How To Get Gatorade Out Of Carpeting (Even Red Gatorade!)

Ossiana Tepfenhart
by Ossiana Tepfenhart

Gatorade has a long-standing tradition of being every athlete’s favorite sports drink. It comes in all sorts of fun colors (erm, flavors) that make them seemingly taste better. It’s a wonderful thing until you actually have it end up on your floor…or worse, your carpeting. So, how do you get those neon colors out of your carpet, anyway?

Mix 1 tablespoon of dish soap with 2 cups of water, soak a rag and blot the stain with the solution. You can also pour club soda on the Gatorade stain blot the stain with a towel to soak it up. Mix 1 tablespoon of white vinegar with 2-4 cups of warm water and dab the area if the stain is red.

Though Gatorade can look like a total mess to clean up, the truth is that most carpets will be able to be salvaged with a simple trick. This guide will help you get your carpet back to normal in no time.

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The Two Easiest Ways To Get Gatorade Out Of Carpeting

Believe it or not, Gatorade is not that bad an item to get out of carpeting. Unlike oil-based paint or other issues, you can get this drink out of your carpet without having to resort to harsh chemicals. There are two main choices people have when they want to get Gatorade out of their carpet. These are:

  • Club Soda. Yes, seltzer is a great pick here. The seltzer will dilute the stain and lift it up from the carpet. To get the stain removed entirely, take a white towel and dab at the Gatorade after pouring seltzer there. Grab another dry towel and dab afterward. Keep dabbing until you see the Gatorade soak up into your towels.
  • Dish Soap and Water. Dish soap and water is a classic go-to. Just add a tablespoon of standard dish soap (like Palmolive or Method) and then add it to two cups of cold water. Wet the area using this mixture and let it set in for around half an hour. Then, use a dry white rag to sop up the Gatorade, occasionally dabbing the stain with another rag soaked in the detergent mixture. Eventually, the mix will be able to get rid of the Gatorade.

Getting Rid Of Red Gatorade Stains

Are you a fan of red Gatorade flavors? If so, you better hope that you didn’t get a stain with this. Red is notoriously hard to clean off carpets, which is why you might need to use additional cleaning options. If you are dealing with a red stain, use these steps below to make it go away:

  • Once you’ve lifted up the stain with club soda or dish soap, you will need to mix a large spoonful of what vinegar to a quart of warm water. Stir gently.
  • Take a large cloth and dip it in the vinegar solution. Do not use a cloth you want to keep stain-free.
  • Then, use this cloth as a “dabber” for your stain. Press the cloth into the stain for 30 minutes, allowing any additional redness to transfer over to the other cloth.
  • Blot with a wet, new white cloth. Allow it to dry.

How Effective Are These Treatments?

If there’s one thing I’ll be honest about, it’s that most carpet stains are going to be a little difficult to work with. In fact, many stains just don’t seem to fully clean up, even if you dab it all day long. However, this will get rid of most stains as long as you get to it in time. If your stain has dried, it will be far more difficult to remove the coloration, even with top tier club soda.

What Else Can You Do If These Treatments Don’t Work?

Gatorade is, for the most part, easy to remove as long as you are patient and good at dabbing away stains. However, there will be some carpets that just won’t take to it as well as they should. If this happens, you have two options. You can either use a high-powered cleaner like Oxyclean or you can call professionals to get rid of the stain for you.

Personally, I’ve heard that Oxyclean works fairly well but it still remains a gambit. Some carpets just don’t take to it, and I haven’t gotten good results with red Gatorade. If you are not sure whether or not this fix will work, then just call a professional group of cleaners. Trust me, I’ve had cleaning solvents backfire in the past and wouldn’t wish it on anyone.

Why Do Commercial Cleaners Not Work With Gatorade?

Some cleaners absolutely can work with Gatorade stains. However, the problem with commercial, name-brand cleaners is that you can never tell which will work well and which won’t. So you might end up with great results, or you might end up with a cleaning solution that forces the stain deeper into the carpet.

Unless you’re willing to deal with that kind of gambit, you’re probably better off pouring some more club soda on the stain.

When Should You Call Professional Carpet Cleaners?

Personally, I’m always a fan of calling in the pros when it comes to stains simply because I’ve had stain removal endeavors backfire horribly. If you have a carpet with delicate fibers or if the Gatorade has become dried into the rug, you probably should call the cleaners. A good rule of thumb to follow is to call the pros whenever you don’t feel comfortable cleaning something.

Moreover, it’s important to remember that this is a fix that’s meant for Gatorade that was recently spilled into the carpet and didn’t have any additional substances. If you have a stain that’s part Gatorade, part spaghetti, then you probably will need to give professional cleaners a call. Club soda simply won’t be able to fix it all.

How Much Would It Cost To Get Your Carpet Professionally Cleaned?

This all depends on how much Gatorade has been spilled, the material the carpet is made from, and the number of carpets that you want to clean. Generally speaking, most carpet cleaners will demand between $60 and $150 per carpet with prices varying heavily on cleaning methods and location.

To get the best possible outcome and a decent quote, approach at least three carpet cleaning companies before you settle on one. To ensure that difficult stains are removed, mention the type of carpet that you have as well as the items that have stained it.

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Related Questions

How do you get rid of a red soda stain on the carpet?

Act as soon as you humanly can. Create a mixture containing one to two tablespoons vinegar plus two cups of warm water. Stir, apply the vinegar solution with a sponge directly on the stain. Continue to dab at it, taking turns to dry off the mess, until the stain is lifted. You may need to go through multiple passes before it’s all gone. Rinse with water using a sponge.


How do I know if my carpet has mold?

If your carpet recently sustained time in the water, there’s a good chance that it grew mold. To search for mold, look for brown, green, or black discolorations on your carpet. Moldy carpets may also retain a certain, distinct musty smell. If you touch a moldy carpet, there is also a chance that you might feel unexplained levels of moisture there.


Should carpet be replaced after water damage?

It all depends on the extent of the damage, plus the type of damage you have. If you just spilled a large soda on it, you probably don’t have to replace it. A thorough cleaning would work perfectly fine, and may even be covered by your renter’s insurance depending on the issues at hand.On the other hand, if you had extensive water damage due to floodage or a pipe burst, then you may want to consider replacing the carpet. A good rule of thumb is that you have to replace the carpet after 72 hours of constant water exposure, or if the carpet has been flooded by sewage.

Ossiana Tepfenhart
Ossiana Tepfenhart

Ossiana Tepfenhart is an expert writer, focusing on interior design and general home tips. Writing is her life, and it's what she does best. Her interests include art and real estate investments.

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