How To Get A Ketchup Stain Out Of Your Carpet

When a colorful food like ketchup spills on a carpet, it can seem hopeless. Tomato products tend to leave their mark, but, luckily, there are several cleaning tricks that can get ketchup stains out of a carpet or rug. When dealing with ketchup, remember timing is key, as you'll want to act quickly to prevent the stain from setting in and becoming more difficult to clean.

First, use a spoon, butter knife, or another utensil to remove any excess ketchup from the carpet. This will help keep more of the red condiment from being absorbed by the fibers. From there, try using salt to absorb the stain.

With regular table salt, you should be able to clean the ketchup off your carpet. Simply spread some iodized salt over the spot and allow it to sit for several minutes. Make sure the salt is totally covering the affected area. When it seems to have absorbed the ketchup, vacuum the salt up from the carpet. If there's still a spot, repeat the process.

Salt, thanks to its ionic qualities, can prove a quick and effective cleaning hack for ketchup carpet stains. In addition to salt, pouring a little lemon juice over the stain before adding the salt could help to remove the red color even more. You may also want to try allowing the salt to sit on the stain overnight before vacuuming it.

If you don't want to use salt, baking soda is another common kitchen staple that's great for lifting stains. To do so, scoop the excess ketchup from the carpet and dab the area with a dry cloth or paper towel to remove as much moisture as possible. Next, spread baking soda over the entire area and use an old toothbrush or cleaning brush to lightly scrub the stain away. Allow the baking soda to sit on the stain for several hours or overnight before vacuuming the area. If the stain is still there, try repeating the process.