How to Get a Bleach Stain Out of a Carpet

Bleach works by stripping a material of its pigment, so accidental spills can result in frustrating stains. If you’ve just splattered some bleach on your carpet, taking immediate action can help you minimize the damage. Blot the area with cold water, then apply a solution of water and either dish detergent or vinegar. You can also try using a baking soda and water paste. If the stain has set and the color has been stripped, try recoloring the stain using a crayon or interior paint. If all else fails, talk to a professional cleaner about cutting or patching the affected area.

EditSteps

EditTrying Dish Detergent and Water

Blot away wet bleach with a cold, damp towel. If you’ve just spilled bleach on your carpet, there might still be time to save its color if you act quickly. Run a towel or cloth under cold water, squeeze it out, then use it to blot out the affected area.^[1]
- Take care to blot with repeated dabbing motions instead of scrubbing. Scrubbing will force the bleach deeper into the carpet fibers.
Pour detergent and warm water over the stain. After blotting the stain with cold water, mix a half tablespoon of liquid dishwashing detergent with a cup (240 mL) of warm water. Let it sit for about five minutes.^[2]
- You can increase the solution to one tablespoon soap and two cups (480 mL) of water for stains over a larger area.
Blot the area with a sponge or cloth. After five minutes, use a clean, damp sponge or cloth to blot the area you’ve soaked in detergent solution. Be sure to use cold water to get your sponge or cloth damp.^[3]
- When blotting, work from the outside of the stain toward the center to avoid spread it.
Try using vinegar instead of detergent. If you don’t have success with detergent or don’t have any on hand, go for a vinegar solution instead. Mix a tablespoon of white vinegar with warm water and follow the same steps you used with the detergent solution.^[4]
- Try mixing in a teaspoon of lemon juice to cut the vinegar smell.

EditUsing Baking Soda and Water

Mix baking soda with warm water. Mix together baking soda and water to make a slightly thick paste. Keep to a ratio of three parts baking soda to one part water, and make enough paste to cover the affected area.^[5]
- If you’re trying a baking soda mixture first, be sure to immediately blot the affected area with cold water before attempting to remove the stain.
Use a toothbrush to work the mixture into the stain. Try to use a slight lifting motion to work the baking soda paste from the base of the fibers to their tops. Avoid scrubbing with a downward motion.^[6]
- It’s useful to keep a toothbrush on hand for cleaning tight spaces or other special cleaning projects. Just be sure not to use it to brush your teeth!
Dry the area then vacuum. Use a clean cloth to pat the area until it’s dry. Vacuum up the residual baking soda paste. Repeat the process if you still see a bleach mark.^[7]
- While you might not avoid discoloration completely, treating the stain quickly will help minimize the damage. However, you might still have to try to recolor the stain.

EditRecoloring a Set Bleach Stain

Color the stain with a crayon that closely matches your carpet color. Look in your art supplies or take a few carpet fibers to a store to try to find a matching crayon. Work the crayon into the bleached area, taking care to color down to the base of the fibers. Try to stay within the lines of the stain and avoid coloring unbleached fibers.^[8]
Dilute the colored patch with a damp towel. Coloring the bleached patch will likely result in a darker hue than the surrounding carpet. Use a damp towel to dilute the color and spread the pigment throughout the bleached area.^[9]
- Continue to color and dilute until you’ve blended the color to match your carpet.
Try using interior paint. If the bleached spot is in an inconspicuous area, you can try using an interior paint. Use a fine tipped paintbrush to apply a thin coat over the stain, and try to paint each fiber from its base to the top. Apply more coats as necessary, but be sure to keep them thin.^[10]
- The best thing about using interior paint is that you can take some carpet fibers to your local home improvement store and have them match the color precisely.
- Avoid using interior paint in spots that are obvious or receive lots of foot traffic. The paint will make the carpet fibers stiff.
Consult a professional carpet cleaner. Ask a professional for help if you’ve tried using crayons or paint without success, or if you don’t want to take the chance recoloring the stain on your own. A professional cleaner can attempt to:^[11]
- Clean the stain
- Cut out fibers
- Cut out and replace the affected patch