No matter how careful you are, printer ink still finds a way to get on your carpeting. Fortunately, you can get the stains out fairly easily and undo the damage that has been done. Here, you will learn how to do just that.

WD-40

WD-40 is used for more than silencing that squeaky door. It can be used to clean all sorts of messes in your home – printer ink on your carpeting is one of them.

Tip: Cut a hole in a Styrofoam plate that is slightly larger than the ink spot. Position the plate over the spot and tape it in place before you begin cleaning. This will help to protect the carpeting around the spot as you work to clean the ink out.

Saturate the spot with WD-40. Let it soak for ten or fifteen minutes while you go and fill a 5-gallon bucket with very hot water and two tablespoons of liquid dish soap. Put on a pair of rubber gloves to protect your hands from the heat, dip a sponge in the mixture, wring it out slightly and begin blotting the spot with the sponge.

Rinse and wring out the sponge often and replace the water if it becomes discolored. Once the ink has disappeared, use a clean, white cloth or paper towels to blot the area dry. Don't use colored towels to absorb the water as the dye in the towel could transfer onto the carpeting and make matters worse.

Rubbing Alcohol

Rubbing alcohol is very effective in removing fresh ink spots. The minute you notice the ink, pour some rubbing alcohol on a white cloth and begin blotting the spot, working from the outside towards the center. Once the towel has become discolored with ink, replace it with a new one and repeat the process until the stain is gone.

At that point, get a bucket of hot water, a clean sponge and a few more clean, white cloths. You need to rinse the alcohol from the carpeting to prevent discolorations. Blot a few times with the sponge and follow with the towel. Repeat several times to ensure all of the alcohol has been removed and then blot dry.

This will keep your carpeting looking great between full deep cleanings. As long as you give your carpet the attention it needs between cleanings, including cleaning the spots that occur, it will continue to look great and smell fresh for many years before you need to think about replacing it.

For professional help, contact a local carpet cleaning service.