How to Clean Candy, Chocolate, and Other Halloween Stains and Residue in Carpet

     

Halloween: the one time of the year where children and adults alike are able to be whoever or whatever they want to be. Of course, this can involve elaborate, or not so elaborate, costumes, face paint, glitter, nail polish, and make-up. While some children and adults stay home to pass out candy, many scour the neighborhoods for treats. Throughout a sometimes long night of trick-or-treating, children become more and more impatient as they eagerly await unwrapping the delicious candy they just received. While a few children are tidy, most are not, meaning chocolate and candy will go everywhere. Hopefully, everywhere doesn't include your carpets or your customer's carpets. If it does: we have you covered.

      While the innocent and their family and guardians have a playfully sweet Halloween, many adults and teens attend Halloween themed parties late into the night. With decorations galore, food resembling everything Halloween, and scary movies and rooms (eeek!), it is easy to see how Halloween parties can leave big messes.

     Regardless of the where you choose to go or the costume you decide to where, you may face a few messes along the way. Cleaning Supply Network (and Service Products in San Antonio) has put together a list of carpet cleaning products and techniques that will help you with these tough stains. Feel free to print this list out, save it, and share it!

 Always Scrape, Blot, Vacuum, or Otherwise Remove (Carefully) Excess First

Candy (Sticky Candy, Lollipops) - (No Dye) Completely saturate with Blood & Spot Remover (our suggested detergent); allow detergent to set 1 minute; tamp vigorously with brush; flush with water; and extract or blot dry (whichever you prefer). Repeat if necessary.

Candy (Sticky Candy, Lollipops) - (Dye) [Before use, test a small, inconspicuous area.] Completely saturate area with Dye Stain Remover. Cover with a white cotton or paper towel. With the towel still over the stained are, use a steam iron, wallpaper steamer, or some other type of steamer to steam for 15-20 each pressing. Unwanted coloring/ dye should transfer to towel. Keep area saturated during transfers. Move to clean area of towel each pressing until dye is completely removed or transfer stops. Flush with water, blot dry, or extract.

Chocolate - Completely Saturate the area with Blood & Spot Remover . Allow to set for 2 minutes. Agitate with tamping brush and flush with water. Extract or blot dry. Then, apply Stand Alone to the chocolate stain and allow to set for 2 minutes. Extract or blot dry. Tough Spots: If the spot is still there, the chocolate may have been dyed. For that, please refer to the instructions for Candy (Sticky Candy, Lollipops) - (Dye), which is directly above this section.

Make-Up & Lipstick- Moisten Spot with Volatile Dry Spotter and blot with cloth, removing as much of the make-up and/or lipstick as possible. Moisten with a POG, agitate with tamping brush. Flush with Blood & Spot Remover and agitate with tamping brush. Then, extract or blot dry.

Alcoholic Beverages, Beer, Soda/Cola, Soft Drinks - Completely Saturate the area with Blood & Spot Remover. Allow to set for 2 minutes. Agitate with tamping brush and flush with water. Extract or blot dry. Then, apply Stand Alone to the chocolate stain and allow to set for 2 minutes. Extract or blot dry. (Tough Spot) If the spot is still there, the chocolate may have been dyed. For that, please refer to the instructions for Candy (Sticky Candy, Lollipops) - (Dye), above.

Food Dyes - [Before use, test a small, inconspicuous area.] Completely saturate area with Dye Stain Remover. Cover with a white cotton or paper towel. With the towel still over the stained are, use a steam iron, wallpaper steamer, or some other type of steamer to steam for 15-20 each pressing. Unwanted coloring/ dye should transfer to towel. Keep area saturated during transfers. Move to clean area of towel each pressing until dye is completely removed or transfer stops. Flush with water, blot dry, or extract.

Vomit - Depending on the amount, sickness, and severity of the vomit, there are different cleaning and removal techniques. Choose whichever you feel is appropriate for the job.

1. Saturate are with Blood & Spot Remover and allow it to set for 2 minutes. Agitate with tamping brush, flush with water, extract or blot dry. Apply Stand Alone and allow to set for 2 minutes. Extract or blot dry.

2. Mix 1 ounce of 2112 in a quart of hot water  ( 120-140 degrees Farenheit). Apply solution to the area. Cover with a warm, damp, white towel. Allow solution to set on area for 20 minutes, flush out with water, and extract or blot dry. Repeat if necessary.

3. Saturate the area with Blood & Spot Remover. While using the tamping brush on stain, flush with water and extract or blot dry. Saturate area with Enzyme Deodorant and extract or blot dry.

      

Everyone here at Cleaning Supply Network and Service Products hopes that you had a happy, fun, and safe Halloween. Now you will be well-prepared for any messes THIS holiday may bring to you or your customers. 

For more information on carpet cleaning and restoration techniques, keep checking back for more blog posts. We also host classes, primarily at our Austin and San Antonio locations, which you can call to sign up to attend. You can go to our website http://cleaningsupplynetwork.com to check out our current classes for all stores and click the links for detailed class information per location. 

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