In most households there will be people hurrying to get ready for to work or to meet friends for a night out, and makeup is being applied, but due to frantic efforts to get ready in time, it accidentally ends up on the carpet. At that point carpet cleaning is likely to be the last thing on that person’s mind, and rather than dealing with it then, they leave it, with the intention of cleaning it up later.
How wise or not a decision that is, will depend on exactly what kind of makeup it is. As a rule of thumb, Carpet Cleaning Experts at www.brilliancecarpetcleaningperth.com.au would always recommend removing any substance which has been dropped or spilled onto the carpet as soon as possible. Whilst not every one of them is going to damage it immediately, there are plenty that will, so quick action is needed.
As we mentioned there are different kinds of makeup, and exactly what action you take is going to be dependent on which type it is. For this reason, we have looked at three of the most used makeup types and what you can do to mitigate the damage and prevent staining. These are nail polish, mascara, and lipstick.
Nail Polish
Being a liquid this is one of the worst types of makeup for carpets given that it can soak deep into the fibres. The first step is to try to blot up as much of the excess nail polish as you can, making sure that you do not rub outwards, which only spreads it. Any nail polish which remains can be removed using a colourless nail polish remover that contains no acetone or fragrance.
Place some on a damp cloth and then dab the stained area, but again, do not rub. Continue dabbing until all the nail polish appears to have been removed. Next, pour some warm water over the area, and dab again with a clean cloth or towel to remove any excess nail polish remover, and then allow the area to dry.
Mascara
Although classed as a liquid, it is often thicker than nail polish, although no less damaging if it stains your carpet. To remove mascara add some warm water to a small amount of dishwashing soap. Again, try to blot up as much of the mascara as you can before using a cloth soaked in soapy water to remove any remaining mascara.
Should the stain be particularly stubborn then as an alternative you can put a small amount of makeup remover on a cloth to try to remove the mascara. Once the stain is removed wet the area with clean water, then dry it up to remove any residue.
Lipstick
The removal of lipstick from a carpet is very similar to how you would remove mascara with the only variation being that in addition to adding dishwashing soap to the water, you should also add some white vinegar. You might also find that an absorbent sponge is more effective at helping you remove lipstick stains than a cloth.
For any of these makeup types, or any other that might be on your carpet, if you find yourself unable to remove them, do not panic, and certainly do not rub at them furiously, as that will simply make the problem even worse.
Instead, find the number of a local professional carpet cleaner and ask for a quote for removing the makeup stains from your carpet. You should be pleasantly surprised, and it will certainly cost far less than replacing the entire carpet.