Carpet Cleaning 101 · General Home Cleaning Tips ·Sep 30, 2022

How to Get Ketchup out of a Carpet

With ketchup being such a popular condiment in any household, a ketchup spill on the carpet is almost unavoidable at some point. To prepare for this, it is key to know how to get ketchup out of a carpet.

There are several methods you can follow, but you should choose one that best suits the severity and nature of the stain you are dealing with.

We outline a few good methods that will effectively remove any type of ketchup stain so that your carpet is left looking and smelling as good as new.

How To Remove Ketchup From A Carpet

Simple Home Remedy

For any stain, it is best to act quickly as fresher spills are much easier to remove. If you get to the ketchup stain fast enough, you can remove it using a quick and simple remedy that requires only water, liquid soap, a spoon, and a cloth.

This works on any similar stain, like removing BBQ sauce from a carpet.

Step 1:

Use a spoon to scoop up any excess ketchup from the stained area.

Step 2:

Combine one cup of warm water with a teaspoon of liquid soap, and transfer the solution to a spray bottle.

Ensure the water is not too hot, as it may be harmful to you, or possibly melt a plastic bottle.

Step 3:

Apply the solution generously to the stain so that it soaks through the carpet fibers.

Use a soft, absorbent cloth to blot the area well. Continue with this until you have removed as much liquid as possible, which will soak up along with the ketchup.

Leave to air dry for a few hours, or overnight.

Step 4:

Once dry, check the area to see if the stain has cleared. If not, repeat the process.

Baking Soda Technique

When it comes to removing a tomato stain or ketchup stain that has been sitting on the carpet for a few hours, you will find that you need a slightly more aggressive form of cleaning to remove it effectively.

The baking soda technique works wonders on any stain, be it ketchup or getting applesauce out of your carpet, as long as you attend to the mess as soon as possible.

Step 1:

The first thing to do is remove any excess moisture or debris from the stain. Scoop up any dried ketchup with a butter knife or spoon, and use a paper towel to blot the area to soak up any moisture.

Avoid rubbing the stain, as this can cause it to spread even more.

Step 2:

Next, apply the baking soda to the stain. Ensure you sprinkle it generously enough to completely cover the stained area so that it is no longer visible.

Use an old toothbrush to gently rub the baking soda into the stain. Do this with small circular motions, and keep the pressure light to avoid damaging the carpet and requiring a carpet repair kit.

You can also use a carpet cleaning brush machine here, instead.

Leave this to sit for 6-8 hours, or overnight, to let the baking soda work on the stain.

Step 3:

After the waiting period, brush, sweep or vacuum the baking soda out of the carpet and check the area underneath. If the stain is not clean, repeat the process.

Specialist Cleaner

If you are dealing with an old, stubborn ketchup stain then baking soda or a simple home remedy may not be sufficient to remove it.

For this, you will need professional carpet cleaning products that are designed for this exact type of stain and will waste no time in clearing it out of your carpet.

These specialist products or equipment are always the best option for severe stains or cleaning needs, like a Hydro Force tile cleaner for tiled floors.

Step 1:

Remove any excess ketchup debris off of the carpet - if the stain is older, there will most likely be dried ketchup on the carpet fibers.

You can do this by using a butter knife to scrape it off or using a vacuum on the area.

Step 2:

Next, you will need your specialist carpet pre-spray.

One of the best on the market is the Truck Mount Forum Black Label Sweet Breeze Pre-spray. This cleaner does not just remove stubborn stains and odors, but also softens your carpet fibers and freshens up the odor, leaving it looking, and smelling, brand new.

It can work on a mild ketchup stain, or even something stronger, like getting hot sauce out of a carpet.

Mix the solution according to the directions on the bottle, and transfer it to a spray bottle.

Step 3:

With the solution in the spray bottle, apply it to the stain generously to fully moisten the area of the carpet.

You will then leave it for 30-40 minutes to settle into the carpet fibers.

Step 4:

After waiting, apply cold water to the area to rinse out the cleaning solution. Use a spray bottle again, as this will avoid flooding out the carpet.

Use a dry, absorbent cloth to dab the area, and remove the liquid. Continue doing this until you have soaked up as much moisture as possible. You may need to change cloths as they soak through.

You can also use a water extraction vacuum for this step. If you do, ensure you have all the necessary supporting accessories, like velcro straps.

Once you are not able to absorb any more liquid, leave the area to air dry overnight.

Step 5:

Once fully dry, check the area to see if the stain has cleared. If not, repeat the process.

Conclusion

Whether you are removing ketchup or need to clean soy sauce out of a carpet, there are so many effective cleaning methods to choose from, pick the one that is most suited to the stain you are dealing with.

For a new stain, you can get away with a simple home remedy, but older stains may require professional carpet cleaning equipment and products (like a Rotovac carpet cleaner) to remove them.

Always ensure you get to work on removing a stain as soon as you spot it. This will make it easier to remove, saving you time and energy in the long run.

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