How To Get Chalk Out Of Carpet (Liquid and Dry)
Having children in the home means that there are bound to be some accidents; in fact, accidents become a part of your daily life. Chalk and markers have been loved by children throughout the decades and are still highly used by children today! This means that you will find yourself trying to get ink or chalk out of your carpet at some time or another. You may already know the remedies for ink, so what about chalk?
How you get chalk out of your carpet depends on whether it’s liquid chalk or dry chalk in your carpet. If liquid chalk is the problem, you can remove this by applying acetone nail polish remover. However, if it’s dry chalk, you can vacuum it up or apply a wet cloth to the area.
In this article, we will describe the difference between liquid chalk and dry chalk. This will allow you to choose the correct method to apply in order to remove it from your carpet. Additionally, we will provide step by step instructions for both scenarios, making it easier for you.
Don't want to do it yourself?
Get free, zero-commitment quotes from pro contractors near you.
Removing Liquid Chalk From Your Carpet
As much as we want to help children express their creativity and develop their artistic skills, we’ll have to be prepared for the mess they will undoubtedly make, resulting in stains on furniture and carpets. Liquid chalk has certain advantages, as it a dust-free version of the kind of chalk that we know from the school classroom.
No matter how many times you ask your kids to be careful when using liquid chalk or which areas you confine them to while they create their artworks, you can expect that at some point, accidents will happen.
This is part of the experience of child-rearing, as sometimes our most cherished possessions fall victim to their activities—no point in getting upset when liquid chalk is all over the carpet.
Acetone Nail Polish Remover
One effective method of eliminating any remaining particles of liquid chalk is to clear them away with nail polish remover. Don’t pour it on without diluting it, as you could damage the carpet.
Materials You Will Need
- Nail polish remover
- Water
- Rag
- Liquid soap (If you don’t have nail polish remover)
Instructions
- Mix the nail polish remover with water. You will want to mix about 1/8 cup with 1 cup of water. Make sure to do this in a well-ventilated area as the fumes can cause some breathing issues for sensitive individuals.
- Apply the mixture. Pour the mixture onto your carpet after you’ve mixed it well. Take a cloth and wipe the area in one full swipe. Make sure you don’t wipe further than the stain, as this can cause the chalk to spread to other areas of your carpet. You can also dab the site if it’s a small stain.
- Repeat the process. Repeat step 2 as many times as you need to until you see the chalk life away from the carpet. The chalk will eventually dissolve. You can add more nail polish remover to the mixture if you need a more robust solution.
If you do not have nail polish remover on hand, you can always try liquid soap. This can also help remove stains from your carpet, but it doesn’t work as great as acetone.
Removing Dry Chalk From Your Carpet
Everyone who comes into contact with children regularly should know the best way to remove chalk from a carpet. All children enjoy playing with chalk, and they’ll inevitably make a mess with it at one time or another.
Chalk stains in carpets can be a little challenging to remove, but it is possible. Use this easy technique, and your carpet will soon be back to its original condition.
The Color Of The Chalk Matters
Dry white chalk is easy to deal with, as it can be vacuumed away. If the white chalk powder is more deeply embedded into the carpet’s fibers, a clean cloth moistened with warm water should still be sufficient to remove it.
Colored chalk presents a different challenge due to the dyes used in its manufacture. Removing these stains, once they have set, can be extremely difficult. You may even start to think that the only way to remove the stain is to replace the carpet.
Vacuuming Dry Chalk Stains
Vacuuming is a foolproof way to remove dry chalk from your carpet. Since it’s mainly powder, the vacuum will suck the powder from your carpet fibers. Make sure you don’t roll over the chalk, or this will press it further into your carpet.
Materials You Will Need
- Vacuum cleaner
- Carpet cleaning spray (for example, Pro-Solve, or similar)
- Cloth
Instructions
- Vacuum the entire area thoroughly. Once you’ve done this, most of the chalk will have disappeared, making it easier to see the stain’s exact nature and borders. It may sound a little obvious, but before using the spray, read the can’s instructions. Improper use of the spray will either mean it is ineffective, so you’ll waste time and money, or it could even damage your carpet.
- Apply the carpet cleaner. Cover the stain with the recommended amount of carpet cleaner, and leave it to dry out.
- Seal off the area. The product must have time to dry entirely before anyone stands or walks on it. If they do, there’s a risk that the stain could become even more deeply embedded in the carpet fibers.
- Vacuum again. Once the product has dried completely, vacuum the area once more. Be thorough, and you should start to see a difference in the depth of the stain.
- Repeat if required. Start with Step 3 and go through the entire process until the stain has completely disappeared. If there’s still a trace of a stain which you just can’t seem to remove, and it’s ruining the look of your carpet, taking your only option may be to take more drastic action.
It is possible to hire a steam carpet cleaner, which should be powerful enough to do the job. An alternative would be to consult a professional carpet cleaner who could undertake to remove the stain for you. Or, you could remove that section of the carpet and replace it yourself.
What If You Can’t Get Chalk Out Of Your Carpet?
Depending on how long the chalk has been in contact with your carpet, removing the stain may be an issue. If this is the case, you can hire a professional to remove the stain, or you could replace the section of carpet yourself. Replacing a section of carpet as a DIY projec t will save you a few hundred dollars, and it’s an easy project!
Simply cut out the section and trace it onto a new piece of carpet. Cut that piece a little larger than the piece you traced. Apply some backing into the hole, apply adhesive, and press your new carpet piece into the hole. It’s simple.
Related Questions
- Wood
- Carpet
- Upholstery
- Walls
- Clothing
Don't want to do it yourself?
Get free, zero-commitment quotes from pro contractors near you.
In Summary
If you find that you have some chalk stains on your carpet, the removal process will depend on whether or not it is liquid chalk or dry chalk. By taking immediate action, you will decrease the risk of permanent stains and prevent professional stain removal costs.
However, if you do have a section that you can’t remove, you can simply replace that section of the carpet instead of hiring a professional. If this is the case, take the time to brush up on your extraordinary DIY skills. If you’re a beginner, this is a perfect project for you!
Heather is a passionate writer who loves anything DIY. Growing up, she learned everything from home repairs to design, and wants to share her tips with you. When she's not writing, she's usually hiking or searching for her next DIY project.
More by Heather Robbins
