Nothing causes a look of horror as fast as watching a glass of red wine spill onto the carpet in your home. Or ketchup, or coffee, or dark oil. Because accidents are an inevitability, you should always be prepared by having a good stain remover on hand.
So which is the best carpet stain remover?
First of all, for many simple carpet stains, water is the most effective because many carpet stain removers can damage your carpet if not used properly. However, when water doesn’t work, you’ll want to have the top stain remover available in your home. The ideal stain remover should be easy to use, eliminate all stains and be safe on any fabric. Keep in mind that there are different categories of stains, like protein stains (such as blood), tannin stains (such as coffee), dye stains (such as grass) and greasy stains (such as motor oil).
The keys to successful stain removal are:
- Categorize the stain. Which category does the stain fall into? This will help you choose an appropriate product.
- Treat the stain ASAP. Keep the stain wet by putting water on it to prevent it from setting if you don’t have a carpet stain remover on hand.
- Make sure you’re using the right product. Some stain removers are best for clothing, some for carpet and upholstery.
- Follow the product’s instructions. Make sure you follow the directions for stain removal, as different products will have different instructions.
Now that you’ve learned the basics of stain removal, which is the best carpet stain remover on the market?
I’ve narrowed it down to three finalists: Resolve Triple Action Carpet Spot Cleaner, Hoover Platinum Collection Instant Stain Remover and Spot Shot Carpet Stain Remover.
1. Resolve Triple Action Carpet Spot Cleaner (22-oz bottle for $6.99)
Pros: Removes a variety of stains; safe for cotton, nylon and sisal rugs.
Cons: Does not remove all stains completely, less effective on set-in stains.
2. Hoover Platinum Collection Instant Stain Remover (18-oz aerosol spray for $12.99)
Pros: Especially competent in removing fresh stains; safe to use on upholstery.
Cons: Chemical smell, a little pricey.
3. Spot Shot Carpet Stain Remover (22-oz for $12.95)
Pros: Removes all categories of fresh and old carpet stains and odors, doesn’t leave residue;
non-toxic and certified biodegradable.
Cons: A little pricey.
The product that incorporates all the keys to successful stain removal as listed above and has the best reviews both in quality and quantity is the Spot Shot Carpet Stain Remover. It is a little pricier than some of its competitors, but since it does the job of an ideal stain remover ( easy to use, eliminates all stains and is safe on any fabric), the price is worth it.