Spotting Guide


 

 

 

Solution One: 2 cups warm water, 1/2 teaspoon liquid dish detergent

 

Solution Two: 1/4 cup vinegar, 3/4 cup cool water

 

Solution Three: One tablespoon clear ammonia, 1/2 cup cool water

 

Solution Four: 100% mineral spirits

 

 

 

 

 

Spotting Procedures

  1. Remove excess material. For dry material, such as mud, remove as much solid material as possible either through vacuuming or by scrapping the affected area.On liquid spills, blot up as much liquid as possible.

     

  2. Always blot, never scrub the spot. Always blot to prevent damage to the fibers for both carpet and furniture. Aggressive scrubbing will cause fiber distortion.

     

  3. Work the spot from the edges to the middle. Apply small amounts of the mixture to the spot. Gently blot the spotusing a white cloth working from the outer edges to the middle. This will prevent the spot from spreading into the surrounding area. Keeprepeating this process until the spot has been removed or until the spotwill no longer transfer into the cloth.

     

  4. Test the area first. It is always a good idea to test the carpet or furniture in aninconspicuous area before spotting. Some fabric may bleed or suffercolor loss from the spotting procedures.

     

Spot Removal Guide

Alcohol / Beer

Blot. Solution One.

 

Animal Accidents

Solution Two, let completely dry. Apply Solution Three. If odor persists, call Adelman.

 

Baby Formula

Blot. Solution One.

 

Blood

Solution One. If spot remains, Solution Three.

 

Burns

Trim the tips of burned fibers with a scissors. If the damage is extensive, call Adelman.

 

Chocolate

Solution One. If spot remains, Solution Three.

 

Coffee / Tea

Solution One. If spot remains, Solution Two. See note about wicking.

 

Crayon

See: Advance Removal Techniques

 

Fruit Juice / Jelly / Artificially Colored Beverages

Remove remaining material. Blot, as dry as possible. Solution One. Rinse and blot. If color remains, see advanced spot removal guide.

 

Furniture Polish

Solution Four.

 

Glue

Removing glue is completely dependant on type. Many manufacturers will give detailed removal instructions. Follow their directions carefully. If help is not available, call Adelman.

 

Grass

Solution One. If spot remains, Solution Two. Blot dry. Solution Three. Rinse area using Solution One. Repeat if necessary.

 

Graphite

Vacuum Only. Call Adelman.

 

Gravy

Remove remaining material. Rinse using cool water. Blot. Solution One.

 

Grease

Remove remaining material. Solution Four. Rinse using Solution One. Repeat if necessary.

 

Gum

Chill with an ice cube. Scrape off as much as possible. Solution Four.

 

Ice Cream / Milk

Flush area with warm tap water. Blot dry. Solution One.

 

Ink

Blot. Solution Four. If ink remains, use isopropyl alcohol. Note: isopropyl alcohol will thin the ink and may create a larger spot.

 

Iodine

Moisten the area with a few drops of white vinegar. In a mixing glass or warm water, stir in one teaspoon of sodium thiosulfate (hypo-crystals). This can often be found in photo supply stores. Apply a teaspoon of the solution to the area. Blot. Repeat as necessary. When finished, rinse with cool water.

 

Mildew

Mildew is very hard and often impossible to remove even with professional techniques. Call Adelman for recommendations.

 

Mud

Let dry. Scrape or vacuum off as much as possible. Solution One.

 

Nail Polish

Solution Four. If polish remains use nail polish remover (acetone). Note: nail polish remover may dissolve some fibers. Pre-test an area first.

 

Oil / Tar

Remove remaining material. Solution Four. Rinse using Solution One. Repeat if necessary. If spill is large, call Adelman.

 

Paint - Latex

Blot. Solution Four. If paint remains, use a latex remover like Goof Off or Oops. Note: carpets are constructed with latex, so follow directions carefully.

 

Paint - Oil

Blot. Solution Four.

 

Sugar / Candy

Scrape off with a dull knife. Blot with cool water. Solution One.

 

Tomato Sauce

Blot. Solution One. If color remains, see advanced spot removal guide.

 

Wax / Crayons

See advanced spot removal guide.

 

Vomit

Blot. Solution Two. Rinse Solution One.

 

Wine

Blot. Pour table salt on area. When dry, vacuum. If spot remains, try Solution One & see advanced spot remove guide.

 

Wicking

Sometimes spots may reappear after cleaning or spotting. This problem is called wicking. If this happens, simply respot the area and place a dry white cloth over the area with a weighted object like a phone book on top of the cloth. Leave the cloth in place until the area is completely dry.

 

Advanced Carpet Cleaning Solutions