Drinks staining new carpets

[Ilovechocolate87]

We have just had a lovely brand new carpet laid in our lounge.
A short while ago when we had our old one (luckily!) DH spilt a glass of ribena over it, which wouldn't come out even with the VAX.
We have already agreed a no food rule for the kids in the lounge (they are 1 and 5 so still messy eaters) since having a new carpet, drinks wise they just have water or squash which won't stain, but DH still wants to have cups of ribena & red wine in there which especially with his track record I'm not feeling too happy about as I'm panicking it will stain it if they spill.

DH thinks I am being unreasonable not to want him to sit and enjoy his favourite drinks on the sofa...am I?

Oof. I can see where you’re coming from; but where else would you drink wine? I’d be really put out if DH said I couldn’t have a glass of wine on the sofa…

I’d rather go for a dark carpet than live with that rule; to be honest!

Really should have chosen a carpet that wouldn't show up stains, especially with young children. I don't think it's reasonable to ban food and drinks, so I think you will have to accept there might be spills.

It’s his carpet too, yabu

And this is the reason we got rid of our cream carpet after a year...realised it totally wasn't practical for kids or adults and cba living my life in fear of it getting ruined.

Can it be treated with Scotchguard? I know that ship has sailed for the blackcurrant stain.

Op I really don't think the timing of this noose around your neck is good. It's going to be a source of conflict and anxiety with two young dc? Why?

Put rugs down, don't make people suffer over this carpet. I actually feel sorry for the dc and how they will get restricted and told off for normal day to day living in houses without this noose.

A family member made our life hell over their Persian rugs that couldn't be trod on, we couidnt have food or drink, couldn't even step on them.
It was hideous and we all still have strong feelings about it.

Or if you have have other space to create a snug perhaps seal that room off for best or just you so you can enter and admire the carpets?

YABU. Houses are for living in, if you can’t have a glass of wine on the sofa of an evening, that’s a bloody poor show.

What is the carpet made from? If polypropylene, you can bleach it. Otherwise, try Dr Beckman's carpet cleaner (the one with the brush on the top). It's very good.

Didn't go for cream due to having the young DDs, it's a silvery grey colour.

I am wondering about asking the carpet center who fitted it how stain resistant it is, what you can use to clean it etc.
DH has also now suggested doing a 'mock stain trial' on the offcuts we have, with coffee, red wine etc, seeing how easily we can get the stains out or not, which I guess might be an idea.The other one was really old so maybe not so good for that.Not sure about the scotchguard...is that a special treatment?

I just know DH can be abit clumsy with that sort of thing, ie; puts the glass down on the carpet next to the sofa then gets up and knocks it with his foot! He has done it afew times with Robinsons squash before too, although luckily as that's water based so didn't stain.

You would be reasonable to suggest DH uses a table for staining drinks.

I'm also prone to knocking things over so I would be secretly a bit glad it wasn't me if something got spilled!

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You need some Vorwerk Kobotex carpet spot remover. Dribble on a bit, press it off with a clean non- colour transfer cloth, stain gone, a miracle product.

I don't think the DDs are being ridiculously restricted....if we let 1yo have food in there it would be everywhere. Might be fair to let older DD have something in there that isn't too messy though I guess, she sits still much more easily!

I'm just conscious that we aren't full of money and this is a big purchase for us.When I get something nice that costs alot of money I admit I am quite protective over it.

We always had the rule that you sat at the table to eat. Sofa snacks were fine but we were careful to not encourage sulphur hued wotsit type crisps etc, (Toy Story 2 for the oldies in the room)

I mean, your DH IBU if his favourite drink is Ribena, but no way you could stop me enjoying a glass of red wine on the sofa of an evening. We once spilt a whole bottle of red wine on new (literally laid that day) beige carpet. Knocked it over with my hand reaching for the bottle and it sent a spray of red wine across the length of the room. Horrific. But came out like magic with Vanish carpet cleaner spray, and now am never to be without a bottle of that in the cupboard. Let the man enjoy his wine of an evening (no Ribena tho, that is fine).

YABU as it’s a living room for doing just that - living comfortably in. You needed to get flooring compatible with what you’d use it for, not a cream carpet for a room where two kids will play and a husband who likes to drink ribena and red wine will want to lounge about. So, while I agree with you that he shouldn’t be drinking red wine near white carpets if he’s clumsy I also agree that it’s his carpet too and he can’t never enjoy a glass in there. The best solution would be a washable rug under the sofa to catch spills. Or a kid’s lidded cup for his Petrus.

Get a Vax spot wash cleaner. DH can use it with plain water and it will get the stain out no matter what it is, but he have to act fast.
For this stain, if its relatively fresh, get a teatowel / hand towel or other absorbent cloth down over it and tread over it, moving the cloth around or replacing it until he's got as much out as he can. If that doesn't shift it, damp it down again and do another round. If the stain is older, hire / borrow a carpet cleaner and pretreat the stain with laundry spray stain remover. Leave the treatment for a while to work before using the carpet cleaner.
P.S. I wrote this all with 'you' instead of 'he' then realised it's his mess to clean up, so changed it.

No drinks on the floor everything should be on tables - and stemless wine glasses can help for the spill win too

If it's a new carpet check with the place you got it from. Many carpets nowadays are bleachable. One part bleach to six of water in a spray bottle. Give them a ring and check yours is.

Do you have the space to create a living normally space elsewhere? Sofa in kitchen o? r divide the room up and put rugs on one side?

Or just put large cheapish rugs down to protect it until dc are older and dh less clumsy?

Surely the house is for living in. I'd rather have the old carpet than a new one everyone's supposed to worry about

Op I know it's not ideal but if you still have the old one perhaps lay that over the new as a tempory measure or in half the room?

It depends what it is made of. A couple of years ago we moved into a flat with newly laid off white carpet throughout.
I gave it a year as we have little grandchildren and dogs visiting regularly plus the carpet is under the dining table.
Well the carpet is still perfect! It’s survived tea, coffee, wine, sick and various food spills.
I don’t let people in with outside shoes (dogs get their feet washed if it’s muddy out) cause I think the grit gets into the pile, but overall I am very relaxed about it.
Am not sure what it’s actually made of but Dr Beckman’s Carpet Cleaner is just brilliant on it - so far there’s nothing it hasn’t got out.
Worth trying it on a spare piece of carpet, may stop you worrying.

If you damp a red wine stain with water and pour a whole container of table salt over it and leave it for 24 hours. Then vacuum up. The stain will come out. Like magic.