Sure, regularly scheduled professional carpet cleanings are vital to the health of your home and carpet, but did you know you can find solutions in your kitchen cabinets to tackle common stains between cleanings?

Here are a few common stains and some common (and some not so standard) solutions for removing them:

Wine < Salt - Immediately after a wine spill occurs, pour salt on the spill to keep it from setting while you decide which cleaning method you will use. Use salt combined with white wine to help lift up the pigment from a red wine stain. Then, using a solution of two cups of warm water, one tablespoon of distilled vinegar and one tablespoon of dishwashing liquid, dip a sponge into the solution and blot away the stain.

Juice < Shaving Cream - For juice spills, use a paper towel to blot the stain, pat it with a wet sponge, squirt some shaving cream on it, then wipe clean with a damp sponge.

Coffee or Tea < Beer - For coffee or tea stains, pour a little bit of beer right on top. Lightly rub the beer into the carpet, and the stain should disappear completely. Repeat as necessary.

Glue < Rubbing Alcohol - For glue spills, moisten a soft cloth with rubbing alcohol and apply it directly to the stain. Once the glue is thoroughly moistened, wipe and repeat until it is completely clean.

Gum < Ice - Use a wrapped ice cube to freeze the gum then peel from the carpet.

Paint - if the paint stain is still wet, blot the spot with a damp paper towel. If it has dried, use warm water and dish detergent to moisten the stain. Let the solution sit for a little while, then use a knife or pin to scrape away the paint fragments gently. Use caution not to damage your carpet's fibers.

If you find yourself with a stubborn stain that just won't budge, don't worry; Gator Clean is just around the corner ready to return your carpet back to its original clean luster.