Carpet Repairs: Removing Stains and Replacing Sections

Stained carpet.

Carpet stains can be caused by all kinds of substances, from food and beverages to grease and ink. It is best to remove carpet stains as soon as they occur; don’t allow them to consolidate, spread, or sink into the carpet fibers. To remove them and replace a section of carpet, follow these tips.

Stains

The first step to take is to soak up as much of the liquid as you can using a paper towel or other dry absorbent towel. Do not rub into the stain or soak the area with water, since this will cause the stain to spread and make removal more difficult. Instead, blot the stain from the outside edge in and apply pressure to soak up the substance

The next step is to use a carpet stain remover for the complete removal of your carpet stain. You can purchase a stain remover at stores selling household cleaning products, and some treat particular types of stains. Or, you may find that some other cleaning solution works effectively. For example, water mixed with vinegar or dishwashing liquid works to remove stains caused by coffee or tea. Brake cleaner and dry cleaning solution can be used on grease and ink stains. Whichever remover you decide to try, blot it into the stain, then blot the area dry. You will probably need to repeat the steps a few times. Work gently and take your time to avoid causing damage to your carpet fibers.

Replacing a Section of Carpet

Sometimes the damage to your carpet may be too severe to simply blot away. A stain may have penetrated deep into the fibers of the carpet, or the area of damage is rather large. In these cases, replacing a section of your carpet is your best bet for restoring it so that it looks presentable. If you don’t have extra carpet leftover from its original installation, try obtaining a replacement section from a carpet store or from a hidden area of carpet in your home, such as the back of a closet.

The key to making the replacement less noticeable is to make sure the carpet fibers of the section are running in the same direction as the surrounding carpet. Additionally, a round or triangle replacement section is generally less noticeable than a square one. To cut neatly around the damaged carpet, nail a lid of a can over the area and use a utility knife to cut out the carpet piece, following around the circumference.

Make sure the replacement carpet piece is the same size as the damaged cut-out. You can use either carpet tape or a stronger waterproof adhesive to secure the piece in place. When applying the tape or adhesive, fully cover around the edge of the hole and place the carpet piece in. Apply pressure on top by laying a heavy object on the area for 24 hours. If you find that the fibers of the replacement piece are longer than the surrounding carpet, simply trim the fibers with scissors to even out the surface.