Stubborn stains on the carpet are unsightly. Before it ends up in the bulky waste, everyone tries everything to save the good piece. A common tip from the internet: baking powder. We tested whether the trick works.
Carpets enhance every room. It’s all the more unsightly when they get stains. In my case, a large cup of black tea fell on the carpet. So bad that not only did several stains appear, but a strange rust-colored tone was also left behind.
So that the carpet doesn’t have to be thrown away straight away or you don’t have to dig deep into your pockets to clean it, most people first resort to home remedies. There are numerous tips on the internet. You often come across baking soda as a common trick for removing even stubborn stains from the carpet.
A common trick for stubborn stains: baking soda
Baking soda is often recommended as an easy way to remove stubborn stains from carpets. And that’s how it should be, according to various guides rinse.com go:
- Make paste: Put some baking soda in a small bowl and add enough warm water to form a thick, spreadable paste. This should not be too liquid, but should stick to the stain like a thick paste.
- Apply and work in: Spread the paste directly onto the stain and gently work it into the fibers using your fingers, a cloth or a soft brush. This allows the baking soda to penetrate the carpet structure and absorb dirt, liquid or discoloration.
- Let absorb: Allow the paste to work for at least 30 minutes; for stronger or older stains, you can leave it on for several hours or overnight. This gives the baking powder time to bind liquids, odors and dyes.
- Remove: After the paste has completely dried, remove the residue thoroughly with the vacuum cleaner, so that the loosened dirt and baking soda are sucked out.
Tip: Before use, it is recommended to test the paste on an inconspicuous area to ensure that the carpet does not fade or become damaged.
Practical test with sobering results
I mixed the paste as described in numerous guides and applied it to the carpet. You need a fairly large amount of baking soda so that the consistency is right and there is enough paste for the entire stain. I left the paste on for two hours and then removed the residue with a vacuum cleaner.
The result: rather sobering. In one place the spots have become a little lighter and therefore slightly less visible. On the edge, however, the stain is just as stubborn as before.
For small, still fresh stains, the trick may be worth trying. However, you shouldn’t expect miracles with stubborn discolorations such as black or green tea, cola or similarly strongly staining drinks – perhaps the paste would have to work for much longer on such stains.
Now it’s time for me to come out with harder guns! I’m going to test the vacuum cleaners for upholstery, carpets and car seats that you can rent at one of the drugstores and tackle the stubborn stain.
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