Play Dough Uh-Oh?! Get it Out Quick!

If you have kids, you know that play dough isn’t the easiest thing to get out of your carpet or rug. If you want a quick and easy way to take care of the problem, you’ve come to the right place! With these two steps (yes, TWO!), you’ll get that stubborn stuff right out.

Allow the play-doh to dry completely.

• You’ll know that it is dry if the play dough is hard to the touch. (DO NOT use warm, soapy water, it will melt the play dough further into the carpet.)
•  For quicker results, you can freeze the play-doh with a can of compressed air. Same effect, less time!

Brush and vacuum.

• Once dry (or frozen), use a carpet brush to brush the problem area. Be sure to use brush strokes consistently in the SAME direction. Using circular motions could cause the play doh to become more embedded into the carpet or rug. As you work, have a vacuum close by to vacuum up the loosened play-doh particles.

And there you have it — we told you it was easy! You can now enjoy your carpet or rug, play doh free! In some cases you may have minor staining left over. If this is the case in your home, follow the steps below to lighten or remove the residual dye.

All Carpet:

• Apply rubbing alcohol to a clean, white paper towel and blot the stained area. Be sure not to rub the stain as this could make it worse.
• Do not pour alcohol directly onto the carpet —  this could cause damage to the carpet backing.
• Be sure to do a test spot in an inconspicuous area to ensure you will not cause further damage to your carpet or rug.

White Carpet:

Apply hydrogen peroxide to a clean, white paper towel and blot the stained area. Be sure not to rub the stain- this could make it worse.

Hydrogen peroxide can bleach colored carpets, so only use hydrogen peroxide on white carpets or rugs.

• Remove the cleaning solution by blotting the area with mild soap applied to a clean, white paper towel. Make sure your soap does not contain bleach.
• Wash away the soap with COLD water (warm water could cause any leftover play dough to melt back into the carpet or rug). 
• Using a spray bottle to wet the area, remove the soap by blotting the carpet with a clean towel. Be sure not to soak your carpet as this could cause water damage to the sub-flooring underneath. 
• Apply several thin layers of water, blotting with a paper towel in between sprays, until all the soap has been removed. Again, be sure to use cold water! 
• Remove all water from your carpet by applying a regular towel to the area you’ve just cleaned. 
• Press down into the carpet to soak up the water. You may also use a fan to dry the area — the closer the fan is placed near the spot, the more effective it will be.

Sometimes, getting something like play-doh on your carpet or rug leaves you stressed, frustrated, and in need of professional help. Fortunately, Artistic Cleaners provides the Lake Geneva area with professional carpet cleaning services to give you peace of mind. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you!