How to Get Stains Out of Carpet: Expert Tips & Common Mistakes

Your kids just spilled juice all over your new carpet. Your dog decided he didn’t want to go out in the rain, so he used your new carpet as his very own grass patch. Or, you’ve just discovered a mystery stain under your couch that you didn’t even know was there!

All these types of stains can be frustrating. You're likely searching for the answer to, ‘How to get stains out of carpet?’ Well, look no further, Rug Doctor New Zealand is here with the ultimate stain guide. You don’t have to worry about the expense of hiring professional carpet cleaning services. You can confidently remove stains from carpet yourself with our expert tips.

So, sit back, relax, and let’s talk stains!

Understanding different types of carpet stains

Carpet stains generally fall into three categories that require different treatment methods:

Oil-based stains

These include substances such as lipstick, oil, butter, and blood. They respond well to carpet stain removers designed to break down oily substances.

Acid-based stains

These come from things like fruit juices, tea, and black coffee spills. The acidity in these stains requires a specialised carpet cleaning approach.

Permanent stains 

Some pigments create permanent marks on your carpets. These include hair dye, brightly coloured foods (especially with red or orange food colouring), certain cake icings, turmeric-rich curries, and some fake tanning products. These substances act as dyes, permanently colouring your carpet.

If you’re in doubt about the type of stain you have, refer to our Rug Doctor Stain Guide.

Common carpet stains

We have all experienced it. You pull back your rug only to discover a big brown spot. Your kids—or your dog—concealed their crime. You don’t know how long it’s been there, and you don’t know what it is.

The quickest way to identify the stain is to try and determine its nature. Dried liquid stains are more challenging to determine, but here are our top culprits:

• Coffee
• Tea
• Grease/oil
• Blood
• Milk/ice cream
• Fruit juice
• Pet urine/accidents
• Felt-tip pens
• Paint (water-based)
• Red wine
• Vomit
• Makeup foundation (some water-resistant formulations can be tricky to remove)
• Nail polish
• Tomato sauce
• Candle wax

Over the years, we have found that blood, chocolate, grease from foods like pizza, ink pens and pet stains are the most common mystery stains. Kids and dogs, what more can we say?

Best methods for removing fresh stains

Quick action and proper technique make all the difference in cleaning fresh stains. The sooner you act, the better your chances of complete removal. Follow these simple steps:

1. Remove excess material first

• For liquid spills: Use an absorbent cloth or paper towel to blot the stain, pulling as much liquid as possible out of the carpet
  
• For solid stains: Gently scrape off the excess using a blunt knife or spoon, then vacuum the solids away from the affected area 

2. Treat the stain 

Next, apply the appropriate stain remover based on the stain type:

• For oil-based stains: Apply Rug Doctor Spot Remover
• For acid-based stains: Apply Rug Doctor Stain Remover 

3. Complete the cleaning process

After applying the appropriate Rug Doctor carpet cleaning product following the instructions:

1. Let the solution sit for 5-10 minutes
2. Gently blot the stain with a damp clean white cloth
3. Work from the outside edge inward to prevent spreading the stain further
4. Dab without scrubbing 
5. Blot to absorb excess moisture
6. Allow the area to dry completely 
7. Repeat the process if necessary 

Tackling set-in carpet stains

Stubborn stains that have had time to set into carpet fibres require more intensive treatment. These typically include old carpet stains or spills that weren't properly cleaned initially. At Rug Doctor, we commonly get asked about candle wax and chewing gum stains.

Candle Wax

1. Scrape off as much wax as possible using a spoon or butter knife
2. Cover the remaining wax with a white cloth or white plain paper
3. Apply an iron on a very low setting
4. Allow the wax to transfer to the cloth/white plain paper
5. Apply Spot Remover to any remaining stain

Learn more tips for getting candle wax out of carpet.

Chewing Gum

The best methods for removing gum are:

The freezing method

1. Place ice cubes in a plastic bag
2. Hold the bag on the gum until it hardens
3. Gently lift the hardened gum from the edges
4. Clean any residue with Rug Doctor Spot Remover

The heat method

1. Warm the gum with a hair dryer until soft
2. Use a plastic bag or a clean cloth to lift it off gently

Be cautious with synthetic or wool carpets, as they're sensitive to heat!

Find out more about removing chewing gum from carpet here.

Common carpet cleaning mistakes to avoid

Waiting too long

There are probably more “don’ts” than “dos” when it comes to stain removal. First, don’t wait! Old carpet stains are much more difficult to remove as they embed deeper into the fibres. Act quickly for best results.

Rubbing instead of blotting

Never rub or scrub a stain, as this can damage carpet fibres and spread the stain. Always blot gently to lift it.

Over-wetting the carpet

Excessive amounts of moisture can soak through to carpet backing, creating a permanent watermark or in some cases mould or mildew. Use minimal water and ensure thorough drying.

Mixing multiple cleaning products

Never apply multiple carpet stain removers on one stain. This can cause chemical reactions that set stains permanently or damage fibres.

Detailed guides for common household stains

Rug Doctor's professional-grade carpet cleaning products can tackle even the most stubborn stains. Let's look at specific removal methods for the most frequent offenders:

Blood

1. Treat as soon as possible
2. If dried, loosen with a butter knife and vacuum
3. Apply Spot Remover to the affected area
4. Let sit for 5-10 minutes
5. Gently agitate with a clean white cloth or soft brush
6. Rinse with a damp cloth without overwetting
7. Blot dry

Tea and coffee

The treatment depends on whether you add milk to your beverage, which changes the pH balance.

1. Immediately blot up excess liquid
2. Without milk: Use Stain Remover
3. With milk: Use Spot Remover
4. Gently agitate with a clean white cloth or soft brush
5. Rinse with a damp cloth without overwetting
6. Blot dry

Chocolate

1. Scrape off the dried flakes and vacuum 
2. Spray Spot Remover to the affected area
3. Gently agitate with a clean white cloth or soft brush
4. Blot and rinse with a damp clean cloth taking care to not overwet.
5. Blot dry

See more tips for cleaning chocolate out of carpet.

Ink

1. For water-based inks, spray with Spot Remover
2. Gently agitate with a clean white cloth working from the edges into the centre. 
3. Blot with a clean damp cloth
4. Repeat until the ink stops transferring to the cloth
5. Blot dry

Note: Permanent marker stains may only be lightened, not completely removed.

Grease

Why does pizza always land face down? Who knows! But it always seems to land on your carpet.

To remove oily stains from carpets:   

1. Use paper towels to blot up as much oil as possible
2. Spray Spot Remover directly onto the stained area
3. Let sit for 5-10 minutes
4. Gently agitate with a clean white cloth or soft brush
5. Blot and rinse with a damp clean cloth taking care to not overwet.
6. Blot dry

Trust Rug Doctor for professional cleaning results at home

While not all fresh or old, stubborn stains can be successfully removed, Rug Doctor products have worked wonders on removing stains for over 45 years here in New Zealand. The key to success is prompt action, proper technique, and the right carpet cleaning solutions.  

We strongly recommend keeping one bottle of each of our products on hand and then hiring our Rug Doctor machine every 6-12 months for professional carpet cleaning results. Life is messy; you never know when accidents will happen and you'll need our stain removers.

Sign up for our healthy home series and download the ultimate Stain Guide for free.  

Updated December 17, 2025

Author: Gina Gibbs

Gina is the Business Manager at Rug Doctor NZ. With over 20 years at Rug Doctor, she's dedicated to helping New Zealanders keep their homes clean and healthy. Outside of work, Gina enjoys hiking, reading, and enjoying Vietnamese and Asian fusion cuisine. Oh, and let's not forget her expertise in cleaning up after everyone, especially her two kids!