Tips, Trends, & Care


 Spot and Spill Removal


Stain solutions for your carpet

No carpet is stain proof, but since many are stain resistant, you have time to act. Select your stain from the drop-down menu to get specific instructions, or refer to the general guidelines below. Remove as much of food spills as possible by scraping the carpet gently with a spoon or a dull knife. Absorb wet spills quickly by blotting repeatedly with white paper or white cloth towels. Always blot; never rub or scrub abrasively, as a fuzzy area may result. When blotting, work from the outer edge in toward the center of the spot to avoid spreading the spill. Remove the stain using one of the cleaning items from the checklist below. Rinse the cleaned carpet area with water to remove detergent residue that may become sticky and cause rapid re-soiling. Absorb any remaining moisture by placing several layers of white towels over the spot and weighing them down with a heavy object. This step is necessary even when the carpet doesn't seem particularly damp.

Contact Shaw's Information Center at 800-441-7429 if previous removal procedures have not been successful.  Do not over apply or use excessive chemicals.

Many Shaw carpets feature branded fibers and these companies offer their own warranties and requirements for carpet care.  Use the following for spot removal and care information: 

Invista Stainmaster:  800-438-7668

Solutia Wear-Dated:  800-633-3208

Anso:  800-441-8185





Be prepared for any spill with the following checklist:

White cloths or white paper towels

Detergent solution Mix mild liquid detergent with water (no more than 1/4 teaspoon of detergent to 32 ounces of water). A clear, non-bleach liquid dishwashing detergent such as Dawn, Joy, or clear Ivory is recommended. Do not use detergents that are cloudy or creamy because they may leave a sticky residue.

Vinegar solution

Mix 1 part white vinegar to 1 part water.

Ammonia solution

Mix one tablespoon of ammonia to one cup of water. (Do not use on wool or wool-blend carpets.)

Non-oily nail polish remover

Chewing gum remover (freeze or solid type)

Spot Remover

Use spot removers designed specifically for grease, oil, or tar, such as Carbona or Energine.

Specialty Spot Removers

Several specialty spotting products are available from cleaning industry suppliers to remove difficult stains such as Betadine, food dyes, mustard, etc.  For specific specialty products, contact Shaw Technical Services through the Information Center at 800-441-7429.


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