Stains we are asked about most
- Tea, coffee and fruit juice
- Red wine and fizzy drinks
- Mud and garden soil, a regular one near the beach and the Broads
- Grease, oil and food
- Pet urine, vomit and muddy paws
- Makeup, nail varnish and ink
- Rust marks from furniture feet
- Dark lines along skirting boards (filtration soiling)
How we treat a stain
We find out what the stain is, how long it has been there and what has already been tried on it. Drinks with tannins, protein stains, oily marks and dyes all respond to different chemistry. Using the wrong product first can set a stain permanently, which is why we test on a hidden area before working on anything visible.
Small marks can be spot treated on their own. Where a room has several marks and general soiling, treating the stains as part of a full steam clean gives a more even result.
What goes wrong with DIY stain removal
Rubbing spreads the stain and frays the pile. Too much carpet shampoo leaves a sticky patch that turns grey as it attracts dirt. Bleach-based sprays can strip the colour, leaving a pale patch that cannot be cleaned back. If a stain is fresh, blot it with a clean white cloth and cold water, then leave it for us.
Being honest about permanent stains
Some stains change the colour of the fibre itself, for example bleach, some dyes and old urine. Those cannot be cleaned out because there is nothing left to remove. We will tell you when that is likely before you pay for a treatment, and talk through options such as colour repair or a patch repair by a carpet fitter.
Stain removal questions
Can you remove an old stain?
Often, though older stains are harder. Tell us what it is and roughly how long it has been there. A photo helps us give you a straight answer before booking.
Will the stain come back?
Some stains wick back up as the carpet dries, because part of the spill soaked into the backing. We extract thoroughly to reduce this, and will tell you if a stain is the type that tends to reappear.