Tackling Pollen Stains: Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning Guide

If you have been lucky enough to receive a bouquet of flowers or have treated yourself, there’s nothing like a pollen stain on your carpets or soft furnishings to bring you back to earth with a bump. They can stain clothes permanently, but did you know they can do the same to carpets too?

Dealing with pollen on textiles or getting rid of any stubborn stain on a carpet can be a challenging task – go too soft and the stain will remain, go too hard and you risk permanently damaging an expensive carpet or sofa.

5 Steps to remove pollen from carpet and upholstery

Step 1: Do not touch the pollen

Resist the temptation of touching the pollen or trying to brush it off. Contact with your hands or a brush will set the powder into the weave of the fabric or pile of the carpet – the same applies for water.

If possible, take the upholstery outside, being careful not to let the pollen migrate onto other fabrics or the carpet, and give it a good shake to disperse the pollen. If the pollen has fallen on the carpet, using the nozzle of a vacuum cleaner, carefully use it suck up the powder; do not let the nozzle come into contact with the carpet – keep it a good centimetre above the pile, the suction should be strong enough to gently lift the pollen.

Step 2: Sticky tape to the rescue

Clear sticky tape is the weapon of choice for step two of how get pollen out of carpets and fabrics. If you have followed the first step and pollen remains, wrap tape around your fingers (so the sticky side is not against your skin). Gently dab the stain to lift the pollen.

Step 3: Water all the way

If you have pollen on upholstery and are able to remove the cushion coverings, rinse the stain through the back of the fabric, the power of the water should force the pollen’s hooks to detach. Leave the coverings to soak for half an hour in the sink, before repeating the rinse stage, this should flush the last of the pollen away.

For pollen-stained carpets or sofa covers you can’t remove, you don’t have the ability to flush the pollen in the same way, but you can blot the stain with a damp clean cloth. As with all stubborn carpet stains, work from the outer edge of the stain towards the middle. Take your time and keep the cloth rinsed and clean. Avoid soaking the carpet, to avoid the risk of mould developing in the wet carpet.

Step 4: & Leave to airdry

It’s important that when you clean upholstery covers or carpet are left to airdry. For upholstery covers, be mindful that heat from a tumble dryer can set any remaining pollen residue, so try and dry in direct sunlight. If your carpet has been cleaned, its important you keep kids, animals and furniture off it while it dries – be warned, it can take over 24 hours.

Step 5: Repeat steps 1-4

While DIY carpet cleaning can be effective, you may have to repeat until you get the desired result.

Why choose professional carpet cleaning for pollen stains on carpet and fabrics?

A professional carpet cleaning service in Christchurch provides a comprehensive solution to pollen stains. Carpet cleaning professionals use state-of-the-art equipment that goes beyond the capabilities of household tools, and they’ll achieve uniform results. Have you ever spot cleaned a carpet to find it highlights just how dirty the rest of the carpet is?

Christchurch Carpet Cleaning are fully qualified and trained to identify stains and tailor the cleaning method to the intricacies of the different carpet materials and fabrics to deliver the best carpet cleaning results. Plus, there’s no waiting days for carpets to dry either, we complete the job efficiently and effectively, saving you time and ensuring thorough results.

So, if you live in Christchurch and Canterbury, and have had enough of looking at that stained carpet, call 021 638 637 to book an appointment, or click here to email.