How can I remove a brown stain from the carpet?

Victoria
by Victoria

I live in a mobile home. When I moved in 18 months ago there was a new carpet laid down. Now there is a brown stain that keeps coming back after treating it with baking soda, hot iron, carpet cleaner etc. What is my problem? I am reluctant to lift carpet.Brown stain in carpet

  12 answers
  • Michelle Leslie Michelle Leslie on Mar 02, 2020

    Hi Victoria, the carpet may be hiding some kind of fault or rust spot. If it keeps coming back I would try and lift it to check underneath. Sorry I know that's probably not what you wanted to hear.

  • Tinyshoes Tinyshoes on Mar 02, 2020

    Victoria....Try Blue Magic from AutoZone..does great job on fabric for me.

  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Mar 02, 2020

    It is most likely underneath in the the padding. You might consider purchasing or renting a steamer or having professionally cleaned.

  • Robyn Garner Robyn Garner on Mar 02, 2020

    Does the carpet get wet in that area? If so, look underneath to see if there is something coming up from the subfloor. You should also contact the seller/installer of the carpet to report that it has a defect. Request that they replace it or clean it. If they clean it for you, ask that they agree to replace if it keeps returning. You've nothing to lose by asking!

  • Kelli L. Milligan Kelli L. Milligan on Mar 02, 2020

    Don't ever use a hot iron on anything but your clothes. It does sound like rust bleeding thru. You need to check it out. All the cleaning will just make it worse. Best of luck to you.


  • Sounds like you have something coming up from below. Can you do a bit of exploratory searching underneath?

  • Dee Dee on Mar 02, 2020

    I would rent a carpet cleaner, but first I would look under the carpet at the padding. If it is wet it needs to dry out completely then cleaned.

    • Victoria Victoria on Mar 06, 2020

      Thanks everyone for your help. Pad and flooring both ok. Waiting for the stain to appear again. Baffling

  • Cynthia H Cynthia H on Mar 02, 2020

    It sounds like something that is either coming through the pad or is soaked into the pad and keeps wicking up to the carpet. As frustrating as it is, something is damp under there or it wouldn't keep wicking up. Take some photographs of the damage and peel it back a layer at a time, taking clear pictures if you can't get satisfaction from the installer. Finding the source of the stain is the priority here. If something is causing that stain you want to resolve it before it gets worse and/or it affects your health with mold or other issues. If there is a leak under the floor you could end up not only replacing the damaged carpet but also the subfloor. Good luck!

  • Pat Pat on Mar 02, 2020

    This may sound gross, but I had a little poodle that erped on my carpet. I was able to clean it up, but kept showing up again. There was "grease" in her tummy and it kept attracting dirt. Once I cleaned with a grease cutter, I had no more problem. Hope you find out what is causing the spot to reappear.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Mar 06, 2020

    Hello Victoria,

    Sadly seems as though the stain is coming from below and will need to be neutralized with a sealer at least. Could be oil or tar which will liquidize when warm.

    Sorry no better news to offer.............

  • Chloe Crabtree Chloe Crabtree on May 01, 2022

    Use 1/4 cup of white vinegar, 1 tbsp. of Dawn dish soap, and fill with water. Spray area liberally and let soak for 5-10 minutes and then proceed with blotting with a clean, dry towel until stain is removed. Some carpet stain removal products can be of great benefit for combating many types of carpet stains.