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:
- If still wet, use an absorbent cloth or an extractor to remove as much of the stain as possible.
- Treat with a special spot-remover formulated for red dyes.
- 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:
- Apply an acid-based cleaner to neutralize the stain.
- 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.
- Thoroughly rinse the entire area with cold water.