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Dear Homeowner,

If you’re seeing spots on your carpet, you can probably make use of these simple tips for removing common carpet stains.

Tar, grease, chewing gum and wax
Remove as much as possible by gently scraping with a dull knife, then treat the stain with dry-cleaning fluid. For chewing gum, try applying ice cubes in a plastic bag to harden the gum before scraping.

Cigarette burns
Patching is necessary for complete repair, but you can mask the damage. Snip off the darkened fiber ends, then blot the area with a solution of 1 teaspoon detergent and 1 teaspoon vinegar in a quart of warm water.

Lipstick
Gently blot with a dry-cleaning solution, then rinse with a solution of 1 tablespoon ammonia in a cup of water.

Animal stains, fruit juices
If the stain is still wet, try repeatedly sponging with lukewarm water. Then, blot dry and treat with a solution of 1 teaspoon detergent and 1 teaspoon vinegar in a quart of warm water. After waiting 15 minutes, blot again and sponge with clean water.

Paint
Oil-base paints can usually be removed with turpentine. Water-base paints clean up with water.

Ink
Blot ball-point-ink with denatured alcohol as soon as possible. Permanent ink can’t be removed, but you can minimize the damage by blotting with water.

For more home-and-family tips, contact Val Ogletree (209) 559-5725 or email at valo@valogletree.com