How to remove water-based red dye stains

Probably one of the hardest stains to remove is “water-based red dye stains.” Kool-Aid is one of the hardest, if not the hardest, stain to remove from carpets.

Try the following steps to remove a red dye stain:

1. If still wet, use an absorbent cloth or an extractor to remove as much of the stain as possible.
2. Treat with a special spot-remover formulated for red dyes.
3. Allow the remover to dwell for 3 to 5 minutes and then blot or extract.

You can also use the heat transfer method whereby after applying the remover place a clean white towel over the spot and place a steam iron on top of the towel to draw out the red dye or better yet, use a vapor steamer to lift the stain out of the fibers.

If this doesn’t work you can attempt these steps:

1. Apply an acid-based cleaner to neutralize the stain.
2. Be sure to follow the use of an acid-based cleaner with an application of a mild alkaline product to return to a normal pH.
3. Thoroughly rinse the entire area with cold water.