Kool-Aid Stain Removal Technique for Carpets

Kool-Aid is known for that smiling face on the large pitcher. Unfortunately, smiles diminish after the discovery of dried-in Kool-Aid stains on your nice carpet.

As some of you may have already experienced, the accidentally spilling red Kool-Aid onto the carpet creates a huge red mess. You cannot miss the extremely visible red stain, due to the red coloring in Kool-Aid. Fortunately, red Kool-Aid stains can be removed from carpets with some relatively simple cleaning products. Believe it or not, both the new and old Kool-Aid stains can be removed from carpets.

Old Kool-Aid stains are among the most difficult to remove from carpets because they contain food dyes. Food dyes dye the fibers of the carpet and the longer they remain in the carpet, the more permanent they become. You may need to try more than one method to remove the stain. Start with the simplest option and proceed until the stain is gone.

Here is what you need to do:

·     Pour 1 tsp. liquid hand dishwashing detergent and 1 tbsp. ammonia into a bowl. Add 2 cups of warm water to the bowl to form a soapy solution.

·     Dampen a white cotton cloth in the soapy solution. Blot the stain with the damp cloth until the Kool-Aid is absorbed.

·     Continue blotting the stain with the soapy solution. If the stain is a little more stubborn, pour 3 tsp. liquid hand dishwashing detergent, 1 tbsp. white vinegar and 2 cups warm water into a bowl.

·     Dampen a white cotton cloth in the solution, and then blot the stain with the cloth until the stain is removed. If the stain still won't come out, dampen a sponge with rubbing alcohol.

·     Scrub the stain with the sponge until the red stain is completely gone. Dampen another white cotton cloth with cold water, and blot the carpet with the cloth to rinse out the rubbing alcohol. Dry the carpet with a towel.

Another avenue to pursue is the Borax Method:

·     Spray the stain with cold water. Sprinkle borax over the surface of the stain.

·     Cover the area with a damp white cloth and press down firmly to push the borax into the carpet.

·     Lift the white cloth and spray the area with more water.

·     Lay a clean cloth over the stain and press down again. Continue this process until the stain is gone.

·     Scrape off the borax solution and rinse the carpet with water.

·     Place a clean, dry cloth on the area and lay a brick over it for several hours.

·     Vacuum the area to remove any remaining borax.

The Heat Method is one that has shown to work well too:

·     Lay a wet white cloth on the stain.

·     Set a warm (not hot) iron over the stain and wait 15 minutes. Do not rub the spot with the iron or press down on the carpet.

·     Remove the white cloth and replace it with a new wet cloth. Repeat the process until the stain is gone.

Be mindful, there are some things you do not want to use when cleaning spots out of your carpet:

·     Do not use laundry detergent or automatic dishwasher detergents as they may damage the fibers of your carpet.

·     Do not use bleach or ammonia on wool carpets as it will damage the fibers.

·     Do not use carpet spot cleaners on oriental rugs as it will damage the fibers. Oriental rugs should be cleaned with caution. If your rug is an antique, silk, or part silk, contact a professional to remove the stain.