by Kat Apf

Created on: February 06, 2013   Last Updated: February 07, 2013

In the world of stains, mud is actually one of the easiest stains to get out of a carpet.  It's much easier to get rid of a mud stain than, say, red wine, blood or red juice.  While you might want to try to clean it while it's still fresh, it's really best to let it dry out and then start attacking it.

After the mud has dried, vacuum it to get all the loose dirt off.  Be sure that it's fully dried or you'll be vacuuming up mud which could potentially ruin your vacuum.  You might want to throw a towel over the mud spot until it's dry so no one will step on it and grind it further into the carpet or track it through the rest of the house.

If you don't have a carpet cleaning solution, such as Resolve, don't worry, you can still get rid of that mud stain without it.  Dish washing soap works.  But it can't be blue or pink, you need to use a clear dish washing soap or you'll end up with a mud stain and a soap stain.

Mix a squirt of dish soap into a cup of warm water.  Stir it up until you've got a few bubbles going.  It shouldn't be really sudsy, though.  Wet a clean dish cloth or rag and lightly pat the stain until it's totally wet. With another dry cloth, blot the wet area. You will probably have to do this quite a few times until you see the mud stain disappear.  Don't rub, though, because that will just make the stain go deeper into the carpet and harder to remove.

Once the stain vanishes, use a cloth with plain water to get the soap off the carpet.  Again, no rubbing, just dab.  When you feel the soap is out, get another clean cloth and press down on the wet spot to soak up the water.  It's a good idea to try to get as much of the water out of the carpet with a towel.  Once the stop dries complete, vacuum it again.  This can take a day or two, and you don't want to vacuum a wet spot which could be dangerous.  Make sure it's fully dried and then vacuum. 

If this doesn't work, you can always try using Resolve or another cleaner specific to carpets.  Chances are, though, the dish soap will do the trick. 

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