Some stains do not come out with a normal deep clean. Red wine, coffee, urine, make-up, food dyes and old marks that have been scrubbed with household products all need a different approach. With 30 years in the trade, Marek and the team treat difficult stains on carpets, rugs, sofas and mattresses across Leeds and Yorkshire.
Stains we treat
- Drinks – red wine, coffee, tea, juice and fizzy drinks
- Pet urine and accidents – including the yellow marks urine leaves on light carpets
- Food and dyes – curry, ketchup, sauces and coloured sweets
- Make-up and cosmetics – foundation, lipstick, nail varnish and fake tan
- Medicines – including coloured syrups
- Sticky and oily marks – chewing gum, grease and adhesive residue
How we remove difficult stains
- We identify the fibre and the stain. Wool, synthetics and fine fabrics all need different treatment, and so do different types of stain.
- We test first. A small test on a hidden area shows how the fibre and its colours will react.
- We use the right chemistry. Depending on the stain, that can mean pH correction, a solvent spotter for oily marks, or carefully chosen reducing or oxidising agents.
- We work step by step. Instead of one strong product, we use gentle treatments in stages and rinse thoroughly, so no residue is left behind to attract dirt.
UV light: finding and treating organic stains
Finding stains you cannot see. Urine and other organic marks often spread further under the surface than they look, and old ones can be almost invisible in daylight. Before we start, we check the carpet with a UV torch. Under UV light these stains show up clearly, so we can treat every affected area, not just the obvious ones.
Treating stains with UV lamps. For urine, coffee and other organic stains we also use professional UV lamps. This is one of our advanced methods. We apply an oxidiser to the stain and set a UV lamp over it. The UV light activates the oxidiser, so the stain gradually lightens until it disappears. It works in a similar way to teeth whitening at the dentist, where a light is used to activate the whitening gel. Only then do we rinse the area thoroughly. It works well on wool and light-coloured carpets, because the stain fades gently instead of being attacked with harsh chemicals.
Real stain removal jobs
These photos are from our own jobs.
What we can and cannot remove
Most fresh stains come out well. Old stains, and stains that have already been treated with household products, often lighten a lot without disappearing completely. Some marks are not stains at all: bleach and some cleaning products remove the colour from the fibre, and that cannot be cleaned back. We always check first and tell you honestly what to expect before we start.
Before we arrive
- Blot fresh spills with white kitchen roll. Do not rub.
- Do not use bleach, washing-up liquid or shop-bought stain removers on the stain.
- Send us a photo, and tell us what the stain is and what has been tried so far. It helps us bring the right products.
Our guide on how to remove red wine stains from carpet explains what to do in the first few minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Can you remove old stains?
Often yes, or at least lighten them a lot. It depends on what the stain is, how long it has been there and what has been used on it. Send us a photo and we will give you an honest opinion.
Can you remove urine stains from wool carpet?
Yes, in most cases. On wool we use wool-safe products and work carefully, because harsh treatments can damage the fibre. See our wool carpet and rug cleaning and urine stain and odour removal pages.
Do you remove stains from sofas and mattresses too?
Yes. We treat stains on fabric sofas, armchairs and mattresses, including delicate fabrics. See our fine fabric cleaning page.
How much does it cost?
Stain removal is usually part of a carpet or upholstery clean. Our minimum charge for a visit is £80, there is no deposit, and you pay after the job by cash or bank transfer.
How can I stop it happening again?
After cleaning, we can add stain guard protection. It gives you a few minutes to blot a spill before it soaks in.
Get a quote for stain removal
Send us a photo of the stain and tell us what it is. We are open 7 days a week, 9am to 8pm, and cover Leeds, York, Wakefield, Huddersfield, Harrogate and the rest of Yorkshire.