The tricky thing is that spots and stains often require different treatment. Using the wrong product or technique can make things worse, causing a stain to spread, bleaching the colour or damaging the fibres.
The good news is that professional treatment can give you the best chance of removing the mark without causing further damage. If possible, get in touch within the first 24 hours, while the spill or stain is still fresh.
Typically, a spot is a mark on the surface of your upholstery or carpet – it hasn’t significantly penetrated or altered the fibres. So, it might be something as simple as soil tracked in, or greasy food that’s been spilled. If treated promptly and correctly, it may be easier to remove spots from your carpet or upholstery.
A stain is a substance that’s penetrated the fibres or affected their colour, making it more difficult to remove completely. Red wine, for example, can strongly discolour light fibres. Pet urine can cause odour and yellowing if left untreated – and food with strong pigments can stain easily and be tricker to remove. That’s why we urge you to book in promptly so there’s more chance of successful treatment.
Here’s how we make the process easy from start to finish:
On your initial call, we’ll ask you what happened, what caused the accident, how long it’s been there and roughly how large the affected area is. If you’re not sure what caused the mark, don’t worry – we can assess when we arrive and work out the best way to treat it.
If the stain is on your carpet, we’ll ask you about the type of carpet you have – wool, synthetic or a blend? And if you’re renting or bought the property with existing carpet, we can identify the fibre when we arrive before we start any treatment.
Not all stains are treated in the same way. Pet accidents, red wine, coffee, grease or oil generally require a different approach. So, when we arrive we’ll assess the area, the material that’s stained and how deeply it has penetrated, before deciding on the safest and most effective treatment.
If it’s a basic spot or stain removal, that will come under our standard prices. A particularly difficult or extensive stain may need extra treatment and incur extra costs, but we’ll always let you know before we proceed with anything so there are no surprises.
Once we’ve assessed the stain, we’ll select the most appropriate professional products and equipment to treat it. We’ll take care to treat the affected area without disturbing or damaging the surrounding material or carpet.
Once the treatment is complete, you’ll need to wait for your carpet or upholstery to dry before you sit or walk on it. We’ll also chat to you about what you can do to further protect your flooring and furnishings in the future.
Over the past decade, we’ve used our knowledge and experience to treat spot and staining issues for customers all over Sydney.
Professional stain treatment isn’t simply about having a stronger cleaning product. It’s about understanding what caused the mark, what type of material is affected and most importantly, which treatment is least likely to cause further damage.
For example, a grease or ink mark may respond to a solvent-based treatment, while other stains may require a neutral-based or hydrogen-peroxide-based product. Knowing which approach to use, and when to stop, is part of getting the best possible result without damaging the carpet, rug or upholstery.
Contact us about your spot or stain and we’ll help you work out the best treatment. Our friendly local team is always happy to chat to see if we can help.
Why DIY spot or stain treatments often go wrong We’re often called out after a customer has tried to treat a stain using baking soda, vinegar, detergent or a supermarket stain remover. The trouble is, there’s no one size fits all approach. The wrong product can bleach or alter the colour of your carpet or upholstery, and abrasive products can distort the pile. If you’re not sure what to do, it’s safer to leave it alone and get professional advice.
Do you offer a same day stain cleaning service?
We’re often able to come to you on the same day for emergency treatment. Contact us to check our availability and provide the details of the spot or stain. That way, we’ll know if we have an appropriate window of time to do the treatment. If not, we’ll make another time that’s convenient to you.
How can I avoid staining in the first place?
We do encourage customers to consider applying protectors to upholstery or carpets to reduce the risk of permanent staining. These products slow down absorption, make spills easier to remove before they penetrate the fibres, and reduce the risk of staining. Protectors can also help with everyday wear and tear.
I’ve got stain removal products for my carpet. Should I try those first?
It can be tempting to grab a supermarket carpet cleaner to treat a spill, but sometimes DIY treatment can make a stubborn stain harder to remove. Scrubbing can also damage fibres, alter the colour of the carpet or spread the stain. It’s often best to leave it alone and get professional advice.
I poured water on the stain but I think I wrecked the carpet – help!
Saturating a stain on, say, a carpet or rug could spread the damage or push the substance deeper into the carpet backing or underlay. It can also leave moisture behind, which can lead to unpleasant smells or in some cases, mould. Again, it’s best not to touch it and call in a professional who can assess the stain and give you the best chance of removing it.
Preparing your area for water damage restoration