The Best Ways to Get Soot Out of Carpet

Remove Excess

• If a pile of soot or ash is on the carpet, rather than just a footprint or smear, remove the excess prior to working on the stain. Use a spoon to scoop up as much as possible, without rubbing or pushing it into the carpet. Work from the outer edge toward the middle, taking care not to push any of the soot onto the clean carpet.

Vacuum

• Use a vacuum without a roller brush, such as a wet-dry vac or an upholstery extension, to gently remove as much of the loose soot as possible. A roller brush will beat the soot into the carpet. Avoid spreading the soot by vacuuming toward the center of the spot rather than away from it.

Rubbing Alcohol

• Blot the soot stain with a white towel or paper towel moistened with rubbing alcohol. Do not rub and do not soak the stain with the alcohol. Continue blotting until the stain is removed or faded. In most cases, rubbing alcohol will remove the stain entirely, but if not, additional methods may be necessary to remove the remaining stain.

Detergent

• A mixture of 1/4 teaspoon of dish-washing liquid and 1 quart of lukewarm water will often remove soot residue that rubbing alcohol will not. Blot the stain with a white towel or paper towel moistened with the mixture. Do not pour the detergent directly onto the carpet or use dish detergent that contains bleach. Keep blotting until the stain disappears. Once the stain is gone, use a spray bottle to spray the carpet with clean water and blot to remove any soap residue.

Peroxide

• If other methods are not effective, hydrogen peroxide is likely to remove the soot stain. It can weaken the carpet fibers or bleach color, so use it with caution and as one of the last options. Apply either full-strength 3-percent hydrogen peroxide to the stain or dilute 1 tablespoon of peroxide in 3 tablespoons of water. Moisten the carpet fibers, but take care not to soak the backing. Let the peroxide sit for 30 minutes to one hour, then blot it up.

Ammonia

• Ammonia will also remove stains, but like peroxide, could also remove some color from the carpet. Mix 1/4 cup of ammonia with 1 cup of water and apply it to the carpet without wetting the backing. Blot it up with a white towel or paper towel.

Vinegar

• Vinegar is a safe, natural cleaner that is also good for removing soot stains. It can leave an odor in the carpet, however, making it another last choice if other methods don't work. Mix 1/4 cup of vinegar and 1 cup of water. Moisten the carpet with the mixture, again taking care not to wet the backing. Blot it up with a white towel or paper towel and rinse by spraying the carpet with fresh water and blotting it up.