Does Peroxide Make Stains Go Away on Carpet?
- Hydrogen peroxide is a colorless liquid with a harsh odor. Hydrogen peroxide used in the home is a diluted form, with typically 3 percent hydrogen peroxide. Anything more than 8 percent is corrosive and can burn and irritate the eyes and skin. The chemical is used as a rocket propellant and some manufacturers use it to bleach textiles and paper pulp. Home use is typically for antiseptic and cleaning purposes. It is effective at lifting stains from fabrics and carpets.
- As a home remedy, consumers use 3 percent hydrogen peroxide as a carpet stain remover, either poured onto the stain and left for about 15 minutes before blotting up, or applied to a white rag and used to blot and lift the stain. It is effective at removing berry stains, red wine stains, fruit juice stains and diarrhea stains. Instead of using it straight, mix 1 tbsp. baking soda to 1 cup hydrogen peroxide to make an odor-eating carpet stain remover.
- It is possible to remove scorches or light burn stains from carpet fibers with a solution of hydrogen peroxide and water. Combine one part hydrogen peroxide to five parts water and dab on the stain mark. The solution uses its fading power to lighten the scorch mark.
- There are some risk factors when using hydrogen peroxide as a carpet stain remover. If the carpet contains certain synthetic fibers, such as olefin, it can leave a green tint on the fibers. For this reason, don't leave the hydrogen peroxide solution on the carpet for more than 20 minutes, and rinse the area thoroughly to remove any of its residue after removing the carpet stain. Before using it as a carpet stain remover, test it on a small, inconspicuous area of the carpet to see how it reacts with your specific carpet type.
