SpotZeroEmergency Stain Triage
New stain

Grasson carpet & rugs

Water
Cold water only (< 30°C)
Urgency
Act now — under 15 min
Fibre care
Never saturate — the backing wicks stains back up

Phase 1: Immediate first aid

Use what you have right now. Nothing to buy.

  1. Blot & isolate

    Brush off any mud or bits once they're dry. Don't wet the whole area yet. On carpet: work from the edges inward, and never pour liquid on.

  2. Pantry pre-treatment

    You need

    15 ml Isocol / Rubbing Alcohol

    Isocol / Rubbing Alcohol: Around 70% strength, from any pharmacy. Not methylated spirits.

    Called something else where you are?
    Isocol / Rubbing Alcohol
    🇺🇸 🇨🇦Rubbing Alcohol
    🇬🇧Surgical Spirit / Isopropyl
    🇦🇺Isocol / Rubbing Alcohol
    🇳🇿Isopropyl Alcohol / Rubbing Alcohol
    🇩🇪Reinigungsalkohol / Isopropanol
    🇫🇷Alcool à 70°
    🇪🇸Alcohol isopropílico / Alcohol de farmacia

    Method

    Dab it on with a cotton pad — dab, don't rub — and move to a clean part of the pad as the colour transfers. Patch-test first; it can lift dyes and some wood finishes.

  3. Final flush & wash

    Rinse by spraying a little cold water and blotting dry — repeat 2–3 times to get the residue out. Weigh a thick towel down with books for an hour, then let it air-dry and brush the pile up.

Phase 2: Deep restoration

If a faint shadow remains after the initial rinse, or for fabrics that cannot tolerate water agitation:

Residual ghost-ring or dry-clean-only fibre?

Normal washing often won't shift the last trace of a set-in stain. Treat it with a targeted spotter before it goes anywhere near tumble-dryer heat — heat locks in whatever is left.

Professional grade

Alba-Pro

Protein spotter for blood, urine, food and grass residues that leave a faint shadow after rinsing.

Apply a few drops with a cotton bud, tamp gently, then flush as the label directs. Patch-test first.

Easy to find 🇦🇺
  • Vanish Oxi Action

Pick the formula labelled for this stain type — the range is split by stain.

Build your laundry first-aid kit

Top 3 essential spotters for next time — one for each stain family.

  1. AlbaChem Dry Spotter
    Grease, oil, wax, make-up, ink
  2. Alba-Pro
    Blood, urine, grass, chocolate
  3. Alba-Tan
    Wine, coffee, tea, tomato, curry

Always patch-test on a hidden area first. Never mix bleach, ammonia, vinegar or peroxide together. For valuables, see a professional cleaner.