The Essential Rules Of Successful Stain Removal

Cleaning Utensils. Essential Stain Removal

Need to remove a stain, a spot or a smudge? Don't even begin to blot until you've read our tips to wiping the slate (or carpet, sofa, best silk shirt) clean. Plus, don't forget, you can find out the best approach to specific cleaning jobs in the 4Homes Cleaning Directory.

1. Be Quick

Spilt something? Acting swiftly is a must, but before you take a wet cloth to anything, start by blotting with something dry and absorbent - kitchen roll is ideal, tea towels will do, a towel would work, and failing that, use whatever's handy and not valuable...

2. Use A Knife

What if the spillage has set hard? Sometimes, using a blunt knife will remove something more quickly and effectively than a cloth. Try this first, but be gentle with delicate materials.

3. Don't Rub, Do Dab

Never rub a stain, even if it's stubborn. Gentle dabbing, particularly on delicate fabrics is a must. Rubbing will leave a mark and will possibly spread the stain.

4. Use The 4Homes Cleaning Directory

Investigate our Cleaning Directory before you take a warm soapy cloth to anything. Some stains are set by warm water - think oil-based spills and blood - so you're better off blotting, then researching.

5. Do A Test First

Hoping to remove a stain from somewhere really obvious - perhaps a sofa cushion or a carpet? Do a spot-test first in a less obvious place to ensure what you're cleaning can tolerate what you're using. Some fabrics are not colourfast and others will be easily damaged by watermarks.

6. Work Out Not In

Don't spread the stain - it's easily done if you work in a circular motion from its centre, and you'll be left with a bigger problem than you had at the beginning. Instead, start at the outside of the stain and work inwards to limit it.

7. Try, Try Again

Our stain removal instructions should work - but what if they don't? Rather than dousing your carpet with a catalogue of cleaning solutions in an attempt to get a result, simply try again, and again, and again. Repeating the process a few times should always do the job in the end.

8. Machine Wash It

Once you've treated a stain, it's always a good idea to give the offending item a good whizz round in the washing machine at the highest temperature the fabric will allow (if it will allow...). This should remove any traces of the stain that are left, plus all the cleaning product you've poured onto it.

9. Follow Instructions

If it says 'don't wash above 40 degrees', don't do it. If it says 'dry clean only', don't be surprised when it shrinks/loses shape/changes colour in the machine on a cold wash.

10. Dry Then Check

Allow your cleaned stain to dry. When you've doused something - whether a carpet or fabrics - it's almost impossible to tell if the stain has come out properly. Allow it to dry naturally (no hairdryers please!) so you can see if it's truly clean before you try again.