Prochem Stain Removal Guide
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This guide provides professional stain removal procedures for carpets and upholstery using Prochem products. Always follow the tips and precautions below before treating any stain.
💡 Recommended Kit: The Prochem Spotting Kit PR3401 contains a comprehensive selection of spotting agents for professional stain removal in one convenient kit.
Tips & Precautions
⚠ Important: No guarantee can be given for complete stain removal. Some stains (food colourings, hot drinks, cosmetics, plant foods etc.) may cause permanent colour change to fibres. Always pre-test in an inconspicuous area before proceeding.
- Treat all spills and stains as quickly as possible — the longer a stain remains, the harder it is to remove.
- Always remove solid matter first using a spatula or blunt knife.
- Blot spills with clean, white absorbent towels only — never coloured towels or tissues.
- Always pre-test stain removal products in an inconspicuous area (e.g. under a sofa). Apply a small amount, blot gently — if colour transfers to the towel, do not proceed.
- Do not over-wet or over-apply solvents. Use small amounts and blot frequently.
- Always blot — never rub or brush. Work from the outer edge of the stain towards the centre to prevent ring marks.
- If more than one product is listed, start with the first. Move to the next only if needed.
- The final step is always to rinse with cool water or Prochem Fibre & Fabric Rinse, then absorb remaining moisture with absorbent towels.
- Be patient — some spots respond slowly. Application is the sole responsibility of the cleaning operator.
Stain Removal Chart
| Stain Type | Removal Procedure |
|---|---|
| Alcohol / Beer | Apply Neutral Pro Spotter and blot. Apply Coffee Stain Remover and blot. Apply Fibre & Fabric Rinse solution and blot. Rinse thoroughly with water and blot until dry. |
| Blood | Take safety precautions. Apply MICROSAN, leave 15 minutes, then blot or extract. Apply Stain Pro and blot. Apply Rust Remover, wait 2–15 minutes and blot. Rinse thoroughly with water and blot until dry. May require Oxibrite solution (30ml per litre, subject to colour test). |
| Blue Tack | Scrape up hardened residue. Apply Solvall Spotter and blot. Apply Solvex and blot. Apply Citrus Gel and blot. |
| Browning | Apply Browning Prescription solution, agitate fibres, leave 5–15 minutes then rinse extract with Fibre & Fabric Rinse. |
| Butter & Margarine | Apply Citrus Gel or Solvall Spotter and blot. Apply Stain Pro or Neutral Pro Spotter and blot. Rinse thoroughly with water and blot until dry. |
| Candle Wax | Scrape off as much as possible. Use brown paper and a warm iron to liquefy and remove bulk. Apply Citrus Gel or Solvall Spotter and blot. |
| Chewing Gum | Apply Citrus Gel or Solvall Spotter and leave for a few minutes. Remove softened gum with spatula or blunt knife. |
| Chocolate | Scrape off excess with blunt knife. Apply Stain Pro and blot. Apply Fibre & Fabric Rinse solution and blot. Rinse thoroughly with water and blot until dry. |
| Coffee & Tea | Apply Stain Pro and blot, rinse with Fibre & Fabric Rinse. Apply Coffee Stain Remover and blot. Leave 15–30 minutes then rinse. Apply Red RX with towel and iron method if needed. Some stains may be permanent. |
| Cough Syrup | Apply Stain Pro and blot. Apply Fibre & Fabric Rinse with hot water and blot. Apply Neutral Pro Spotter and blot. Apply Citrus Gel and blot. Rinse thoroughly and blot until dry. |
| Crayons | Scrape off excess. Apply Citrus Gel, blot and leave to dry. If stain persists apply Ink Solv or Solvex. Rinse thoroughly and blot until dry. |
| Draught Marks | Pre-test first. Apply Ultrapac Renovate or Filter-Out by sprayer. Agitate with carpet pile brush. Allow 5 minutes dwell time, then rinse extract with Fibre & Fabric Rinse. Some marks may be permanent. |
| Eggs (Raw) | Blot/scrape up as much as possible quickly. Apply Stain Pro and blot. Rinse thoroughly with Fibre & Fabric Rinse and blot until dry. |
| Faeces / Excrement | Take safety precautions. Apply CLENSAN or MICROSAN, leave 15 minutes, then blot or extract. Apply Stain Pro and blot. Rinse thoroughly with Fibre & Fabric Rinse and blot until dry. |
| Fake Tan | Usually permanent. Apply Neutral Pro Spotter or Red RX as per Food Colouring procedure. |
| Food Colouring | Apply Stain Pro and blot. Apply Neutral Pro Spotter and blot. If stain persists apply Red RX with damp white towel and steam iron (5–10 seconds only). Caution: Red RX with hot iron may cause colour loss — always pre-test. |
| Fruit Juice | Apply Stain Pro and blot, rinse with Fibre & Fabric Rinse. Apply Coffee Stain Remover and blot. If stain persists, use Food Colouring procedure. Some stains may be permanent. |
| Furniture Stain | Apply Solvex and blot. Apply Citrus Gel and blot. Apply Red RX as per Food Colouring procedure. Rinse thoroughly and blot until dry. Furniture dye stains are often impossible to remove. |
| Glue (Water-based) | Apply Neutral Pro Spotter and blot, or apply Stain Pro and blot. Rinse thoroughly with Fibre & Fabric Rinse and blot until dry. |
| Glue (Household Cement) | Apply Solvex and blot. Apply Citrus Gel sparingly and blot. Rinse thoroughly with water. |
| Grass | Apply Citrus Gel and rinse with hot water. Apply Stain Pro and allow to stand 2–5 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with water and blot until dry. |
| Gravy | Apply Stain Pro and blot. Apply Fibre & Fabric Rinse and blot. Apply Neutral Pro Spotter and blot. Rinse thoroughly and blot until dry. |
| Ice Cream | Apply Stain Pro and blot. Apply Fibre & Fabric Rinse and blot. If stain persists apply Neutral Pro Spotter and blot. Rinse thoroughly and blot until dry. |
| Ink (Ball Point) | Apply Solvex or Ink Solv and blot. If stain persists apply Citrus Gel (or Stain Pro for water-based inks). Rinse thoroughly and blot until dry. |
| Jam | Apply Neutral Pro Spotter and blot. Apply Fibre & Fabric Rinse and blot. If stain persists apply Stain Pro and blot. Rinse thoroughly and blot until dry. |
| Ketchup | Apply Stain Pro or Neutral Pro Spotter and blot. If stain persists apply Red RX, allow 2–5 minutes and blot. Rinse thoroughly and blot until dry. |
| Lily Pollen | Apply Citrus Gel, work in and leave 2–5 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with Fibre & Fabric Rinse and blot until dry. Alternatively apply Ink Solv, blot and rinse with water. |
| Lipstick | Scrape off excess. Apply Solvall Spotter (or Citrus Gel for surface-only stains) and blot. Apply Solvex for deep stains. |
| Marker Pen | Apply Ink Solv, blot and rinse area with water. |
| Mascara / Make-up | Scrape off excess. Apply Solvall Spotter (or Citrus Gel for surface-only stains) and blot. Apply Solvex for deep stains. |
| Mildew & Mould | May permanently damage fibres. Apply Neutral Pro Spotter — do NOT blot. Apply Stain Pro, allow 10–15 minutes. Apply Fibre & Fabric Rinse and blot until dry. Apply Oxibrite solution (30ml per litre) and leave to dry. Spray with CLENSAN after cleaning. |
| Milk | Apply Stain Pro and blot. Apply Fibre & Fabric Rinse and blot until dry. If stain persists apply Solvex or Citrus Gel and blot. Apply Neutral Pro Spotter and blot. Rinse thoroughly and blot until dry. Apply CLENSAN as post-treatment sanitiser. |
| Mud | Brush or vacuum off as much as possible. Apply Neutral Pro Spotter and blot. Rinse thoroughly and blot until dry. If stain remains apply Citrus Gel and blot. Note: some clay/mud stains may be difficult to remove completely. |
| Mustard | Apply Stain Pro and blot. Apply Fibre & Fabric Rinse and blot until dry. Apply Neutral Pro Spotter — do NOT blot. If stain persists apply Red RX as per Food Colouring procedure. |
| Nail Polish | Apply Solvex or Ink Solv, blot and rinse with water. Apply Citrus Gel, blot and rinse with water. |
| Oils | Test with clean tissue — oil will transfer. Apply Solvall Spotter, Citrus Gel, or Solvex and blot until dry. Where solvent cannot be used, apply Power Burst solution, brush and rinse with Fibre & Fabric Rinse. |
| Paint (Water-based) | Usually permanent. Break up dried residue and remove. Apply Neutral Pro Spotter and blot. Apply Solvall Spotter and blot. Rinse thoroughly and blot until dry. Apply Citrus Gel and blot. For hardened paint apply Solvex and blot. |
| Paint (Oil-based) | Apply Solvall Spotter, Citrus Gel, or Solvex and blot. Re-apply Solvex until as much paint as possible is removed, then weight down with towels for several hours. Apply Neutral Pro Spotter, work into stain then blot. Rinse thoroughly and blot until dry. |
| Plasticine / Play Doh / Putty | Scrape up hardened residue. Apply Solvall Spotter and blot. Apply Solvex and blot. Apply Citrus Gel and blot. Apply Neutral Pro Spotter then blot or extract. |
| PVA Glue | Apply Ink Solv, blot and rinse area with water. |
| Rust | Apply Rust Remover and agitate with spotting brush. Allow to stand 5–15 minutes. Rinse thoroughly and blot until dry. Repeat if required. Wear suitable gloves. |
| Salt (Ice Melter) | Discuss with customer before acting. Pre-test to determine if salt has permanently discoloured carpet. Rinse extract area with Fibre & Fabric Rinse. Ensure adequate ventilation to aid drying. |
| Shoe Polish | Apply Solvex or Solvall Spotter and blot. Apply Citrus Gel and blot. Rinse thoroughly and blot until dry. |
| Silicone Sealant | Scrape up hardened residue. Apply Solvall Spotter and blot. Apply Solvex and blot. Apply Citrus Gel and blot. |
| Soot | Vacuum loose dry soot using air suction only — do not rub. For small spots apply Citrus Gel then blot. Rinse thoroughly and blot or extract until dry. For larger areas apply Ultrapac Renovate or Filter-Out then extract with Fibre & Fabric Rinse. |
| Tar & Asphalt | Scrape off as much as possible. Apply Solvall Spotter or Solvex and blot. Apply Citrus Gel and blot. Apply Neutral Pro Spotter and blot, then rinse thoroughly and blot until dry. |
| Toothpaste | Apply Neutral Pro Spotter and blot. Apply Fibre & Fabric Rinse and blot. Rinse thoroughly and blot until dry. |
| Urine | Blot up as much as possible if still wet. Apply Urine Neutraliser and blot. For old stains apply Fibre & Fabric Rinse hot solution and extract. Repeat 2–3 times. Apply Urine Neutraliser and leave to dry. Note: urine may cause permanent dye removal and may damage wool or nylon. |
| Vomit | Blot up as much as possible. Apply Stain Pro and extract. Apply Neutral Pro Spotter and blot. Apply Fibre & Fabric Rinse and extract. Rinse thoroughly and blot until dry. If stain persists try Food Colouring procedure. |
| Washing Up Liquid | Discuss with customer before acting. Pre-test to determine if detergent has permanently stained carpet. Rinse-extract with Fibre & Fabric Rinse. Add DEFOAMER to waste tank. If stain persists try Food Colouring procedure. |
| Wine | Blot up as much as possible if wet. Apply Stain Pro or Neutral Pro Spotter and blot. Apply Fibre & Fabric Rinse and extract. For red wine apply Coffee Stain Remover and blot. If stain persists try Food Colouring procedure. |
| Yellowing | Discuss with customer before acting — yellowing may be due to soiling, fume fading, pollutants, urine, asphalt track-off or other factors. Pre-test in an inconspicuous area. Apply Browning Prescription solution, agitate and leave 5–15 minutes. Rinse-extract with Fibre & Fabric Rinse. |
💡 Pro Tip: The Prochem Spotting Kit PR3401 contains many of the products listed above in one convenient kit — ideal for professional carpet cleaners.