Tackle those stains!

Let’s face it, getting stains on your clothes, carpet or any other surface is just a fact of life. It doesn’t matter how careful or diligent you are, or even if you think you have escaped a saucy dinner unscathed, they always seem to happen no matter what. Carpet stains are not all made equal and tomato sauce stains can be some of the worst – whether it’s pasta, pizza, lasagne or even just plain old baked beans, tomato sauce has some special super power to make a real mess. Getting it off clothes is one thing, but getting those red, oily stains out of a carpet is a completely different ball game. This is where Drytron Carpet Dry Cleaning comes in handy.

It’s important to point out the difference between a spot and a stain. A spot can be a result of an incident that just happened and can be cleaned very easily if it hasn’t soaked into the carpet fibres. Stains, on the other hand, are typically older and more permanent. These have got into the carpet fibres and have the power to change the colour of the carpet forever.

While it’s sometimes possible to get them out, taking on those greasy, orange spots out of a carpet can be a real hassle, and not every carpet cleaning method works as well as you’d like it to. Here are a few stain removal tips you can try to get rid of those damned tomatoey spots (even those dried on ones!). If you are not sure you can tackle these alone, call in the carpet cleaning experts. Just remember, before attempting any stain removal technique, you should always check with the manufacturer’s guidelines and do a cleaning test on a small inconspicuous area first.

Ice, dish detergent and vinegar

This home remedy can be used on most surfaces, however it works best on clothes or other easy-to-wash items. Carpet stains can be removed this way but it can get a little tricky getting it dry afterwards. All you need for this is an ice cube, dish detergent and white vinegar.

First, make sure you have scraped off any excess tomato sauce, then go ahead and apply a little of the dish detergent to the carpet stain. Second, place an ice cube on top of the stain and let it sit for 2-3 minutes or so. Third, drop a few drops of vinegar onto the stain and, once again, let it sit for a short while. Lastly, using a clean cloth, spot clean the area and the stain should be all gone. This one can be a little fiddly, but the dish detergent can be great on those oily stains that tomato sauce usually leaves behind.

Baking soda and lemon

This next home remedy is one of those Grandma tricks that everyone seems to know, but does require a lot of time, reapplication and elbow grease. All you need is salt, baking soda and water. Simply mix equal parts salt and baking soda together in a small bowl, then add a little bit of water to form a paste. Once combined, rub the paste into the stain and let sit until dry. This trick can require multiple applications and sometimes isn’t strong enough to get the stain out, so you may be best using another method.

Store bought stain removers

This last one is almost always more effective than the ones above as store bought stain removers are typically faster, cleaner and stronger for getting out even the worst of tomato stains (we’re talking the full plate of spaghetti on the floor kind).

The Stain Buster or Wee Buster packs from Drytron Carpet Dry Cleaning are known for their ease of use and ability to remove even the toughest of carpet stains. First, try your best to scrape or scoop up any solids first. It’s really important not to scrub the stain further into the carpet at this point as it can push the stain deeper into the carpet fibres.

Second, blot out the liquid with any clean towelling material – and act fast. The earlier you get to the spot or stain the better. Third, making sure you follow the cleaning instructions carefully, apply the cleaning product to another clean towel or cloth and get to work on the stain.

Applying the cleaning product to the carpet can discolour the carpet if too much is used. To keep the stain in one spot, dab and wipe from the outside of the stain inwards in small, light motions. Then rinse the area with cold or lukewarm water. Lastly, gently blot the area with a white paper towel. You are essentially trying to ‘pick up’ the stain with a paper towel. Keep dabbing the area until the stain has been lifted off.

If these stain removal tips still aren’t getting rid of that damned spot, you might need to get someone in to give you a hand. For professional carpet cleaning help, cleaning advice and even more carpet cleaning tips and tricks, Drytron offer excellent professional carpet cleaning services. We even offer personalised carpet cleaning consultations to make sure you get those pesky tomato stains out for good.

Call our friendly team to discuss your cleaning requirements:

Book Online or Call: (03) 8393 8874

We all love living in a clean home, even if we don’t necessarily enjoy cleaning it. So we’ve put together some tips to make cleaning easier, while delivering great results. These smart cleaning tips mean less elbow grease — and more time to get on with the things you enjoy!

Cleaning your oven:

If you would prefer not to use oven cleaner or don’t have any at home, you can mix some baking soda and vinegar together and use that. Apply the mixture as a paste to your oven, leave it on for 30 minutes to soak in, and then scrub the dirt off once it’s softened.

When oil splatters on your splashbacks or around your stove top, you can use baby oil or a little olive oil moistened paper towel to rub off the splatter. This may sound strange, but remember, oil removes oil. Wipe with a clean cloth until the oily residue has disappeared.

Steaming your microwave:

Instead of scraping off the food mess that’s coating the insides of your microwave, utilise the power of steam to clean your microwave instead. Place a microwaveable bowl with water and lemon inside your microwave and turn it onto high for 3 – 5 minutes. The steam created will loosen the grime and make it easy to clean off with a paper towel or soft cloth.

Burnt pots & pans:

You can clean a burnt pan with water, vinegar and baking soda. Half-fill the pan with water and then add a cup of white vinegar. Bring it to the boil, remove from the heat and then add two tablespoons of baking soda. Let it sit until cooled and then wipe the mixture out of the pan.

Wooden cutting boards:

Lemons are great for both cleaning and sanitising. Place some coarse salt on the cutting board then use a lemon that has been cut in half and rub it over your cutting board. This will help remove stains and clean it at the same time. Then rinse with water.

Disinfect your keyboard:

Most of us never think to do this, and we should probably be cleaning our keyboards more than ever with COVID around. This is an easy task to do with an old toothbrush and vinegar. Dip a toothbrush in a cup of half-water, half-vinegar mix and use it to clean on and between the keys. Don’t get too liberal with the liquid though- water and electronics do not mix!

While you’re there, use a spare coffee filter to clean the screen of your computer or laptop; the filters trap dust without leaving any fibres behind.

The wonderful lint roller:

Lampshades and upholstery can gather a lot of dust and pet hair over time. One of the best ways to remove this is with a lint roller; just roll it over the lampshade or upholstery and you’ll be amazed at how much comes off!  Take a look at our other upholstery cleaning tips.

Craft time with glitter can be a child’s dream and a parent’s nightmare. It turns up for months after the event —if not years!  Instead of trying to sweep the glitter up and spreading it, use your trusty lint roller once again. Here are some other tips for removing craft stains.

Removing water spots:

Water stains on surfaces can be removed using white vinegar. A solution of half water, half vinegar can also be used on water stains on glasses. Spray the solution on, leave it on for about 15 minutes then wipe it away and give the glass a clean or rinse.

Hard water stains such as limescale can be removed with a lemon. Cut the lemon in half and rub it onto the areas around taps in your bathroom, kitchen or laundry and let the juice soak in for 10 minutes. Then rinse with warm water.

Now that you have some handy tips to make your cleaning easier it’s time to get started. So switch on your favourite playlist, get your marigolds out and get cracking. Here is our ultimate cleaning music playlist for you.