Bacon grease stains can be annoying and difficult to remove from carpets, but it is possible with the right techniques. Getting bacon grease out of carpet requires breaking down the oils and lifting the stain from the fibers. With some household ingredients and elbow grease, you can eliminate those pesky grease spots.
What You’ll Need
Removing bacon grease from carpet requires just a few simple household items:
- Dish soap – For cutting through grease and oils
- White vinegar – Helps dissolve grease and deodorize
- Baking soda – Absorbs grease and deodorizes
- Paper towels – For blotting and drying
- An old towel – To place under the stain
- A spoon or dull knife – For scraping off excess grease
- Rubbing alcohol (optional) – Further breaks down oils
- Carpet cleaner (optional) – For stubborn stains
Step-By-Step Process
Follow these steps to get bacon grease out of your carpets completely:
Blot Up Excess Grease
- First, blot up any excess grease on the surface of the carpet before it soaks in further.
- Use a paper towel or old rag to absorb as much as possible.
- Don’t rub, which can spread the stain.
- Place an old towel under the stain to absorb the grease as you work.
Loosen Grease with a Dull Knife
- Next, loosen up the remaining grease by gently scraping the area with a dull knife or spoon.
- This will help break up the oily stain so it’s easier to lift.
- Be careful not to damage the carpet fibers.
Create a Dish Soap Solution
- In a small bowl, mix a few drops of dish soap with warm water until sudsy. Dish soap is designed to cut through grease.
- Alternatively, mix a solution of 1 tablespoon white vinegar per 1 cup of water. The acidic vinegar helps dissolve grease.
Apply the Solution & Blot
- Use a clean cloth or paper towel to apply the soapy solution directly to the stain.
- Let it sit for 5-10 minutes to penetrate the grease.
- Blot the area to soak up the grease, changing paper towels as needed.
Sprinkle on Baking Soda
- Next, sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda directly onto the greasy spot.
- The baking soda will help absorb and neutralize any remaining oil and odor.
Let Sit Overnight
- Allow the baking soda to sit on the carpet overnight. This gives it time to fully absorb and deodorize.
Vacuum Up Baking Soda
- In the morning, use a vacuum with a hose attachment to suck up the baking soda.
- The grease and odor should be gone!
Use Rubbing Alcohol for Severe Stains
- For severe bacon grease stains, apply some rubbing alcohol after blotting with dish soap.
- The alcohol will further help break down stubborn oils. Blot again.
Try Carpet Cleaner if Needed
- If traces of the stain remain, use a small amount of carpet cleaner or spot remover.
- Spray it on, let it sit briefly, then blot. The chemicals will target the oils.
Rinse the Area
- Once the stain appears gone, rinse the area with clean water and blot dry with a towel.
- This ensures no soap residue is left behind.
Tips for Prevention
Preventing bacon grease stains in carpet is ideal. Here are some useful tips:
- Always cook bacon on the stove or in the oven. Pan frying allows hot grease to pop and splatter.
- Use a splatter screen when cooking bacon on the stovetop. This shields carpets from grease.
- Cook bacon on a baking sheet lined with foil or parchment paper to catch drips.
- Transfer cooked bacon to a paper towel-lined plate instead of a bare one.
- Blot bacon thoroughly before removing from the pan.
- Clean up any bacon grease spills immediately before they have time to soak in.
- Be extra cautious when cooking bacon while barefoot or in socks. Hot grease can burn feet!
Homemade Carpet Cleaners
In addition to the everyday household items recommended above, you can make some easy DIY carpet cleaners to help eliminate bacon grease stains:
Vinegar & Dawn Dish Soap
- Combine 1/2 cup white vinegar, 1/2 cup warm water and 2 tablespoons Dawn in a spray bottle. The acidity of vinegar dissolves grease while the dish soap cuts through fats.
Borax Carpet Cleaner
- Mix 1/2 cup borax powder with 1/4 cup distilled white vinegar and 1.5 cups hot water until dissolved. The alkaline borax helps deodorize carpets.
Hydrogen Peroxide Solution
- Mix 1 cup hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup baking soda, and 1 teaspoon dish soap. The peroxide oxidizes the grease stain.
DIY Dry Carpet Cleaner
- Mix 1/4 cup baking soda and 1 cup corn starch. Sprinkle over grease stains. Let sit 1-2 hours then vacuum up.
Pro Tips
- Act quickly to remove fresh bacon grease stains – the longer the grease has to soak in, the harder it will be to remove.
- Avoid excess rubbing as this can spread the stain and work the grease deeper into the carpet fibers.
- If grease soaks through to the carpet padding, replacement of that section of padding may be necessary.
- For food stains, work from the outside of the stain inward to avoid spreading it around.
- If grease stains remain after cleaning, try Steam cleaning for a deeper clean.
- Always spot test carpet cleaners on an inconspicuous area first to check for potential damage or discoloration.
- Hire a professional carpet cleaning service for large or difficult grease stains that resist DIY methods.
Can You Remove Old Bacon Grease Stains?
Over time, bacon grease stains can become set into carpet fibers. Nonetheless, you can still try to remove old bacon grease stains using these methods:
- Mix dish soap with vinegar or ammonia to help loosen old grease. Let it soak in.
- Generously sprinkle baking soda over the stain. Let sit for several hours before vacuuming. The baking soda will continue to absorb embedded grease over time.
- Use an old toothbrush to gently scrub the grease stain after applying a cleaner and letting it soak in. This can help loosen the grease from the carpet fibers.
- For really challenging old grease stains, try using an enzymatic pet stain remover. The enzymes will break down proteins in old grease.
- Spot clean multiple times if needed. Old stains often require repeated treatments to fully lift out the grease residue.
- Use a small steam cleaner to penetrate and loosen old grease from the carpet pad and fibers.
While bacon grease stains can be frustrating, they don’t have to be permanent. With persistence and the right grease-cutting techniques, you can give your carpet a fresh start.
How to Remove Bacon Grease From Carpet – Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fastest way to get bacon grease out of carpet?
The fastest method is to start by blotting up any excess grease immediately before it penetrates the carpet fibers. Quickly follow up by applying a mixture of dish soap and warm water and blotting continuously with clean paper towels or rags. The soap will immediately start breaking down the oils.
What removes old bacon grease stains from carpet?
For older, set-in bacon grease stains, make a solution of white vinegar, dish soap and warm water. Generously apply this mixture to the stain and allow plenty of time for it to soak in and penetrate the fibers. Follow up by blotting and sprinkling baking soda to absorb residual oils. Using an enzyme cleaner or steam can also help erase old grease stains.
What household product removes grease stains?
Dish soap is highly effective at removing grease due to its degreasing surfactants. Baking soda and vinegar also help absorb and dissolve grease. Pretreatment stain sprays containing hydrogen peroxide or enzymes can also eliminate greasy stains when left to soak. For carpets specifically, club soda works well at lifting oil stains.
What removes grease stains permanently?
Start by thoroughly removing as much of the grease as possible through blotting and using a degreasing solution. Once the stain appears gone, clean the area with an enzyme cleaner to break down any remaining proteins and oils left over. This helps ensure the grease stain does not resurface over time. Properly neutralizing and removing all residual grease is key for a permanent removal.
Will vinegar remove old grease stains?
Yes, vinegar is highly useful for eliminating old, set-in grease and oil stains. The acetic acid in vinegar helps dissolve greasy residue. To use, combine 1 part vinegar with 1 part dish soap and apply it generously to the stain. Allow it to soak for 15-30 minutes reapplying if needed, then blot thoroughly. The vinegar cuts through the embedded grease while the soap lifts it away.
Does baking soda get grease out of carpet?
Baking soda is an effective degreaser for carpets due to its high absorbency. It draws grease and oil out of carpet fibers through absorption. To use, sprinkle a generous layer over the grease stain and give it time to work before vacuuming up. You can also combine baking soda with vinegar to create a foaming grease-fighting solution.
How do you get old grease stains out of clothes?
For clothes, apply a pretreatment stain spray or gel to old grease stains and allow it to soak in for 15-30 minutes before laundering as usual. Baking soda or borax can also be rubbed directly into the stain first. Soak the garment for a few hours before washing. Use the warmest water safe for the fabric and an extra laundry detergent booster to remove lingering oily residue. Air dry, as heat can set in grease stains.
Does Windex remove grease?
Windex contains ammonia which helps cut through grease and oils. Spray Windex directly onto grease stains, let it soak in for a few minutes and then blot or rinse away. The Windex will loosen the bonds of the oil, allowing the stain to be lifted or wiped away. It works on grease stains on hard surfaces as well as fabrics and carpet.
Does hot water set grease stains?
Unfortunately yes, hot water can set grease and oil stains by essentially baking the stain into the fibers. It causes the oils to become even more bonded. Always try to rinse grease stains with cold or lukewarm water instead of hot which will just melt the oils further into the material. Then follow up by blotting and spot cleaning.
Conclusion
While no one enjoys dealing with bacon grease stains in the carpet, this unwanted mess doesn’t have to become a permanent fixture. With the right combination of grease-fighting ingredients on hand and some strategic blotting, scrubbing and lifting, removing bacon grease from carpet is very possible. Just be sure to act fast when those oily spots arise, and don’t hesitate to use a mild solvent for really stubborn stains. With some perseverance, your carpets will be bacon grease-free.