Carpet Stain Solutions: Oil & Grease

No matter the kind of carpet, these treatments will lift up those tough oil and grease stains.

By Real Simple Magazine Mar 1, 2012 6:07PM

*See Homemade Carpet-Cleaning Solutions for recipes for all solutions below.

Synthetic-Fiber Rugs

Butter, salad dressing, cheese, eggnog, cooking oil, tree sap, crayon, lotion, mascara, lipstick, nail polish

1. Apply a small amount of solvent to a white cloth. Dab repeatedly, then press the cloth on the spot for a few seconds.

2. Rinse by blotting with a white cloth soaked in lukewarm water.

3. Wait one hour or until the carpet completely dries. If the stain is getting lighter, repeat until the stain is removed.

Natural-Fiber Rugs

Butter, salad dressing, cheese, eggnog, cooking oil, tree sap, crayon, lotion, mascara, lipstick, nail polish

1. Apply a small amount of solvent to a white cloth, then blot.

2. Spray the stain with detergent solution, then blot with a dry white cloth.

3. Spray the stain with lukewarm water, then blot with a dry white cloth.

4. Wait one hour or until the carpet completely dries. If the stain is getting lighter, repeat these steps until it is gone.

Learn more ways to remove carpet stains.