Figuring out how to remove red or blue Gatorade from your carpet shouldn’t make you sweat. There are plenty of household items such as club soda, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, and even good old detergent that can help.
Why Is Gatorade So Tricky to Remove?
Gatorade is tricky to remove, no doubt. It contains food coloring like Yellow 5, Red 40, and Blue 1 which are artificial food dyes added to this drink to make it more appealing.
While these red, blue and yellow food dyes are safe for consumption, they could stain our carpets and ruin their aesthetics permanently.
These food dyes can be seen when dissolved in water. Their molecules can absorb a few wavelengths that make them visible. When spilled on any material, they cling and penetrate the layers of the material in question, making it sticky and a bit difficult to remove. That’s why getting rid of these stains as soon as possible is the best way to save your carpet from an unsightly stain.
If you weren’t fortunate to get to the spot right away, the step by step guide we present below for removing gatorade stains may still work for you. They’re cheap and easy and nothing’s lost in trying.
And it should be noted, you can use these same methods on your furniture upholstery too because as we all know kids don’t only spill their drinks on the floor.
Try Vinegar for Removing Gatorade Stains
Let’s start by trying vinegar to get that Gatorade out. Because it’s mildly acetic it’s a natural spot remover. This may not be strong enough for you, but give it a try- particularly if you act quickly before the stain sets.
Distilled white vinegar is what you’ll need. When using a vinegar solution, you need to know the right proportion of vinegar to water ratio that would clean your carpet, and it depends on whether your carpet or couch is made of natural or synthetic fibers. We tell you how below.
Things to consider:
- It is not poisonous, and allergic reactions are rare
- An incorrect mixture can damage the texture and color of the carpet
Steps:
- Mix two cups of water with one cup of white vinegar for synthetic carpets. This most likely is what you’ll use for your couch or chair upholstery.
- For natural carpets, mix one-quarter cup of white vinegar and one-quarter cup of water.
- Soak a white absorbent cloth in this solution.
- Press it hard against the stain and leave for 30 minutes.
- Wipe the area towards the center. Do not rub into the carpet, however. That may drive it further into the fibers.
- Clean the area with water.
- Use an absorbent paper towel or cloth to dry the area.
The Right Detergent May Be Enough to Remove Gatorade Stains
A detergent solution with the right alkalinity can possibly remove Gatorade stains for both natural and artificial fiber carpets and furniture.
Alkaline cleaners contain alkaline salts, wetting agents and sequestrant (chelating) agents. Their cleaning ability is due to the displacement of contaminants by surface-active materials and alkaline builders that remove the contaminants and allow them to be easily rinsed away. Ideally you want a detergent with a pH balance of 8.5-10. Laundry detergents typically fall in the range of 7-9 so the one you have may not be good enough. We recommend Dawn Ultra dish soap. It’s pH is between 9 and 9.2.
Things to consider:
- It doesn’t destroy the texture of your carpet
- Residues aren’t left behind
- It gives your carpet a fresh smell
- You might need to apply this solution more than twice for deeper stains
Steps:
- Mix one tablespoon of dishwashing soap and a cup of water in a bowl.
- Get a white absorbent cloth and soak it in the detergent solution
- Jab the cloth soaked in detergent solution on the Gatorade stain. Make sure it’s wet enough to to get that stain wet again.
- Allow to set in for 5-10 minutes.
- Wipe away with an absorbent paper towel. Keep replacing paper towel until you’ve soaked up all the liquid.
- Let the spot dry completely. If there are still remnants of the spot, repeat.
Use an Oxygen Bleach Such as Hydrogen Peroxide
If you have white carpets, hydrogen peroxide may be your best bet. But it may also work on colored carpets as well because science claims it’s color-safe.
To quote from Sciencing.com:
“Oxygen bleach is hydrogen peroxide with some sodium and sometimes carbon added to it to form a powdered compound that releases the hydrogen peroxide when added to water. Oxygen bleach is known as “color-safe” or “all fabric” bleach since it does not degrade most fabric or strip most color if used correctly, though you must still test colorfastness before using. It is very stable and can be kept for over a year with no loss of effectiveness. However, it should never be stored in metal or organic containers.”
Even though they make that color-fast claim, I agree with them that before using hydrogen peroxide on your Gatorade stain, you should conduct a test in an inconspicuous area first. Just put a drop somewhere and check in a half hour. If all’s good and the color is unchanged, you’re good to go.
Things to consider:
- Safe and easy. There’s a chance that it’ll lighten your carpet, so test first. But 3% hydrogen peroxide is weak enough and you should have no problems.
- Quick result
- Cheap
Steps:
- Put on protective gloves.
- Create a mixture of 1/4 cup 3% hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup water, and a couple of drops of dish soap.
- Dampen the stained area with the hydrogen peroxide solution using a spray bottle, or tap it on with a cloth.
- Allow it to sit several minutes so your carpet can soak it in.
- Gently agitate.
- You’ll get even better results by using a carpet steam cleaner at this point.
- If you don’t have a steam cleaner, place a wet cloth or towel on the affected area to protect the carpet from burning, and use a steam iron until the cloth is almost dry. Be careful of heat though. Last thing you need is your iron burning your carpet.
- Blot up the till dry.
- Repeat if necessary.
ADDENDUM: There are oxygen bleaches like Oxiclean on the market you can try instead, but their active ingredient is still hydrogen peroxide.
Still Can’t Get Gatorade Out of Your Carpet?
If you tried all those methods, and the Gatorade won’t budge, now’s the time to call in a professional carpet cleaner, but choose carefully.
Look for one with IICRC training because that means they’ve had the necessary training to remove spots. I also recommend one that uses hot water extraction and has a truck-mounted steam cleaner so that it has the power to suck out the residue.
Both the right training and the right professional carpet cleaning equipment can make the difference. If you’re on Long Island, give us a call. We have both.
But it should be said, there is no guarantee.
Some stains, particularly those that have set for a long time, are impossible to get out, and though I’d like to believe I’m a miracle worker, I’m not. There have been some stains I’ve not been able to budge. It’s rare, but it does happen. Moving furniture to cover the stain, dyeing the carpet, or replacing it may be the only option. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen to you.
Good luck!
Let the Professionals at Clean 'n' Fresh Get that Gatorade Out of Your Carpet
Why go through all that trouble trying to get gatorade out yourself. Give us a call. We’ve got truck-mounted hot water extraction equipment that is needed to do it right. Read more about our professional carpet cleaning on Long Island.
Don’t Let It Happen Again. Here’s How to Prevent Carpets from Getting Liquid Stains.
It’s too late now because you’ve got that spot, but to prevent it from happening again, here are some helpful tips to keep liquid stains away from your carpet;
The No-Shoe Policy
As ridiculous as it may sound, enforcing the no-shoe policy in your home helps your family and visitors see how much you value your carpet. Knowing they can’t have their shoes in makes them extra-cautious when hanging around your carpet. You also get to keep the mud away.
Use Mats and Rugs
Place water-proof mats and rugs on high-traffic areas. This way, you get to enjoy the comfort of your carpet with lesser restrictions and protect it from liquid stains too. If you eat a lot in the living room or other spots where the carpet is placed, using plastic and mats and rugs is a great idea.
Use Carpet Protectants
Applying a carpet protectant is one sure way to lock liquid out of your carpet. It also keeps soil and other stains out. Using a Scotchgard or other protectants makes it easier to fully enjoy your carpet without worrying about stains all the time.
Eating and Drinking in the Dining Only
Not as fun as you like, but eating and drinking should be kept in the kitchen or dining to protect your carpet from liquid stains.
Let Kids Use Cups with Handles
Getting little kids to obey so many rules is not an easy task. Sippy cups make it difficult for them to spill the liquid. For older kids, cups with handles would suffice.
Treat Stains Immediately
Attending to liquid stains immediately gives you a better chance of getting rid of them easily. The older they are, the more difficult they are to remove.
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