You tackled that pesky stain on your carpet months ago and are basking in the glow of a stain removed when – suddenly – it reappears. What happened?
Without the proper carpet cleaning formula, a stain is only treated and removed on the carpet's surface, which is visible for all to see. But the stain itself may have soaked through the entire carpet fiber, into the carpet backing, and sometimes even into the pad below. Over time, the trapped stain can travel back up to the fiber stands and into the carpet fibers at the surface, where it reappears.
The stains stop here! Do you want to know how to get chocolate out of carpet? Or how to finally get ink out of your carpet? Here is our handy guide to clean carpet stains and stop them from reoccurring!
How To Choose a Carpet cleaning formula
Not all carpet cleaning formulas are created equal. We know there are many options, but it’s essential to choose the correct formula when treating and cleaning carpets.
Formulas with enzymes work to break down organic stains in your carpet, like pet accidents or food. They work best when covered with a moist towel and are given time to work (12-72 hours). Enzyme action in these carpet cleaning formulas is similar to healthy probiotics found in yogurt. The enzymes help eat microscopic particles that make up the carpet stain. When they are kept moist, the enzymes will continue multiplying and removing the stain particles until they are gone. (BISSELL Pretreat and Spot Cleaner: Pet Urine Stain & Odor)
Oxygen-boosted cleaning uses active oxygen to break up the chemistry of a stain, removing its color forever and ensuring it won’t reappear. That’s why carpet cleaner formulas with oxy can remove some of your toughest stains for good, so you can rest easy knowing they won’t magically reappear. (BISSELL Pretreat and Spot Cleaner: Oxy® Deep Pro)
Some formulas contain carpet protectants, like StainProtect™, that will leave behind a protective layer around the carpet fibers. These types of carpet cleaning formulas guard against future carpet stains because after the protective layer is there, stains will bead up on, not soak into, carpet fibers. (BISSELL Advanced Clean and Protect Formula)
How to Clean Carpet Stains
1) Pre-Treat Stains
If you are ready to clean dirty or disgusting carpet and want the best possible results, pre-treating is key! Before using the Big Green® carpet cleaner rental, cover all the nasty stains in your carpet with a BISSELL pretreat and spot trigger spray product (like one of the ones listed above or on our website). Then, fill the clean tank of the Big Green® carpet cleaner with water, and add one of the BISSELL. Carpet Cleaning formulas and you are ready to go. We recommend using Advanced Clean & Protect. It’s our most powerful formula for removing tough, ground-in dirt and stains.
2) Deep Clean Carpet with the BISSELL Big Green® Carpet Cleaner Semi-Annually
For stains that have been sitting for an extended period or deeply soiled carpet, try deep cleaning the entire area. Use an oxygen-boosted formula in the Big Green® carpet cleaning machine so it can reach all the way down into the carpet fibers to remove the toughest stains.
To keep your carpets looking their best and get rid of tough stains, we recommend cleaning them twice a year with the BISSELL Rental Big Green Deep Cleaning Machine®. Rent the Big Green® carpet cleaning during spring cleaning season and then again after the kids return to school. You’ll get all those stains that come with walking on the carpet with shoes during the winter and all the sand and dirt from summer and fall.
3) Spot Clean Stains When They Happen
When a fresh stain happens, treat your carpet as soon as possible with a stain remover to prevent it from soaking into carpet fibers and re-appearing in the future.
Where to Find a Carpet Cleaner Rental Near Me
Next time you think your carpet needs to be cleaned, look for a store near you that carries BISSELL Rental. Go to our Location Search Tool and type in your zip code (or postal code if you are in Canada). You can choose a 10-, 25-, 50- or 100-mile radius to find stores in your area.