Oh no! Your brand new carpet (or perhaps not so new carpet) is stained with something gross, and you need an immediate solution.

Here are 5 different types of carpet stains to treat and quick processes to manage them all.

1. Wine, coffee, blood, and chocolate

This mixture sounds like a Valentine’s Day scenario gone horribly wrong. But these four kinds of stains are extremely common. Here’s what to do. Mix a cup of water with a tablespoon of ammonia, except if you have a wool carpet, and get to work. Depending on your carpet type, you might be able to use diluted bleach as an alternative.

2. Latex paint, jelly, gravy, and feces

For these unpleasant stains – known as water-soluble stains – concoct a solution of vinegar and water. Alternatively, use a detergent that doesn’t contain bleach and mix that with water.

3. Glue

Perhaps your toddler’s construction project went a little bit awry, so now your carpet is all “glued up.” If so, a cloth or cotton ball dipped in rubbing alcohol may be the solution you need. Use the alcohol to moisten up the glue and get it to release from the carpet fibers.

4. Gum

There is probably nothing more sad to look at than a carpet that’s been literally gummed up with gum. You don’t want your living room to emulate some sad hotel lobby or crummy airport (LAX, we’re looking at you). Use ice to literally freeze the gum. Once the gum is frozen solid, break it apart with a spoon or other object. Then simply vacuum up the crumbled frozen pieces.

5. Fats and oils

Whether your great uncle Joe got a little bit crazy with the deep fryer; or one of the kids spilled a family-size bucket of KFC on the floor, you want to get rid of that fat and oil stain ASAP. Use a paper towel to blot up what you can. Then place an iron (safely, please!) on the paper towel to heat the fat, so that it gets liberated from the carpet and sticks to the towel.

These are basic tips, and they may or may not work, depending on the nature of your stain, the length of the time it’s set, the quality and material of your carpet, and other factors.

For a free consultation, connect with the Bay Area carpet cleaning specialists at Elegant Carpet Care. Find us on the web at www.elegant-carpetcare.com, or call us immediately at 650-961-1339 for a consultation.

Image source: thekitchn.com