Have you ever spilled bleach on your carpet? Did you try to remove the stain? If you were unsuccessful, don’t fret. The idea is that bleach stains are a common misconception.
What Is A Stain?
A stain is any color or soil added to the carpet. This is the classic spill or accident. Whether it’s coffee, wine, or pet urine, the substance has been able to soak in and add a new color to your carpet. On the other hand, bleach does not discolor your rug in the same way.
Bleach and Carpet Color Loss
Bleach, the potent chemical it is, causes a different kind of “stain” than other liquids. So when bleach or bleach-containing products change the color of the carpet, the carpet has actually lost color.
Restoring Carpet Color
Here’s how to get rid of bleach stains: The first is to do a bonded insert (patch) with some matching donor carpet. Hopefully, you have some extra carpet or can take some from a closet. There are some carpets, however, that clients may not want to have patched. So taking a knife to sculptured carpet, patterned carpet, Berber, or high-end wool may not be a good idea unless the repair technician is very skilled.
The other way to fix the bleached area is to restore the color. This is usually a more expensive option and requires a great deal of training and practice. A professional will be able to tell if the discoloration was caused by bleach, benzoyl peroxide, sun fading, pet urine, toilet bowl cleaner or an acid. It is also important that the person restoring the color understands color theory. This will help them determine what blend of colors need to be used to bring the color back to just the right shade. A professional will also know how to properly neutralize the bleach, so the color correction will be permanent.
Be Cautious About Trying DIY Home Remedies
Many of the do-it-yourself home remedies suggested online are not permanent solutions. Often, they will wash out of the carpet with the following cleaning because they were done with the wrong dyes, were not heat set, or were not designed to be used with carpet fibers.
Next Read: How to Remove a Red Wine Stain
