Chlorine bleach removes paint from the material - if you accidentally spill it, annoying stains cannot be avoided. If you spill some bleach on your carpet, act immediately to minimize damage. Blot the area with cold water and then apply a solution of water and dish soap or vinegar. You can also use a baking soda and water paste. If the bleach has already stuck in and discolored the carpet, try repainting the stain with wax crayon or interior paint. If all else fails, ask a professional if you can cut off a piece of carpet or patch it.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Using dish soap and water
Step 1. Blot the bleach with a towel soaked in cold water
If you've just spilled bleach on your carpet, you can still save it, but you need to act quickly. Soak a towel or rag in cold water, wring it out, and then blot the stain.
- Blot the stain with a towel, but never rub it. Friction will cause the bleach to penetrate deeper into the carpet fibers.
- Use a white towel or one that you don't mind damaging the paint on.
Step 2. Pour detergent and water over the stain
Mix 1/2 tablespoon of dishwashing liquid in a glass (240 ml) of warm water. Use the same mixing ratio for larger stains (for example, 1 tablespoon of the product in 480 ml of water). Leave the product on the carpet for five minutes.
Dishwashing liquid can be replaced with distilled white vinegar and used in the same proportions
Step 3. Blot the stain with a sponge or rag
After five minutes, take a clean, damp sponge or rag and blot the area that has been soaked in the detergent solution with it. A sponge or cloth should only be soaked in cold water. Repeat the process two more times to remove any bleach residue from the carpet.
- Blot the stain, starting at the outer edges of the stain and working towards the center to keep it from enlarging.
- Depending on how much bleach you spill and how many times you have to blot the stain, you may need a new rag.
Method 2 of 3: Re-paint the stubborn stain
Step 1. Paint the stain with a crayon similar in color to the carpet
Check out your painting supplies or take a few carpet fibers with you to the store to find the right crayon. Color in the stain, paying special attention to the base of the fibers. Do not go beyond the edge of the stain, so as not to paint over those fibers that have not been discolored. Sometimes felt-tip pens can help instead of crayons.
Step 2. Dilute the color over the painted area with a damp towel
The stained spot is likely to become darker in shade than the rest of the carpet. Use a damp towel to dilute the color and spread the pigment over the stain.
Continue painting over the stain and thinning the color until it is the same shade as the carpet
Step 3. Try to use interior paint
If the bleached spot is on an inconspicuous area of carpet, try painting over with interior paint. Take a fine-bristled paintbrush and apply a thin coat of paint to the stain, starting from the base of the fibers. Apply a few more coats as needed, but keep them thin.
- The best thing about using a paint like this is that you can take a few fibers from the carpet and take them to a hardware store to get the right color for you.
- Do not apply interior paint to visible areas of carpet or areas where people often walk. The dye will harden the carpet fibers.
Step 4. Consult a professional carpet cleaner
Seek professional help if neither wax crayons nor paint have helped you, or if you don't want to risk repainting the stain yourself. A professional may try to do the following:
- clean the stain;
- cut fibers;
- cut and replace the affected area of the carpet.
Method 3 of 3: Take Precautions
Step 1. Read the information on the bleach container before cleaning the stains
Dishwashing liquid and vinegar can be safely used on bleach stains, but you should still carefully read the instructions and warnings on the bleach bottle before applying any product to the stain.
Chemicals are often listed on the label and should never be mixed with bleach (such as ammonia), as toxic fumes can be generated from the reaction. Double-check the composition of the cleaning or coloring product you want to use and make sure it is free of these ingredients
Step 2. Put on gloves
Since bleach is harmful to your skin, be sure to wear protective gloves before removing bleach from carpet. Gloves should be worn even if the bleach is already dry, as the chemicals remain active even in the absence of moisture.
Step 3. Work in a well-ventilated area
Bleach fumes can be uncomfortable and can cause dizziness, nausea, and discomfort. If you want to remove a stain with vinegar, the cumulative smell can become even more unbearable. Open windows and / or turn on a fan to ventilate the area while you work on the stain.