How to Remove Red Kool-Aid and Drink Stains From Carpet

Kool-Aid and carpet don't go together. So, you might panic a little when that large cup of red Kool-Aid finds its way onto your carpet. Learn how to get Kool-Aid out of carpet with a few simple ingredients along with tips for how to avoid Kool-Aid on your carpet.

Simple Ways to Get Cherry Kool-Aid Out of Carpet

Cherry or red Kool-Aid on your beige carpet. It's the stuff nightmares are made of. Rather than having to live with that Kool-Aid stain for life or rearranging your furniture, you can just use a few at-home methods to get the stain out. When a spill occurs, use a white towel or paper towels right away to blot up as much of the Kool-Aid as possible to minimize the spread of the stain. If you have a Shop-Vac or wet vacuum, go over the spill area several times to remove as much Kool-Aid as possible. This will not remove the stain completely, but it will minimize the damage so you can clean it more effectively.

Materials

When it comes to removing Kool-Aid stain, you need to grab some of your top DIY stain fighters.

• Dish soap
• Ammonia
• Baking soda
• Hydrogen peroxide
• White vinegar
• Club soda
• White towel
• Toothbrush
• Iron

How to Remove Kool-Aid With Dish Soap or Ammonia

The dye in cherry, strawberry, fruit punch, and other red flavors of Kool-Aid is a strong, bold shade that can stain fabrics and carpets very quickly. These stains can be especially difficult to remove from carpet where the Kool-Aid has soaked in, staining fibers below the surface. It is possible to remove the stains, but it will require both patience and perseverance to eliminate the stain completely. Getting red stains out of carpet can be solved with a bit of dish soap, water, and an iron.

1. Mix two cups of warm water with 1/4 teaspoon of dish soap. If you prefer not to use soap, plain warm water or a solution of 2 cups warm water and 2 cups ammonia can also be effective.
2. Dampen the stained area of the carpet with your homemade cleaning solution. You do not want to soak the carpet completely, but it should be noticeably damp.
3. Lay a white towel or sheet over the stain, covering it entirely. You may need several towels available in order to remove the stain completely.
4. Use a clothes iron on low heat and press it lightly on top of the towel.
5. Do not press down; instead, move it around. You're just trying to heat up the stain.
6. Check the underside of the towel after a minute or two. It should be turning pink or red as the iron's heat breaks down the dye bonds and the stain wicks up through the carpet.
7. Rearrange the towel or use a fresh one as necessary to keep a clean part of the towel over the stain.
8. Repeat this process until no more color is showing on the towel even after the iron has been applied. If the carpet is drying out, dampen it again and continue applying the iron.
9. When no more color is coming up onto the towel, use another fresh towel and rub the area briskly to restore the carpet's fluff.
10. Vacuum the entire area and stay off the damp area until it is completely dry.

How to Get Red Stains Out of Carpet With Hydrogen Peroxide

If you need to know how to get red juice out of a white carpet, then you need to grab the hydrogen peroxide.

1. Take a damp white cloth and dab up as much of the Kool-Aid as possible.
2. Mix ½ cup of hydrogen peroxide with ¼ cup of dish soap.
3. Dip a cloth in the mixture and apply it to the stain.
4. Allow it to sit for 5-10 minutes.
5. Blot up the stain.
6. Repeat as necessary until the stain is gone.

How to Get Red Juice Out of Carpet With Baking Soda

When it comes to red stains on carpet that is light or beige, you can grab the baking soda. The baking soda method is pretty easy.

1. Try to blot up as much of the stain as you can.
2. Spray the stain down with water and blot again.
3. Create a thick mixture of baking soda and water.
4. Apply the mixture to the Kool-Aid stain.
5. Let the mixture dry completely on the stain. This can take a few hours.
6. Vacuum up the mixture, along with the Kool-Aid stain.

Club Soda to Remove Kool-Aid Stains

One of the best stain fighters out there is club soda.

1. Blot, blot, blot, until the stain is gone.
2. Add club soda right on the remaining stain.
3. Allow it to fizz for at least a minute or two.
4. Blot and repeat until the stain has been completely removed.

Quick Ways to Get Old Red Stains Out of Carpet

Old carpet stains need a bit more elbow grease to get the stain out. But it doesn't mean that they aren't going to come out.

1. Mix baking soda and dish soap together to create a paste.
2. Add the paste to the toothbrush.
3. Scrub the area with the toothbrush.
4. Allow it to sit for 30 minutes or so.
5. Brush away or vacuum up the baking soda.
6. Spray down the stain with white vinegar.
7. Blot with a white towel.
8. Repeat until the stain is completely gone.

How to Avoid Kool-Aid and Juice Stains on Carpet

The best way to remove red Kool-Aid stains is to avoid having spills in the first place. To minimize the risk of a Kool-Aid stain:

• Make it a household rule that Kool-Aid and similar drinks are not to be taken onto carpeted areas.
• Use cups with lids for young children so any spills will be minimized if they do drop or tip the cup.
• Avoid overfilling cups so they will be easier and safer to drink from without spills.
• Keep clean rags under couch or chair cushions so you will have materials nearby to blot a stain immediately if a spill occurs.

How to Get Kool-Aid Out of Carpet

It can be time-consuming to get red Kool-Aid stains out of the carpet, but it is not impossible. With just a few simple household items and the patience to use them as long as necessary, you can remove the stains and restore your carpet's non-red color. Next, get tips on how to clean a shag rug.