How to Remove a Carpet Stain With an Iron

With the help of water, white vinegar, dish-washing liquid, and a towel, most carpet stains can be removed with a standard household clothing iron. A clothing iron can be used to remove a carpet stain such as dark juice, wine, and even candle wax. Continue reading to learn how you can remove a carpet stain with your iron.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

White Vinegar and Water Solution

First, vacuum the area to be cleaned in order to remove loose dirt.

  1. How.com.vn English: Step 1 Plug your iron in next to the area where the carpet stain is located and place it on the highest steam setting available.
    [1]
  2. How.com.vn English: Step 2 Fill an empty...
    Fill an empty spray bottle with one-fourth of a cup (59.14 milliliters) of white vinegar and three-fourths of a cup (177.44 milliliters) of water.[2]
    • The amount of vinegar and water you use for your cleaning solution can be reduced or increased depending on the stain. The ratio should always be 1 part white vinegar to 3 parts water.
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  3. How.com.vn English: Step 3 Immerse a white cotton rag or towel that is large enough to cover the stain in warm water and wring it out so it is damp.
    [3]
  4. How.com.vn English: Step 4 Spray the vinegar solution all over the entire carpet stain.
  5. How.com.vn English: Step 5 Place the damp towel over the carpet stain.
    [4]
  6. How.com.vn English: Step 6 Iron lightly over the damp towel until the stain has been completely removed from the carpet.
    [5]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Iron with a Dishwashing Liquid & Water Solution

  1. How.com.vn English: Step 1 Plug in your iron near the spot of the carpet stain and place it on the low steam setting.
  2. How.com.vn English: Step 2 Add 5 drops of concentrated liquid dish-washing soap to a sink or small bucket and 2 cups (473.17 milliliters) of warm water.
    [6]
  3. How.com.vn English: Step 3 Place a white cotton rag or towel into the soap and water solution and wring it out to leave it damp.
  4. How.com.vn English: Step 4 Arrange the towel completely over the stain and place the iron on top of the towel.
  5. How.com.vn English: Step 5 Let the iron sit on the towel at the low setting until you see the stain soak into the towel or for 15 minutes.
    • Depending on the size of the stain, you may need to move the iron to another part of the stain and repeat the steaming process until the entire stain has been removed.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Remove wax from carpet

  1. How.com.vn English: Step 1 Plug your iron in near the carpet area that contains wax residue and place it on a low setting.
  2. How.com.vn English: Step 2 Scrape or cut away as much of the wax as you can using a dull knife or scissors without cutting through the carpet itself.
  3. How.com.vn English: Step 3 Place white paper towels over the carpet area covered with wax residue.
    [7]
  4. How.com.vn English: Step 4 Gently iron over the paper towels until the wax has liquefied and soaked completely into the paper towels.
    [8]
  5. How.com.vn English: Step 5 Apply baking soda to any remaining greasy wax spots and vacuum over the area until the stains are gone.
    [9]
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      Tips

      • Irons can also remove furniture imprints from carpet. Place your iron on a high steam setting and set it on top of the furniture imprint without rubbing or moving the iron until the imprint is completely gone.
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      Things You'll Need

      • Iron
      • Baking soda
      • Paper towels
      • Empty spray bottle or bucket
      • Dull knife or scissors
      • White cotton rag or towel
      • White vinegar or concentrated dish-washing liquid
      • Water
      • Vacuum cleaner


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      About this article

      How.com.vn English: Grettel Monge
      Co-authored by:
      Cleaning Expert
      This article was co-authored by Grettel Monge. Grettel Monge is a Cleaning Expert and the Owner & CEO of Essential Cleaners Miami, based in Miami, Florida. Grettel and her team specialize in residential, Airbnb, VRBO, and rental cleaning services. She is an IAP Career College Certification Cleaning Business Owner, IAPO International Association of Professional Cleaning Business Owner, and a Professional Member Organization IAPO. She was featured on Redfin.com in the article "Get a Sparkling Home this Spring with All-Natural Cleaning Products and Recipes, Plus Eco-Friendly Methods." Grettel received her Bachelor's Degree from Florida International University. This article has been viewed 183,127 times.
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      Co-authors: 9
      Updated: June 27, 2023
      Views: 183,127
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 183,127 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • How.com.vn English: Tracy Wymer

        Tracy Wymer

        Jun 6, 2016

        "That idea is a lot better than dragging out the shampooer. Quick and easy solution. I knew that old iron would come..." more

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