Clean ash out of your carpet with our top ash-removal tips, sourced from professional cleaners. The best tips and techniques to remove ash from your carpet.

Cigarettes, incense, and fireplaces can all leave ash on your carpet, no matter how careful you are. As ash is a very fine substance, it can work its way into carpet fibers and leave unsightly black smears and stains unless you clean it off correctly. 

In this article, we share our favorite tips on how to get ash out of carpet easily and get your carpet as good as new.

Before you start

Clean up any ash as soon as you notice it, so it’s easier to remove. Try not to step on the ash patch, or rub it away with your finger, as this will just spread the ash deeper into your carpet. 

If you can’t clean the ash up straight away, put a coffee table over it to ensure nobody else walks the ash further into the carpet.

Scoop up as much ash as you can, and then vacuum the spot using a nozzle attachment. If you roll a normal vacuum cleaner roller head over an ash patch, it can spread the stain and make it more difficult to remove.

While you’re undertaking the cleaning process, remember to avoid rubbing — try and blot the ash stain away to prevent spreading.

Homeaglow pro tip: if you don’t have a vacuum cleaner, you can also try using a lint roller to get any surface ash off the carpet. Make sure you roll it gently to avoid pushing the ash further into your flooring.

5 proven methods to get ash out of carpet

If you regularly use incense, love a good open fire in the winter, or someone in your home smokes, it’s good to have these items on hand for any spills and carpet emergencies:

• Clean cloths
• Paper towels
• Sponge
• Baking soda
• Cornstarch
• Liquid dish soap
• Vinegar

Removing ash with the methods we’re about to share will enable you to quickly restore your carpet to normal.

1. Cornstarch

After you’ve vacuumed, cover the stained area of carpet with a good sprinkle of cornstarch (baking soda or baby powder will also work) and leave this in your carpet for around 60 minutes.

Vacuum the ash patch away using your vacuum cleaner and a nozzle attachment.

2. Cornstarch and liquid dish soap

If you need a little extra firepower, and the ash has only recently fallen on your carpet, this is an excellent removal method.

After you’ve vacuumed the area with a nozzle attachment, wet a cloth or paper towel, and add a few drops of liquid dish soap.

Dab the soapy cloth onto the ash patch and rub gently until the stain lifts. Cover the wet area with cornstarch (or baking soda) and leave overnight.

In the morning, grab your vacuum with the nozzle attachment and vacuum up the cornstarch powder. The ash marks should be completely gone. If you need to dry the area, you can use a hair dryer or towel.

3. White vinegar

Vinegar — an excellent all-purpose house cleaner and stain remover — can also do a great job of getting ash out of carpet. It does have a distinct smell that some people don’t like, but this smell will disappear fairly quickly after cleaning.

After you’ve vacuumed, soak a cloth or sponge in vinegar and dab the ash stain. Don’t rub it around too much, or the ash can go deeper into the carpet.

Leave the vinegar to soak in for around 10 minutes, then wipe it off with a clean, damp cloth. Leave to air dry, or you can use a hair dryer to speed things up.

If the ash stain isn’t gone completely, repeat the above steps until your carpet is back to normal.

4. Vinegar and baking soda

If you loved science class, you’ll love this method of removing ash from your soft flooring.

You’ll need:

• 2 tablespoons of white vinegar
• 1 tablespoon of baking soda
• 2 cups of water

Mix these ingredients in a bowl. The vinegar and baking soda will react with each other to create an active foam solution that can remove ash stains fast from carpets and other fabrics.

Dip a clean cloth or sponge into the vinegar solution and saturate the ash stain completely. Using a cloth or an old toothbrush, work the solution gently into the carpet fibers.

You can then use paper towels or a fresh cloth to soak up the residual ash, and pat the carpet dry again.

5. Dry cleaning solution

You can find dry cleaning solutions for carpets at any good hardware or home store. Read the manufacturer’s instructions to check that it’s suitable for your type of carpet before you buy it.

Apply the dry cleaning solution to a clean cloth or sponge and dab at the ash marks until the dry cleaner and ash stain are gone. If the stain is persistent, gently repeat the process until your carpet is clean again.

Removing ash from carpet in your home

We hope you find our tips for removing ash from your carpet helpful. Remember, the key thing is to clean up any ash spills as soon as they happen, to prevent the ash from working its way deeper into the carpet pile.

Removing ash stains from carpet (like crayon stains How to Remove Gum From Carpet and gum How to Remove Gum From Carpet) can be time-consuming, even with our best tips to help you. If you’d like some help, book a professional, affordable cleaner through Eagle Cleaning.

A professional cleaning service can help you make sure every surface of your home is dust and cobweb free, no matter how hard to reach. Enjoy clean, breathable air and a healthy home, all while saving yourself time and effort. Hire a professional house cleaning today.

Check out our follow up blog entry on How To Keep Your Stainless Steel Appliances Like New.