Spot clean + pretreat stains Give the stain a firm blotting using one of the following: club soda, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide or a dish soap (such as Dawn Dish Soap) and water will usually take out most stains and spots. (More on specific types of stains below.)

You should only use dish soap on your carpet to spot treat small stains. It isn't the best choice for a typical shampooing, and it is not recommended for use in a carpet cleaning machine. For spot treating, mix one teaspoon of dish soap with 32 ounces of water.

Yes, vinegar and baking soda are a powerful combination that has been proven to remove old stains from carpet. When combined with vinegar, the oxidation power of the baking soda creates a potent solution that can uproot the toughest set-in stains from carpet.

Give Original Pine-Sol a try to help clean carpet stains and more. Step 1 Rub in a splash of Original Pine-Sol^® where needed. You can spot-treat grease or heavy dirt marks, or use all-around for a refresh. If you're not sure your carpet is colorfast, be sure to test an inconspicuous area first.