Easily Remove Citrus Stains From Carpet With A Kitchen Staple

Citrus fruit or juice stains might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you imagine the biggest threats to your carpet or rugs. When given careful consideration, however, it becomes clear that the acidity, natural coloring, and high sugar content of some citrus juices could actually cause significant staining when spills inevitably happen on your rugs. A common recommendation for removing food or drink stains — including citrus — is applying water and simple dish soap. Could it really be this simple, though? We asked Kash Sobhe, Certified Master Rug Cleaner at Rug Ideas.

In an exclusive interview with House Digest, this expert said dish soap is a reasonable method for removing citrus stains from rugs. Of course, there are a few caveats to explore. If citrus stains are a common source of frustration in your home, consider this expert advice on how to remove them using dish soap without damaging your flooring or delicate rug fibers. 

When it comes to citrus stains, the culprits can be divided into two categories: unsweetened fruit or juice and sweetened juice. In cases of dropped fruit or spilled unsweetened citrus juice, Kash Sobhe approves of skipping the dish soap at first and starting to treat the stain with water only. If blotting with a warm, damp cloth isn't enough to lift away the stain, then try adding a drop of dish soap.

It's important to note that Sobe recommends using dishwasher soap for an extra boost without the bleaching agents of other cleansers. One thing he exclusively warns House Digest readers against when removing citrus stains from rugs is hard scrubbing. "Don't ever over-scrub thinking that extra hard scrubbing will generate better results," he cautions. "It will oftentimes damage the fiber and cause wear or pile distortion."

Thanks to the acidic nature of both citrus stains and rug dyes, the master rug cleaner explained, certain stains won't be able to be removed at home with dish soap or any other cleanser. "Many times, the underlying color of citrus gets registered as a dye, and the fiber wants to do its job to hold on to this color," he elaborates. "With only in-home cleaning, it might not always be possible to fully get the citrus colors out," In these cases, he recommends professional cleaning (over buying your own carpet cleaner). "With professional cleaning plus professional stain removal, it is possible to completely remove the stain, permanently."  

When approaching the process of removing a citrus stain from a rug with dish(washer) soap, water is a necessary component. While it may seem like an obvious one, the way you use water can actually have a significant impact on stain removal. Firstly, you may have heard that only cold water should ever be applied to stains. Certified fiber care and color restoration specialist Kash Sobhe disagrees. "A warm to hot damp towel can help release stains easier than a cool, damp towel," he exclusively revealed to House Digest.

Sobhe also urges readers not to saturate carpets or rugs with water when attempting to remove stains. "Never pour cold or hot water directly onto the carpet," he warns. "The water or detergent can go way too deep into the carpet and — even after blotting up the face — the back of the carpet can stay wet long enough to grow mold or bacteria." (Deep clean your carpet at least yearly to combat issues like mold and bacteria in general.) When it comes to at-home stain removal of citrus stains, a damp towel and a drop or two of dishwasher soap are enough, according to this expert.