How To Remove Oil From Your Carpeting
If you have oil spills on your carpeting, such as from cooking oil or motor oil that leaked out of the bag, you might be struggling to remove it. The following tips will help you soak up the oil and get rid of the stain so you don't have to replace that section of the carpeting.
Soak Up the Oil
One of the most important things to keep in mind when removing an oil stain from carpeting is that you want to soak up as much of the oil as possible. Even if it has been there for a few hours before you notice it, it likely still has wet spots. Grab a rag or paper towel and start blotting the area, letting the towel pick up the excess oil. Keep rotating the towel to different sections so you don't transfer the oil back to the carpeting. If you don't have access to towels or paper towels, you can also use brown paper bags or even newspaper to start picking up the oil. Have something nearby to dispose of these items after picking up the oil so you don't set it back on the carpet.
Absorb the Oil With Cornstarch
In addition to soaking up the oil, you can pick up more of the moisture in the carpet by using cornstarch. After you have used newspaper or towels to soak up the oil, pour some cornstarch on top of the stain. Let the cornstarch sit on the oil, absorbing it for several minutes. If you have high-pile carpeting, you might want to use a brush to work the cornstarch into the carpet fibers. After letting it sit for a while, vacuum it up. If you don't have cornstarch, you can also use baking soda for the same purpose. After vacuuming it up, you will then be able to clean any remaining oil left on the carpet.
Clean the Stain With Dish Soap
By this point, you are ready to clean the remainder of the oil stain. The good thing is that soaking up and blotting the oil stain is the biggest part of the cleaning process. All you have left to do is clean the remaining stain from the carpeting. You can do this with nothing more than some mild dishwashing liquid and a sponge. Make sure it doesn't contain any bleach, as that will discolor the carpeting. You want the dish soap to be diluted with water, then sprayed onto the stain. Use a soft sponge to work the soap into the stain, then blot up the soapy water. Go over it again with just water to rinse away the soap and remainder of the oil. Blot it up with a dry towel once more.
For professional help, contact a business like A Plus Cleaning Service Inc.