HOME IMPROVEMENT : How to Keep Spots From Stain Around
It always starts as an accident--maybe a glass of Cabernet that was filled a little too much, a heavy-duty cleaning job that got a little out of hand, or a pet that has been kept inside a little too long. No matter the reason, these accidents can leave the kinds of stains that will haunt a house for as long as you live there.
But not every stain is permanent. Knowing what to do when that glass of grape juice falls on the floor or spills on an antique table can keep your cleaning bills--and your nerves--in order. Here are some tips on how the professionals handle the toughest stains.
Carpeting
Since it’s usually the thing covering the majority of your floor space, it is the thing most likely to be stained. The key to removing a carpet stain is to work on it as soon as possible. “If you have one of the new stain-resistant carpets and you get at the stain early enough, you should be successful,” says Richard Whitley of Carpet Beaters in Orange. “But if it’s an old carpet with deep, worked-in stains,” the odds against your being able to get them out increase.
Your pet might be your best friend, but he or she is your carpet’s worst enemy. Urine stains are among those professional cleaners are most frequently asked to remove. “Even the best dog or cat will have an accident occasionally,” Whitley says. “And not every animal will leave a urine spot that stains. The key to preventing a stain is getting to the spot early.”
Whitley suggests that you first apply a stack of paper towels to the spot, pressing it down into the carpet to soak up as much as possible. After that, try spraying a household cleaner or a mixture of dish soap and water onto the spot to neutralize the acidity in the urine.
“Many people think that by applying vinegar to the stain, they’re neutralizing the acid,” Whitley says. “However, vinegar itself is an acid. The only time you should apply it is if the stain is old, since over time urine transforms into an alkali.”
Spilled juices and soft drinks present other tough stains.
“Some juices and drinks work as dyes,” he points out. “They have an acid that strips the carpet’s dye and food coloring that works as a new dye. In some situations like that, the only solution is to have a professional come in and patch the spot.”
Teen-agers are another enemy of carpets. “Certain acne medications have bleaching agents,” he says, “and when someone applies it and doesn’t get all of it off their hands, they may touch the carpet or furniture and leave some of the reside.”
Acne medication stains are insidious--they’re not visible until they’re touched by water. “I’ve been called to clean a carpet, and after it’s been cleaned, these bleached spots appear for no apparent reason, and it’s usually because of acne medication,” Whitley said. “If we suspect a carpet may be stained with it, we go through the house after dark with a black light, which illuminates stains like that.”
Whitley warns that even a spill of plain water should be taken serously. “If it’s near a piece of furniture, you may have a problem with stain from the wood coming off onto the carpet. People will see a brownish mark on their carpet where a furniture leg sat in moisture at some point and some of the stain bled into the carpet. If you see this, it’s time to call a professional.”
Marble
Imitation or cultured marble is usually stain-proof, but true marble and other stone material can be easily damaged. “Basically, the biggest problem stains you get with marble come from acid,” says Richard Haney of Stonecare in Costa Mesa.
“Marble is calcium carbonate, and it readily dissolves when it’s in contact with an acid--which include fruit juices, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages.”
In kitchens with marble floors, it’s not uncommon to see a dull patch in front of the refrigerator. “That’s because someone had dropped an acid on their way to or from the refrigerator and didn’t clean it up completely,” Haney says.
Marble in bathrooms, and in showers, is often victimized by overzealous cleaning. In using a cleaner to get rid of the calcium deposits, one might find it takes some of the marble with it. “Products like Lime-Away can really cause some damage just because they’re so good at getting rid of calcium.”
Marble that looks dirty but that will not wash clean may be scratched. “Leather shoes and soles often pick up grit, and when you walk on marble floors with them, it’s like going over it with sandpaper. High heels can also create small spots where the marble is crushed--in some cases all the way through the marble.”
Fortunately, most stains and scratches can be removed by polishing or refinishing the marble. However, that usually has to be done by a professional. “I know many people with marble floors who, as a rule, don’t wear shoes inside the house,” Haney says. “When they have company, they’ll wear shoes; but otherwise, they save a lot of wear and tear on both their floors and their carpets.”
Concrete
A smooth concrete driveway or patio can look great. But over time, an accumulation of stains can make it look like the floor of a parking garage. “Rust and oil are definitely the worst things you can get on a driveway,” says Bill Woistman of Best High Pressure Cleaning in Santa Ana.
“For oil,” Woistman says, “get a good degreasing solution from a janitorial supply store, a wire brush and go at it. You might also try a janitorial poultice that could draw the oil up to the surface.
“For rust, unfortunately, there’s no easy remedy to get rid of it. You can try a mild acid and a wire brush. Be sure to wet the concrete before trying it, and use a diluted acid solution.”
Block walls can be marred by white stains that seem to appear from nowhere. “These are caused by a residue in the mortar,” Woistman says. “Homeowners can try to get them off with an acid solution and a wire brush.”
Woodwork
Getting rid of stains on wood is an inexact science. It’s not a job to be taken haphazardly, especially on an antique, says Ford Higgens of A Carolina Craftsman in Anaheim.
“Mold and mildew stains are extremely tough to get rid of,” Higgens points out.
“If a piece of furniture has been stored in a damp place for a while, it’s not uncommon to have mold and mildew stains. It takes a number of applications of products that will get it out of the wood and keep it from returning and is one of those things probably best left to the professional.”
The most common wood stain is from water. Higgens recommends that you don’t overreact when you see that telltale milky stain, though. “The thing to do is carefully dab off the water and let it dry,” he says. “Most of the finish products made today will let the water evaporate, and the stain will disappear.”
An ink stain can be bleached. Higgens warns would-be do-it-yourselfers, though, that the process is not unlike “painting on the head of a pin. You have to be very careful that you keep the bleach only on the inked areas, and be sure to use a weak household bleach solution.”
Tile
Ceramic tiles, like many other surfaces, are vulnerable to acids. “Things like fruit juices, coffee, tea--these all cause tile staining,” says Jim Alexander of Tile Importers in Anaheim.
“Acids eat through the enamel of the glaze, and then they settle into the tile,” Alexander says. “Usually it’s cheaper to replace the tiles rather than clean them. However, when the tile’s not available, you may have to try some sort of phosphoric acid.”
To prevent discolored grout, use an acrylic grout sealant. Alexander also recommends using an epoxy grout when the tile is installed. “That’s truly stain-proof,” he says.