Removing Soda Pop Stains from Carpet

Have you ever stopped to think about just how popular soda pop is in this country? You can find entire aisles filled with the stuff at your local grocery store, and there are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of choices that you can make. With all of this soda pop it only stands to reason that some of it, or possibly quite a bit of it, will end up on your carpeting. Luckily, removing soda pop stains from carpet isn't all that difficult if you know the proper method.

1. Gather your tools. In order to remove soda pop stains from carpet you will need to have the proper tools. In this case, this means two medium sized mixing bowls, a spray bottle, three cups of warm water (lukewarm is best), 3/4 cup cold water, 1/4 cup white vinegar, 1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide, and plenty of clean light colored rags.
2. Prepare your primary solution. In one of the mixing bowls pour the lukewarm water and the hydrogen peroxide. Mix it all together thoroughly, and then pour the solution into the spray bottle.
3. Saturate the area. Using the spray bottle, apply the cleaning solution to the stain. Don't be afraid to get the area really wet, but don't actually pour it onto the stain. Continue to spray the cleaning solution until the area is wet to the touch.
4. Set and prepare. Allow the primary cleaning solution to set on the stain for a minimum of 10 minutes before you proceed. While you are waiting, begin preparing your secondary solution. This can be done in either another spray bottle or in a secondary mixing bowl. The ingredients are the cold water and the white vinegar.
5. Use the secondary solution. After 10 minutes have passed, begin rinsing the area with the secondary cleaning solution. Spraying the secondary cleaning solution onto the stain can easily do this.
6. Blot dry. Using a clean, dry, light colored rag begin to blot the area that you have applied the cleaning solutions to. Don't be afraid to change the rags for new ones as needed. In addition, you will notice that the color of the rag slowly changes as the stain is lifted from the carpet.
7. Rinse, dry, inspect, and repeat. Once you have stopped lifting any of the stain from carpet, such as when you no longer see any discoloration on the rag, begin rinsing out the area with some cold clean water. Repeat the same rinsing and blotting process that you used with the secondary solution until the area is dry. Once you have dried the area take a good look and see if any stain remains, if it does, then you will need to repeat the cleaning process from steps three until seven again, and again as necessary until the stain has been completely removed.

Even though this method of cleaning shouldn't damage your carpet in any way, you will want to do some tests to make sure. The best way to do this is by choosing an out of the way area of your carpet to test the cleaning solution. Simply spray a bit of it onto the carpet, and then dab it off. Allow the area to dry completely (about 10 or 15 minutes), and then look to see if there has been any change in the color of your carpet. If so, do not use this method to remove the stain. Instead, you may want o look into renting a carpet cleaner.