Getting a Home Ready For Sale May Involve Getting Rid of Carpet Stains
What a great tip from Chris Ann Cleland! We just did this at my parents' rental, and it works very well. Now I'm going to try it at home. I also didn't know that hydrogen peroxide loses potency once opened. Another good thing to know.
Getting a Home Ready For Sale May Involve Getting Rid of Carpet Stains
Let's face it, not everyone that is selling their home can afford to re-carpet and paint. If they can, that's going to help them sell a lot faster than their competitors, and probably get more money as a result. Buyers like move in ready. Sometimes, the carpet is not so worn, but more stained.
As a home owner with multiple cats, I have a Little Green steam cleaner on hand for spot cleans. But there are some stains that even my trusty Little Green can't completely remove from the carpet. Blood is one them. There was one such stain in my bedroom that I could not get out no matter how many times I spritzed it, scrubbed and sucked it back out with the Little Green. And it wasn't until I heard a friend's story about bleeding on new carpet, and how she removed it, that I had renewed hope for this stain.
It starts with getting an brand new bottle of hydrogen peroxide. One that is sealed and has never been open. Apparently, it's potency dissipates after being opened. When you pour the hydrogen peroxide on the stain, it bubbles and foams. However, if dumped on a blood stain free area, it does nothing. You let it soak for a few minutes, then blot it up with a clean white towel.
Just like that, the blood stain is gone.
I really wish I had video of the stain I removed. It was a fairly large blood stain and is now totally gone. I guess I was skeptical when I tried it and didn't expect it to work.
After doing a quick Internet search, I realize that this is not the only kind of stubborn stain hydrogen peroxide works to remove. Apparently, it even works on wine stains. And from what I saw on my own carpet (light neutral in color) it didn't bleach anywhere there wasn't a stain.
So there's a handy tip for you soon-to-be home sellers with stubborn stains on carpet that is otherwise, still in good condition. Freshen it up by getting rid of the stains with hydrogen peroxide.
Chris Ann Cleland, Associate Broker- Licensed in Virginia, GRI, SFR, Northern Virginia Short Sale Specialist. Affiliated with Long & Foster, 7526 Limestone Drive, Gainesville, VA 20155. To contact Chris Ann, call 703-402-0037 or email chrisann@LNF.com. Or you can visit her website: www.nvarealestate.net.
Header photos taken by Chris Ann Cleland.
The opinions expressed in this post are those of Chris Ann Cleland, not those of Long & Foster REALTORS®.
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