My roommate spilled fruit punch on our carpet a month ago. Any idea how to get it out?
I agree, that it may be too late, but the best thing I have found to take out nasty spots on my berber carpet is Folex. It's almost a miracle in a spray bottle. It's kind of pricy, but well worth it. If you can find it, get it. Good luck. PS-I would have your roomie pay for it :-)
It might be a little late, but go to bed bath and beyond or some store like that and find a product called WineOut. If it can handle red wine out of my white carpet it should easily handle fruit punch.
If it is strictly juice: pat the area with a clean damp rag with household ammonia 25% Hot Watter 75%. The rag you are using should rerung in the ammonia solution every few pats. Depending upon how much sunk into the carpet, you may soak the area and press real hard to get the liquid back out of the carpet backing and possibly even the padding. Once most of the liquid is removed then switch to a solution of OxyClean and very hot water. The stain needs to be soaked in the OxyClean solution for at least 10 minutes. Getting that liquid back up will require some kind of suction device like a shopvac. If it is a drink like Hawaiian punch: Skip the ammonia step and go straight for the OxyClean step above. Make sure the watter is as hot as possible. I boil mine then add the OxyClean, watch out it will foam up very fast when added to hot water. I use the cheap stuff from the dollar store, but the real stuff does dissolve better. The older the carpet the less likely you will be able to get the stain out. This is because the carpet fibers have been worn down and allow easier penetration of stains. If it was a large amount of liquid you may need a rug shampooer or shopvac to get up all of the liquid. The idea is to soak the area then remove the liquid, with the stain hopefully. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO GET ALL OF THE LIQUID OUT!!! THIS MAY BE VERY DEEP INTO THE PADDING. If you don't get out all of the liquid the stain may look gone when finished, but will mysteriously return weeks later after walking on that area. Also leaving a carpet damp may lead to mold problems. With the stain remaining in the carpet for a month to dry, the possibility of cutting a remnant from one area of the carpet and having it placed in the spotted area might be your only solution. Obviously this is done by a professional and will depend upon if you have an area of carpet that can replace the now stained area. QueryAll on the Internet
Wow...a month? Bummer. Well, if its a PURE white carpet, I'd recommend trying a bleach-based cleanser. Spray it on, let it soak for a minute, then rub it out and spray with clean water and step the water out with towels till the area's bleach-free dry. Or you could look for a cleaner called Spot-Shot. However, this is usually best on fresh stains... Good luck. (PS - try putting this under Cleaning Laundry in the House Garden section as well...you might get some more answers there)
