Did you put too many scoops on your ice cream cone, and now you have an ice cream stain on the carpeting? While vanilla ice cream isn’t so bad, chocolate ice cream with syrup and toppings is worrisome. Find out how to get ice cream out of carpet and restore its original appearance.
Rugs suffer from various food stains throughout their lifetime, from soda and juice stains to coffee stains. Unless you’re meticulous, stains are an inevitable part of daily life. The good news is that stains, like those from ice cream, are not permanent.
If you’ve ever strolled through the cleaning aisle of your local store, you’re probably aware of the vast array of products. Everything from toilet bowl scrubbers and window cleaners to floor polishes and carpet cleaners. Fortunately, you don’t need an expensive carpet cleaner to remove ice cream stains.
Ways to Clean Ice Cream Stains From Carpeting
You probably already have items in your home that work wonders at removing a stubborn stain from the carpet. Carpet and upholstery cleaning doesn’t have to be a weekend-long chore. Discover how to use peroxide, baking soda, vinegar, and other simple cleaners to make removing ice cream stains from rugs easier.
Removing Fresh Ice Cream Stains From Rugs
The best way to ensure your carpet doesn’t suffer from a stain is to clean the ice cream spill when it’s fresh. Learn how to clean up melted ice cream on carpet while it’s still wet.
Remove as much of the wet ice cream as possible with a spoon. Do not press the stain into the carpet or spread it further. Instead, begin at the outer edge of the ice cream and carefully scoop the spill inward.
Blot the stain with paper towels and apply cold water with a clean cloth. Continue dabbing the spot with the rag until the stain is gone, and pat it dry with a towel.
Cleaning Old Ice Cream Stains on Carpeting
Sometimes, you’re unaware of a spill until the stain is dry. In this case, getting ice cream out of carpet is more of a chore. While removing old stains is a little trickier than cleaning new ones, it’s possible if you pretreat the spot.
Pour some club soda onto a clean cloth and gently scrub the stain. Rinse the cloth with warm water and repeat the steps until the ice cream is gone. If the stain persists, combine a half tablespoon of Borax with a cup of water and sponge the solution on the carpet stain. Blot up the excess liquid and dry it thoroughly with a towel.
How to Clean up Melted Ice Cream on Carpet
Soapy water is ideal for getting ice cream out of carpet if it’s vanilla-flavored or the stain is small. The warm water and soap break up the cream from the carpet fibers, making it easy to remove.
Mix a cup of lukewarm water with a half tablespoon of detergent in a container and dunk a sponge in the detergent solution. Wring out excess liquid and scrub the ice cream stain by starting at the outside and working your way in. Once the carpet is clean, wipe away the soapy residue with a clean sponge and water and dry it well with a towel.
Getting Ice Cream Out of Carpet With Ammonia
Ammonia is a typical household cleaner that cleans stains from animal fats and is excellent for removing old ice cream stains. Discover how to clean up melted ice cream on carpet with diluted ammonia.
Combine a cup of water with half a tablespoon of ammonia in a sprayer and shake it well. Test the solution in an inconspicuous spot to ensure no color fading occurs.
Spray the ammonia mixture on the carpet stain and rub a cloth over the spot with a circular motion. Rinse the rag and repeat the steps until the stain is gone. Once the carpet is clean, wipe the area with water and dry it with an absorbent towel.
How to Get Ice Cream Out of Carpet
Believe it or not, shaving cream has more uses than removing hair from your face or legs. It’s great for cleaning up melted ice cream on carpet, safe for use on most rugs, and you don’t have to use harsh cleaners from the store.
Squeeze a dollop of shaving cream directly on the ice cream stain and use an old toothbrush to scrub the carpet carefully. Wet a sponge with clean water, wipe away the stain and shaving cream residue, and dry the rug with a towel. Check to ensure the stain is gone, and repeat if necessary.
Use Peroxide to Clean Chocolate Ice Cream From a Rug
Hydrogen peroxide is an ideal alternative to chlorine bleach. It has mild bleaching abilities and breaks up stain enzymes. Discover how to remove chocolate ice cream stains from white carpet.
Pour two tablespoons of peroxide into a bowl and add a tablespoon of soap. Apply the soapy peroxide to the affected area with a sponge and use a circular motion to clean the rug.
Once the stain is gone, rinse the sponge with clean water and wipe the carpet to remove the soapy residue. When the carpet fibers are soap-free, dry them well.
Clean Ice Cream Stains From Carpet
You’re in luck if you have white vinegar and a box of baking soda. These two ingredients work together to make the perfect carpet cleaner. They react to each other and create a foaming action that lifts and dissolves stubborn stains.
Shake a box of baking soda over the rug stain to cover it completely. Pour some white vinegar into a bottle sprayer and spritz the liquid directly over the powder. Leave the area to sit until the bubbling reaction stops, and use a damp sponge to clean away the ice cream.
Rub the spot from the outside in to prevent spreading it further, and rinse the sponge to remove residue as you work. Dry the rug with an absorbent towel once the ice cream is completely gone. This cleaning method also eliminates a pet stain or tea stain.
There’s nothing more unsightly than a large chocolate stain in the middle of a clean carpet. Unfortunately, the longer you let the stain sit, the harder it is to remove. Fortunately, vinegar and baking soda break up tough stains, and hydrogen peroxide is excellent for stain removal.
We hope that learning how to get ice cream out of carpet keeps your rugs stain-free, and we’d love it if you’d share our tips for cleaning ice cream stains on carpeting with your family and friends on Pinterest and Facebook.