Kool Aid, Colored Beverages, Candy, and other Food Dye Stains

When liquid is spilled on your carpets, it soaks down into the fibers and spreads. One of the most difficult stains to detach from carpets is the one from sticky candy, but not to worry, your carpet can be restored using the right cleaning techniques. Here are a few techniques you can use to remove food dye.
Begin by using dry paper towels and pat the affected area to soak up as much of the liquid as possible. Apply a mixture of liquid detergent and cold water using a white clean rag. (Always make sure to test in a conspicuous area to avoid any damage to your carpet.) Blot the area with towel to apply the solution. Always start from the outer layers of the stain working your way in; this prevents spreading. After you have applied the mixture give it about 15 minutes. Lastly, using another clean towel rinse the area with cold water. Blot the area continuously until you see that the stain is no longer visible. If the stain is still visible, you need to mix a tablespoon of vinegar and 3 tablespoons of water. Apply the solution to the affected area with another clean towel and allow it to sit for about 30 minutes. Lastly, after you’ve given the solution enough time to soak into the fibers, you want to use a towel soaked in warm water, to remove the solution from the carpet. This should remove the rest of the stain and your carpet should be clean. Allow it to dry, and then vacuum carpet to remove any dry residue.

You can also try this second method to remove dye from your carpets:

Begin by cleaning area with hot water extraction and then blot area with white rag to dry carpet. Next, using trigger sprayers apply a reducer to the affected area and cover it with a damp towel. Then, you will need to use an iron set at the lowest heat and place over towel to apply steam heat. Check the affected area every 30 seconds until the stain disappears or turns to a light yellow color. When this happens remove the iron and towel, and an extraction rinse should remove the rest of the residue.
To remove candy from your carpet, follow these steps:

First, Try and remove as much of the candy from carpet, but be careful not to pull out any carpet fibers, you can use a butter knife to remove any loose candy. Using your fingertips, apply liquid dish soap to the affected area making your way in from the outer areas to the center. Then, Blot the area with a clean towel to remove the soap and candy from your carpet. Repeat this step a couple times until you see that most of the stain and soap have been removed. If there are still any remaining stains, you can apply a ¼ cup of vinegar to the affected areas, and then pat the area with a clean wet towel. This solution causes any leftover sticky stains to disband. Lastly, use wet towels on carpet to remove all the soap and vinegar.

If you do not feel comfortable mixing solutions and applying it to your carpet it is always best to contact a professional for advice. Make sure that you know what kind of fibers you are dealing with to avoid any damage to your carpet. Also remember that the longer the stain has been sitting unattended the harder it is to remove it.

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