Question
How do I remove a red soda stain on my carpet that has been there for a month?
Answer
Ideally a beverage spill can be immediately blotted and then rinsed with water to reduce the amount of stain needing to be removed. However, that’s much more difficult to do with carpet. A stain that sits for a while will make it even more difficult to remove. You may want to try Formula 409® Carpet Spot & Stain Remover on it.
If it turns out that the red colorant in the soda really needs an oxidant to fully remove the satin, you could also try Clorox2® Stain Remover and Color Booster, which comes in a spray bottle and includes hydrogen peroxide in the formula. Have a pile of towels and some warm water handy to help you work on the stain. Spray on the stain remover and let it soak into the stain, and wait 10 minutes. Then pour a very small amount of water onto the stain, and immediately use the towels to soak up the liquid. Hopefully the stain will be lighter, and you can repeat this until you work the stain out. When you are finished, it is very important to have the area cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine to fully extract all the cleaning agents you applied. Otherwise, in time you will likely end up with a dirty spot where you removed the stain because residual stain removers become dirt magnets. Also, if your carpet is older, you may end up with a very clean spot relative to the rest of the carpet so you may need to have the entire carpet cleaned.
