How To Get Kool-Aid Out Of Carpet (7 Ways To Do It!)
If you have kids, you have probably had Kool-Aid spills in your carpet more than once. Or adults doing Jell-O shots. Were you able to get the stain all the way out or did you give up and toss an area rug on that spot? Some stains are just really difficult to get rid of. Especially red Kool-Aid. But it is possible if you do it correctly.
Mix 1 tablespoon of mild dish soap with 1 cup of water, spray the stain with the solution and blot it with a rag. You can also mix 1 cup of white vinegar with 2 cups of water, spray the stain, and let it soak for 3-4 minutes. Blot the stain with a towel or rag and let it dry completely before you vacuum it.
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Using Plain Old Water to Get Kool-Aid Out of Carpet
Part of the trick to getting Kool-Aid out of the carpet is to get to it quickly before it has time to soak in. That is the only way that the plain water trick is going to work. Here are the steps to that easy solution.
- Get a white towel or cloth and put it on the stain.
- Step on it to get out as much liquid as possible.
- Pour cold water on the spot and let it soak for 20 seconds.
- Get another white towel and repeat steps 1 and 2.
- Check your towel, if all you see is red Kool-Aid, repeat step 3.
- Use a white paper towel or napkin to press on the spot and get the rest of the red dye out of the carpet.
- Point a fan at the spot or use a blow dryer to dry the spot.
Using Club Soda to Get Kool-Aid Out of Carpet
People have been using club soda to clean stains for over a century so it must be good. Right? Even maids use this trick. It works best if your club soda is still carbonated but it will work either way. Just follow these easy steps.
- Use a towel to soak up as much Kool-Aid as you can by stepping on it for a few seconds. Then flip it over and stand on it again.
- Pour the club soda directly onto the spot and let it bubble for a few minutes.
- Dry it with a clean towel in the same manner as step 1.
- Continue to repeat steps 2 and 3 until it is gone.
- Blow-dry the spot or use a fan to dry it.
Using Dish Soap to Get Kool-Aid Out of Carpet
Dish soap is good for cleaning more than just dishes, after all. But you need to use mild dish soap. Not that concentrated extra power stuff. Just plain old dish soap like Dawn or Palmolive. Here is what to do in order to remove that Kool-Aid stain.
- Immediately soak up as much as the stain as you can with a towel, dishcloth, napkins, or whatever is close by. The easiest way is to put a folded towel on the spot and stand on it.
- Mix one tablespoon of dish soap with one cup of water in a spray bottle.
- Spray the area thoroughly and let it sit for 30 seconds.
- Blot it with a towel or napkins.
- Repeat steps 3 and 4 until you stop seeing Kool-Aid on the towel.
- Use a blow dryer or fan to dry the spot.
Using Hydrogen Peroxide to Get Kool-Aid Out of Carpet
In any house, hydrogen peroxide probably has more uses than just cleaning and disinfecting cuts. It can be used for cleaning clothes, whitening teeth, and even lightening your hair. But it is especially good for removing stains from carpet. Try these easy steps.
- Soak up as much of the Kool-Aid as you can with a towel or napkin.
- Put on a mask and some gloves. While peroxide is not really toxic, you still do not want to breathe it or get too much on your skin.
- Pour a capful of peroxide on the spot and let it do its job for about five minutes.
- Use another clean towel or napkin to soak up the spot.
- Keep switching towels or napkins until you no longer see Kool-Aid on it.
- If it does not seem to be going away completely, repeat steps 3 and 4.
- Dry the spot with a fan or blow dryer.
Using Rubbing Alcohol to Get Kool-Aid Out of Carpet
If the peroxide did not work, try rubbing alcohol. This stuff is also great for all types of jobs in and around the house. If you have some in your bathroom cabinet, go get it and give it a try.
- Use a folded towel to soak up as much of the spot as you can. Step on it and wait 30 seconds, flip it over and do it again.
- Put on gloves and a mask. You do not really want to breathe too much of this stuff or get too much on your hands.
- Mix one tablespoon of alcohol to ¼ cup of warm water.
- Pour or spray the concoction on the spot.
- Let it sit for one minute and then repeat step 1.
- If the stain persists, repeat steps 3 – 5 until it is gone.
- Blow-dry the spot or use a fan to dry it completely.
Using Vinegar to Get Kool-Aid Out of Carpet
From cooking to cleaning, vinegar has many uses around the house. It is excellent for getting clogs out of drains, smells out of clothes, and even stains out of the carpet. Follow these simple steps to remove the Kool-Aid from your carpet quickly.
- Soak up the stain with a towel or dishcloth by stepping on it, flipping it over, and stepping on it again. You may need more than one towel or cloth if the spill is large.
- Mix two cups of water with one cup of white vinegar.
- Spray or pour the mixture onto the spill.
- Wait about three minutes and then repeat step one.
- If the stain is still there, repeat steps 2 – 4.
- Use a fan or blow dryer to dry the spot.
Using a Hot Iron to Get Kool-Aid Out of Carpet
This extra tip is all over the internet and seems to work with whatever cleaning product you are using. However, most people suggest using plain water or dish soap. Here is how it works.
- Soak up as much of the Kool-Aid as you can with a clean towel or cloth. Just fold it up and stand on it for a few seconds.
- Flip it over and do it again.
- Mix one part cleaner to two parts water and spray or pour it on the spot.
- Using a white t-shirt or another clean white towel, put it on the stain and run a hot iron over it.
- Keep moving to another part of the t-shirt or towel until all of the spot is gone. You may need more than one t-shirt or towel, depending on the size of the spill.
- Repeat steps 3 – 5 until the spot is gone.
- Blow-dry or use a fan to dry the spot quickly.
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Related Questions
Why is Kool-Aid so hard to get out of the carpet?
The dyes they use in the drink mix is very powerful. Especially the cherry, strawberry, and fruit punch. And if it is able to soak into your carpet fibers before you get most of it up, you are in for a battle. But the most important thing to do is to use a towel and apply pressure right away to blot up the spill before diluting it with water and whatever cleaner you want to use.
Will the chemicals in any of these solutions harm my carpet?
You should always test any solution on an inconspicuous spot of carpeting (like in a closet) just in case. While these are all mild concoctions, some carpets are made of fibers that may be too delicate.
I am a DIYer who loves writing about anything home-related. When I am not writing, you can find me studying for my PhD in Psychology, photographing nature, and swimming at the lake with my grandkids.
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