Don’t cry over spilled milk.
Moms of food-flinging, fidgety babes know the adage all too well, and perhaps we can summon the strength to successfully dam the tears over a pool of milk on the table. But a raspberry smoothie splattered over beige carpet? That’s a different story altogether.
My friends, when you’re faced with a raspberry swirl carpet, there will be tears. Lots of them, I’m afraid. There will be tears and angry, furled fists from a sleepy infant while mom is dousing the stain with buckets of water and soaking it up with every single towel in the house. And raindrop tears from the remorseful guilty party who also wants another smoothie, but we’re fresh out of yogurt. And yes, there will be monsoon-like crying a few sniffles from a tired mom, too, as she surveys the damage after spending 15 minutes on the sprawling, pink stain and seeing that it still looks like this:
You should have seen the curtains and walls, which were also splattered with smoothie.
I can just imagine how our real estate listing will read when we put our townhome up for sale: “Charming urban dwelling just minutes away from city amenities. Open downstairs floor plan allows for comfortable family living. Home boasts other great features like custom, Technicolor carpeting in the dining area. Carpet’s rainbow of colors spells urban chic.”
*Good news: After several more buckets of water, I effectively removed the raspberry hue from our carpet. Woo-hoo!
Now let me ask my fellow stain specialists out there, what do you find the most effective in removing stubborn stains on carpet, clothing, walls, or any other smudged source? Spill the beans (pun most certainly intended…forgive the bad mom humor).
Kate – can't recommend anything specific for raspberry smoothie!! But I can tell you that there are many "natural" stain removers (baking soda, vinegar, etc), and many websites just a "google" away that will tell you specific formulas for getting rid of specific stains. I always take that route. Also, you can rent a cheap carpet cleaner from Kroger – don't use carpet shampoo – just fill it with VERY hot water and stem is out. They are called Rug Doctor, and very effective.
My husband, the Milliken employee, swears by Capture. I don't think it works, so I use woolite with oxy clean!
We love Nature's Miracle. I buy it at the pet store. We use it for dog leaks (to put it nicely), markers, crayons, you name it! It works really well.
I'd use it after the kids go to bed, but there is this amazing professional-grade cleaner you can buy at Home Depot. (Sorry I don't remember the name! It's with all the cleaning supplies.) It worked on 9-month old red wine stains on my carpet.
For the milk odor, oxyclean and Arm&Hammer with oxyclean odor remover: you sprinkle it on, let it sit and then vacuum it up. (It comes in a big orange box – should be near the carpet cleaning supplies at any store.)
Vinegar is an amazing cleaner and seems to work on almost anything.
I am very grateful our kitchen and living room have ceramic tile instead of carpet. Have you thought about spreading plastic tablecloths from the dollar store under the table when particularly messy treats are served?
Urban chic. LOVE it! Technocolor? Awesome!! Hey – at least it was healthy redecorating – my chic of choice is "Cheetos" – the bright orange clashes well with the crimson red of my cheeks admitting to such decoration tactics!
I'm with JoAnna. Vinegar.
I wish berries came in clear. It's blueberry season here in Maine, and well, I'll just leave it there.
DA, you're in Maine? My husband has tons of family there and we usually visit almost every summer. He's been going to a camp (as in a rustic cabin) on Lake Thompson his entire life. It's been in the extended family since the late 1800s. What a lovely state! We picked blueberries just like Sal and his mom last summer. :)
Thanks to everyone for their stain-buster recommendations. Plain water mixed with seltzer water seemed to do the trick on the smoothie stain.
Any time we spill something, we always grab the baby wipes – and they seem to work wonders. Although I must admit we've never spilled a raspberry smoothie before. Is there carpet in your kitchen/dining room?
I own a Bissel Pro Heat Steam Rug cleaner. If you live with beige carpets and children, I highly recommend putting one on your Christmas list.
I also own several very large colorfully patterned rugs. Right now, our house has mostly wood floors, but many military houses have wall-to-wall carpeting, even in the dining room (why, oh why? short term cheap, long term stupid). I still put the rugs down on top of the beige carpeting. One big rug is for the dining room table (our main eating area) and another big rug is for the living room or whereever there might be messiest living. Spills are not as apparent on these rugs.