Products recommended in this post contain affiliate links. If you buy something through our posts, we may receive a commission at no extra charge to you. Prices and inventory are accurate as of time of publication.
You had never imagined that soap stuck on a carpet could get so stressful. Getting rid of the mess has proven to be almost impossible. It does not have to be, though. We would like to present you with various effective solutions to help you get rid of this headache. Read on to discover what we have in store for you. Removing soap out of a carpet has never been so easy.
Video Explainer
How to Clean Soap from a Carpet
How does ordinary soap get into your carpet? It could be residue from cleaning with excess soap, or it could be kids playing with it, or any other number of ways.
What You Will Need
- Clean towels.
- Warm water.
- White vinegar.
- Wet vacuum cleaner.
- A fan.
Steps To Remove Soap from A Carpet
1. For A Fresh Spill, Start By Wetting the Area with Warm Water
Warm water is very good at absorbing soap. If it is a small spill, you can just wet a towel and use it to clear up the excess. Start from the outside towards the centre, pressing the wet towel firmly to the carpet to soak up the soap and putting it into a bucket of warm water. Repeat as necessary.
2. For a Dry Spill, Dissolve In Vinegar Instead
White vinegar is excellent at absorbing soap, even when it is dry. Pour out a sufficient amount to dissolve the spill and let it sit for ten minutes. Use a thick towel and wet it with warm water, and work from the outside in to clean up the spill. Work firmly and frequently clean excess soap in a bucket of clean water.
3. For Excessive Residue, Use Plenty of Clean Water to Rinse out The Carpet
You do not have to rewash the carpet entirely if it is a case of excessive spillage or residue. Use a thick towel and a lot of warm water to clean out the affected areas.
4. After Getting Rid Of the Soap, Use a Clean, Thick Dry Cloth to Remove Excess Water
After this, you can put a fan nearby to increase the rate of drying. If the entire carpet is affected, it might be easier to take it outside where there is better air circulation.
5. Use a Dry-Wet Vacuum Cleaner to Completely Dry the Wet Areas
A wet-dry vacuum cleaner can pick up liquid as well as solid particles. Just vacuum over the wet patches as you would with an ordinary one. You can rent a wet-dry vacuum cleaner from the local hardware store or purchase one for long term use.
Pro Tip
A wet-dry vacuum cleaner is your best friend when cleaning up liquid spills. Some even let you put in detergent for better removal of tough stains. In this case, you can easily remove a small soap spill by adding some water to the vacuum.
Removing Liquid Soap from a Carpet
Liquid soap spills happen much more frequently, but fortunately, you can deal with them effortlessly.
Now that you are all set, let’s get into it.
What You Will Need
- Absorbent kitty litter.
- Thick, clean cloth.
- Dustpan.
- Warm water.
- Wet/dry vacuum cleaner.
The Process Of Removing Liquid Soap Spills From A Carpet Involves The Following:
1. Use the Kitty Litter to Absorb the Spilled Soap
Kitty litter is super absorbent and can absorb almost all of the soap. This stage is critical. You should perform it as soon as the spill occurs before the soap has time to soak deeper into the fibers.
2. Scrape off the Litter with a Thick Absorbent Cloth
When the litter has absorbed the soap, use a dustpan and a thick cloth to scrape it off a carpet. If more soap remains, repeat as necessary. At this stage, be gentle on the pressure.
When most of the soap is gone, wet the area with warm water
Put some warm water in a household sprayer and wet the area, but not too much. It should be wet enough to remove the soap but not so much that it forms suds.
3. Soak up Excess Water with Thick Towels
Use clean, white towels and press firmly on the wet patch. The towel should soak up excess water and soap directly from the carpet, so make sure to use a dry one. Repeat until no more water is being sucked up.
4. Use a Wet-Dry Vacuum Cleaner to Dry the Area
A wet/dry vacuum cleaner can suck up tiny liquid particles. Use one to dry up the rest of the moisture.
Pro Tip
The complete removal of the soap might take some time. Be patient with the wetting and vacuuming processes and repeat until you are sure all the soap is out.
Ways to Remove Laundry Soap from a Carpet
Laundry soap comes in the form of detergent. It could be in powder form or a thick liquid. It is especially tricky to remove detergent stains from a carpet because most are dyed and could leave stains if you do not clean them properly.
What You Will Need
- Plenty of hot water.
- Paper towels.
- Dustpan.
- Hand brush.
- Thick towels.
- Wet/dry vacuum cleaner.
- Steam cleaner.
- Household sprayer.
The process of removing laundry soap spills can be tedious. Follow these steps for the best results.
1. Remove Excess Detergent
In the case of liquid detergent, use paper towels to absorb excess soap. If it is a powder, use the hand brush and dustpan to sweep away the excess spillage gently.
2. Dissolve the Soap with Hot Water
Use plenty of hot water to dissolve the remaining detergent. The water should be as hot as possible, to dissolve all the soap out of the carpet. Keep going until the carpet feels sudsy when you run your hands through it.
3. Soak Up Excess Moisture with the Towels
Use thick towels to soak up excess water and soap from the carpet. Wet again with hot water, and use the towels to soak it up. Repeat this process until most of the soap disappears from the carpet.
4. Use a Steam Cleaner To Remove the Residue of the Soap
A steam cleaner is a great tool to remove any remaining soap out of the carpet. Just put in the cleaning solution as required, and use it on the affected part. You can purchase or rent from your nearest hardware store.
5. Use the Wet-Dry Vacuum Cleaner to Dry Up the Residual Moisture
Pro Tip
You do not have to use the steam cleaner, especially in the case of a small spill. You can repeat the wet-and-dry process with the towels until the soap is gone, then dry with the vacuum cleaner. A more powerful vacuum cleaner will make the job so much easier.
How to Remove Body Wash from a Carpet
Body wash and shampoo are also everyday household items that are likely to spill and cause you quite a headache.
What You Will Need
- Paper towels.
- Salt.
- Dustpan.
- Hand brush.
- Warm water.
- Sprayer.
- Wet-dry vacuum cleaner.
1. To Remove Body Wash or Shampoo from Your Carpet, Follow These Steps
Soak up excess soap using paper towels
Be sure to soak up as much excess soap as possible to make the subsequent steps easier. Start with paper towels or absorbent cloth, applying pressure to soak in as much as possible.
2. Wet the Area by Spraying With Warm Water
Use a household sprayer to wet the area. Do not wet it too much, but just enough to absorb and dissolve the soap. If suds start forming, stop them by sprinkling with salt.
Soak up excess water using thick towels
Use plenty of thick towels to soak up the water and soap, using a lot of pressure to soak up as much as you can. Repeat the wetting and soaking until the soap is gone. Use a dry towel or rag to dry the carpet as much as possible.
3. Use the Wet-Dry Vacuum to Dry Up the Rest of the Moisture
When the carpet is almost dry, finish up the process by using the wet-dry vacuum cleaner. This process will take a few repetitions, depending on how much moisture is remaining.
Pro Tip
To better absorb excess fluid, you can also use foam or kitten litter. The more soap you can soak up at this initial stage, the easier the rest of the work becomes.
Conclusion
Removing soap spills from your carpet can be quite tedious. All it takes is a little patience and time, and you will have your carpet back in ship-shape condition. Follow the steps outlined here for all types of soap ‘accidents'. In the rare case that the soap fails to get out of your carpet completely, call in the local professional cleaners, and they will do it for you at a fee.