How To Remove Jam From A Carpet
Clean A Carpet Stain: Jam. How to remove an annoying sticky jam stain, in a few easy to follow steps.
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Step 1:
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You will need
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Step 2:
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Scrape it up
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As soon as possible, remove as much jam as you can with a clean unserrated knife. Be gentle so as not to damage the carpet fibres.
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Step 3:
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Check carpet suitability
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Different carpets react in different ways to stain removal techniques.
Using the wrong removal method could cause the stain to become permanent or leave a worse mark than the stain itself. Carpets made of natural materials such as grass, sisal or wool can be severely damaged by liquid treatments. If you are in any doubt as to your carpet's suitability contact a professional carpet cleaner.
Before applying any solutions to your carpet, you should always do a patch test. Choose an out of the way area of the carpet and apply a small amount. Wait a few minutes to ensure that problems don't develop. If your carpet starts to go brown or lighter in colour, immediately rinse the solution with cold water. Do not continue and call a professional.
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Step 4:
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Carpet Cleaning products.
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There are many good carpet cleaning products on the market but experts tend to be wary of using them. They're not stain specific and may include ingredients which are not applicable to your stain and could do more harm than good. If you do intend to use them, you should watch VideoJug's 'How To Use Carpet Cleaning Products'.
Otherwise, keep following these steps.
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Step 5:
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Prepare the solution
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Make sure your rubber gloves are on. Take a quarter of a teaspoon of mild carpet shampoo or colourless detergent, add it to a litre of cold water and stir. Do not use hot water as this will set the stain.
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Step 6:
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Apply the solution
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Do a quick patch test. If it's safe to continue, dampen the whole cloth in the solution and lay it over the stain.
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Step 7:
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Massage the stain
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Handy hint: Use the bottom of the spoon to work the liquid into the carpet without damaging the fibres.
Work from the outside in to prevent the stain from spreading.
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Step 8:
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Blot and repeat
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When the solution is thoroughly worked in, remove the cloth. Press some kitchen towel onto the damp patch, blotting away moisture and lifting the stain.
Repeat this procedure until no more of the stain comes away with the towel.
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Step 9:
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Alkaline solutions
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If any jam remains, try making an alkaline solution. First, make sure the room is well ventilated. Keep your rubber gloves on.
Now, add one teaspoonful of household ammonia to a bowl of warm water.
Carry out a patch test as before. If there are no adverse effects spread the cloth over the stain and massage with the spoon as before.
Remove the cloth and blot with some kitchen towel. Repeat the process until as much of the stain as possible has been lifted.
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Step 10:
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Rinse
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Spray the patch with warm water. If you don't have a spray bottle to hand, apply warm water to a sponge and gently dab it on the stain. Now blot with some kitchen towel.
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Step 11:
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Neutralise
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If you have used an ammonia solution, you will need to neutralise any remaining alkaline with vinegar.
Add several splashes of white vinegar to a bowl of warm water. Carry out a patch test. If it's safe to continue, work it into the stain using the bottom of a spoon as before.
Blot, using some kitchen towels.
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Step 10:
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Rinse again
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Spray the patch with warm water to rinse away the remaining solutions.
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Step 13:
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Removing remaining damp
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To completely dry the carpet and get rid of any final remaining stains stack some pieces of kitchen towel over the area and place a heavy weight on top. If you use a coloured or porous weight, like a book, put a plastic bag between it and the towels to stop dye leaking into the carpet and to protect the weight.
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Step 14:
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Wait
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Leave the stain for a few hours, ideally overnight. Then remove the weight and kitchen towel. The stain should now be completely gone.