Field notes on five kinds of marks
We wrote down what we have seen carpet do when different marks sit on it. Five notes cover food and drink, animal spots, marks that were already there, grease and oil, and ink, paint or color. Find the one that matches what is in front of you.
Food and drink stains on carpet
Spills with sugar, dairy, or tannins dry from the outside inward, leaving rings that shift darker and turn stiff over days.
Grease and oil on water-safe carpets
Grease, makeup, and oil marks sit differently from wet spills because they resist water until your cloth takes them up.
Ink, paint and color marks on carpet
Ink, paint and rust behave like dye rather than spilled food, changing the fiber itself instead of resting as a loose layer on top.
What was already in the carpet pile
Old set-in stains are the dark patches that were already walked into the pile before you moved in or noticed them.
Pet stains, dried spots and the question of smell
What animals leave behind carries dyes, stomach bile, and moisture that can spread past the visible ring.