Things You'll Need
White rags
Dull knife
White paper towels
Cotton balls
Rubbing alcohol
Liquid dish detergent
Oxygen bleach
Carpet extraction machine
If you're enjoying a bowl of ice cream with a caramel topping and some spills on your carpet, don't fret. Caramel is sugary, so warm water will help remove much of it. However, because caramel also contains butter or oil, it is also greasy -- so it may take a bit more work to get the grease out from the carpet. Fortunately, there are several ways to remove greasy items like caramel from a carpet. Make sure to test the cleaning products in an inconspicuous spot first for color fastness and any possible damage.
Step 1
Remove as much of the caramel as you can when it first spills. Use a warm moist white rag to blot the caramel off. You can also use the dull dinner or butter knife and scrape it off onto a white rag or paper towel, according to the University of Illinois Extension.
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Step 2
Apply isopropyl rubbing alcohol onto a white paper towel or cotton ball and blot up the rest of the caramel. Do not rub, as this can damage the carpet fibers.
Step 3
Mix 1/2 tsp. liquid dish detergent or 1 oz. oxygen bleach with 1 qt. warm water if the caramel stain remains. For the oxygen bleach, stir it until the cleaner dissolves.
Step 4
Blot the cleaner onto the carpet to completely cover the caramel stain, but do not saturate the carpet so the moisture reaches the backing. Let the cleaning solution sit for 15 minutes.
Step 5
Blot the stain up with white paper towels or rags. Then, use a deep carpet extraction machine to remove any remaining caramel and cleaners.
Tip
Place a sealed bag of ice cubes onto thick gooey caramel, which will harden it and make it easier to scrape or pick it off.
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