The Bathroom Staple You'll Want To Remove Stuck-On Carpet Stains

Whether it's a coffee stain or a red wine stain, marks on your carpet can be unsightly and frustrating. Though there are tons of specialist brushes out there that claim to get rid of stains, there's one inexpensive brush that will help you get your carpet back to looking brand new, and it's the humble toothbrush. Being able to remove a fresh carpet stain without even needing to leave the house or ordering another product? We're in.

You may have heard of using a toothbrush on tiles to get rid of marks, but it's actually a versatile cleaning accessory for more than one type of floor. You don't need fancy cleaning equipment or cloths — a simple toothbrush is enough to really help you get those stains out (with the help of a cleaning agent, of course). As with any hack, there are some things you should know before grabbing the nearest toothbrush and getting to work. 

This may be obvious, but do not use your own toothbrush to get carpet stains out. Either use a toothbrush that has seen better days and is destined for the bin or buy one that you'll use for cleaning (and put it in the cleaning drawer so those you live with know it is definitely not for your teeth). A soft-bristled nylon toothbrush is best, as a hard-bristled brush won't be able to work in the cleaning agent as well. 

As for what type of cleaning product to pair your toothbrush with, this depends on the type of carpet. General carpet stain remover is a safe bet, as you can be sure it won't cause your carpet to discolor. But for more intensive stains or ones that have been ingrained for a while, you may need something harsher. It's also important to remember not to scrub the stain with the toothbrush too hard. Scrubbing too vigorously may cause damage to your carpet, even when using a brush with soft bristles. Overall though, using a toothbrush for carpet stains is simple, cheap, and could be the cleaning hack you've been searching for.