Don’ts of stain removal and Six Sure Ways to Set Stains.

Tools & Chemicals:

Dish washing or fine fabric detergent, white terry towels, white vinegar, warm water, measuring cup.

Technique:

Work on removing the stain as soon as you notice it. The longer the stain is left on the carpet the greater the chances are of the stain setting.

In every case remove all excess wet or dry material before attempting to clean. Blot wet materials using a white terry towel (check helpful hints for a detailed description of blotting). Vacuum excess dry materials or gently scrape up materials with a spoon.

Mix 1/2 tsp. of dish washing soap or fine fabric detergent into 1 (8 oz.)cup of warm water.

Apply a small amount, blot or tamp and repeat until the stain is removed. Be patient. Complete removal may require repeating the same step several times. Tamp down on the carpet, do not scrub as this may distort the texture of the pile.

Cover the stain with the towel and press down repeatedly to absorb the stain material and detergent.

Once the stain is completely removed, rinse the area with cold water; blot with a dry white terry towel until all moisture is removed. Repeat this process several times to remove cleaning solution residue. (Residue can attract soils).

If the spot or stain turns brownish when dry, mix 1 part white vinegar and two parts water. Apply a small amount and blot. Repeat only once.

Precautions:
Never use a stronger concentration than is recommended. Never use laundry detergent or automatic dish washing detergents because they may destroy or dye some fibers.

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Dull Whites

“My white clothes look dull and dingy. Most of the labels say “NO Chlorine Bleach” – is there another way to whiten them?”

There are many reasons for whites to become dull. A very common factor is hard water. The trace elements in the water can prevent soap from lathering properly and the residue can leave a dull or gray appearance. Check with your local utility to see if this is a concern. For slightly hard water, it is possible to overcome the problem, by simply adding more detergent.

You can try an all fabric bleach (Bleach for un-bleachable), or an oxygen bleach, but always test for color fastness on the clothing, and add the bleach to the soap and water, BEFORE adding the clothing. Even these ‘safe’ bleaches can cause damage if poured in concentrate, directly onto wet clothing.

You might also try soaking in a solution of water and lemon juice overnight before washing. Then add this soak water into the wash water with the regular detergent when washing.

The final tip would be to hang these articles to dry in the sun. The sun is an excellent natural bleaching tool, which can actually even lighten some stains to the point they are invisible. The other huge benefit of air drying, along with the fact it is free, is that stained clothing will not have the stain ‘set’, whereas a tumble dryer gets so hot, that the stains are baked into the fibers.

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Yellowing on Kitchen or Linoleum Floors

“I removed a rubber backed mat from my white floor in front of my kitchen sink, and the area under the mat has turned yellow. What will remove this stain?”

The short answer is nothing. It is likely a linoleum floor, which as a result of having moisture trapped under the mat has left this permanent yellowing. There is no way to remove this type of stain. The best solution is yet another mat to hide the stain or to replace the flooring.  A jute or natural backed mat will permit moisture to escape and will not cause further damage.

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White Linen Care

Here are some helpful hints for keeping white sheets looking good.

  • For cotton sheets, wash separately with regular detergent in warm or hot water. Use slightly less detergent than you normally would  this keeps sheets whiter, longer.
  • Cotton sheets can be put in the dryer or outside. The sun is a natural brightening and sanitizing agent  hang your sheets on the line to soak up the suns rays.
  • On linen or delicate white sheets use oxygen based bleach instead of chlorine bleach. Alternatively, you can use a natural whitening agent such as vinegar or lemon juice mixed with water.
  • Pressing or ironing sheets when they are slightly damp gets the best results. To avoid damaging any detailing such as raised stitching or embroidery; iron the back of the sheet on top of a soft, clean towel. Try using a spray bottle of water and a tablespoon of vinegar to iron out wrinkles.
  • Always store linens in an airy, dry closet with the shelves lined with paper. Also, avoid leaving your folded, fine linen stored for too long. The fabric can deteriorate along the creases.
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Washing Machine Odors

This question was submitted from Ester

“My washing machine has a “wet stink” like you get on wet clothes if they’re left folded or crumpled for awhile. I’ve run a couple of loads of laundry with bleach, but the washer’s still stinky. What can I do to get rid of the odor?”

  • The first thing to do is to check to there are no mechanical problems with the washer.
  • Be sure there are no drainage problems or any problems with the actual operation of the cycles. Bleach should in fact kill any mildew so there may be a problem with water not draining completely from the washer or the drainage system.
  • We have also heard of people running a load with a cup or two of white vinegar to rinse out the machine.
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Wicker and Rattan

Wicker and rattan furniture can either be made out of natural or man-made fibers. Each is treated differently . For natural wicker, avoid over using water for man-made it is the opposite.

  • Since most wicker is varnished or painted, regular cleaning simply involves dusting or vacuuming and an occasional light cleaning with a sponge, warm water, wood soap (such as Murphys Oil Soap) and a soft brush for between the weaves.
  • Do not over-wet and dry as soon as possible with a dry cloth.
  • You can give some protection to wicker with a light coating of aerosol furniture polish.
  • Outdoor wicker, more likely to be man-made, can take a more rigorous cleaning. You can use more aggressive cleaners and brushes. However, after hosing off try to dry the piece as quickly as possible  set it in the sun or near a fan.

Precautions:
If your wicker furniture creaks excessively then the fibers may have dried out and need some moisture restored. You can simply wipe it down with a damp sponge.

Also, over-exposure to sun, rain and the elements will shorten the life of wicker considerably.

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Yellow Stains on Sofa/couch

This question was submitted from Gunner.

“I got a used couch (dark blue) and there are yellowish stains on the arm rests and end of the seats. Could you help me?”

The yellowish stains on the upholstery are most likely human skin and oils ground into the fabric fibers after a significant amount of use. The staining is more prominent because of the dark blue color of the fabric.

You would find that if the fabric was brown or beige in color that this type of staining would be less visible.

The solution is to have the upholstery professionally clean by an IICRC (Institute of Inspection Cleaning & Restoration) certified carpet and upholstery cleaning company. They will have the appropriate cleaning/fabric knowledge, chemicals and equipment to effectively handle this soiling condition.

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Water Heaters

How to Flush Out Your Water Heater

  1. Locate and shut off the power source (circuit breaker or fuses) for electric water heaters only; but leave the water supply on. Gas and LP supply valves for non-electric heaters can be left on.
  2. For natural gas and propane (LP) water heaters, make a note of what the temperature setting is and then turn the thermostat (large red dial on the front of the control) to the lowest setting (pilot). If you plan to use the water for other purposes, turn the heat off ahead of time and allow the water to cool (overnight) before draining. Open a faucet closest to the water heater, like the bathroom.
  3. Attach a garden hose to the drain cock located at the bottom of the heater. The drain cock usually looks like a regular hose bib (garden faucet) or a round dial with a threaded hole in the middle. (The drain cock may be hidden under a removable cover.)
  4. Extend the garden hose to a place where the water can safely exit the heater (e.g. a drain, a driveway, etc.). This water is perfect for watering the yard with, once cooled. If you plan ahead, the water can be cool and usable.
  5. Open the drain cock to allow the water to exit the heater. Caution: the water leaving the heater will be hot and under normal household water pressure. Also note that if the drain cock is made of plastic and the heater is several years old, it may be difficult to open and may break easily if forced.
  6. After five minutes of flushing, fill a bucket with the still flushing water.
  7. Allow the water in the bucket to stand undisturbed for a minute and see if the water is clear or if any sand-like material settles to the bottom. If the water is clear and no sand-like material is observed, go on to step 8. If the water is discolored and/or sand-like material is observed at the bottom of the bucket, repeat steps 5 and 6 until the flush water is completely clear and free of sediment.
  8. Close the drain cock and remove the garden hose.
  9. Turn on the electrical circuit breaker or return the gas control to the setting it was previously at and allow ample time for the water to heat back up.

Enjoy the clean water and the longer-lasting, more efficient water heater!

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