It’s barbecue season! And the buns, grills, and condiments are out. Of course, it’s only a matter of time before something, somewhere, spills and carpet cleaning is in order.

One of the most common and frustrating sources of carpet stains is barbecue sauce. This delicious yet pesky condiment is filled with strong ingredients that often have artificial colors, which can be especially difficult to remove from carpet fibres.

We’ve compiled an easy guide to some natural and environmentally-friendly remedies for a barbecue carpet stain.

Method #1: Warm water & a clean cloth

Like all dense stains, initial treatment should be gentle and focus on loosening the bonds between the fibres and spilled liquid.

You’ll need half a cup of warm water and a clean cloth. Wipe off any excess amount of barbecue sauce but try not to touch the fabric. Begin pouring the water little by little around the stained area – don’t pour directly onto the stain. Be careful not to saturate the stain or over-wet the carpet, as this can quickly make things worse.

The gentle soak allows the sauce to separate from the carpet fibres. Once you’ve carefully wet the area, gently dap the clean parts of the cloth removing the soiled parts with every dab.

Continue gently dabbing with a clean cloth until the stain is gone. If there is discoloration or a bigger stain, contact us and we’ll give you a free quote on our carpet cleaning services.

Method #2: Vinegar

Before using the vinegar method, be warned – this only applies to standard types of wall-to-wall carpet and should not be used on your area rug. Vinegar is highly acidic, and will quickly destroy natural fabrics.

This method is an expanded version of method #1 with some tweaks. Soak the stain with a mixture of warm water and a small amount of soft dish detergent. Let sit for 5 minutes. Then soak the clean cloth with white vinegar and dab the stained area.

Rinse the stain well, and repeat the process. This should remove the barbecue carpet stain. Read more about how to keep your carpets looking their best.

Method #3: Lemon Juice

Just as with the vinegar method, this final trick can only work on a number of carpet fibres because of the acidity of lemon juice. Generally, silk-based carpets shouldn’t be treated with high acidity carpet cleaners because they damage the delicate fibres.

Once you’re certain that your carpet can handle the acidity, you can get started.

First, soak the stained area in warm water. Let it sit for 5 minutes.

Then, take half a lemon and squeeze it onto the stain. The acidity will loosen the oily barbecue sauce. Gently dab a semi-dry cloth into the carpet, rotating the cloth to apply a clean portion each time you dab to the carpet.

These DIY home remedies for sauce stains are all non-chemical solutions. The bigger the stain and the longer it soaks into the rug, the harder it will be to remove the residue. That’s where professional carpet cleaners play a crucial role in making your carpet look brand new. Mother Nature’s Cleaning only uses soap-free, odor-free cleaning solutions that have no VOCs, no enzymes, and are hypoallergenic.

When faced with tough stains and spills, these are some steps you can take to prevent permanent damage. When in doubt about how to handle a stain, we’re here to help – check out our carpet cleaning services and find your nearest location today.