In an effort to help you better understand how to get stains out of your carpet I set out on a journey across the Internet to find the best way to remove red wine. I was blown away by the amount of contradictory information I found. It seems that for every method that works for one person, another person says it doesn't work at all. So what's the answer?

Obviously stain removal can be a trial-and-error process, but here are a few promising methods I found. Please note that you should always test any stain removal liquid on a small hidden part of your carpet to ensure it won't damage or discolor your floor. Also make sure to always blot stains rather than rub them, as rubbing can push the stain deeper into the fibers or make the stain larger.

Try one of these methods:

1) Apply a solution of hydrogen peroxide mixed with either dish soap or carpet shampoo. This idea was tested at the University of California at Davis and found to be a good stain removal solution.

2) Use a mixture of warm water with a light detergent followed up by a mixture containing one part white vinegar to two parts water.

3) For stains you can't clean immediately, you can pour club soda onto the stain, allowing the carbonation to lift the stain and then sprinkle a liberal amount of table salt onto it to help absorb the liquid. Make sure to vacuum up the salt before continuing stain removal.

There are also commercial stain removers that you can purchase, but it seems there isn't one "perfect" stain removal solution. If you have a method that worked for you, feel free to post it in the comment section of this blog!