How to Get Spaghetti Sauce Out of Carpet

Spaghetti sauce is an organic stain that gets its red color from tomatoes. Added sugars and other ingredients make this type of stubborn stain notoriously challenging to remove from white and other light-colored materials, including carpet.

Homemade remedies can have limited success, which is why most homeowners seek the help of a professional carpet cleaner — especially for larger, more noticeable food stains.

Experts at Jon-Don have prepared this article to help guide you through removing a spaghetti sauce stain from the carpet.

Why Does Spaghetti Sauce Create Such a Stubborn Stain?

Spaghetti sauce gets its natural red color from tomatoes, and while it usually does not contain any added dyes, it’s still a combination spot that contains salts, herbs, sugars, and oils. All of these ingredients can make spaghetti stain removal more difficult, and using improper techniques or household products can make matters worse.

A tomato sauce stain on carpet will most commonly appear orange rather than red, particularly if the homeowner has already tried to remove it themselves before calling a professional carpet cleaner.

Before we get into some stain removal options, it’s important to note that while cleaning spaghetti stains on carpet, you should never use high-temperature cleaning or heat-activated stain removal procedures. Heat can cause the stain to set into the carpet and ultimately make it more difficult to remove.

How to Remove Spaghetti Sauce from Carpet: Step by Step Instructions

The experts at Jon-Don have assembled three options for removing a spaghetti sauce stain from carpet using Matrix® carpet cleaning products. These high-performance formulas are engineered to deliver outstanding results to neutralize, clean, and remove stains.

Before you apply any cleaning product to carpet, be sure to test in an inconspicuous area, such as the back of a closet, to determine colorfastness and avoid any potential damage.

Option 1: Matrix® Vanishing Act – No Rubbing, Scrubbing, or Rinsing

1. Thoroughly vacuum the area to remove dry soils. Use a bone spatula to scrape away any dried or caked-on soiling.
2. Clean the area using hot water extraction to remove any remaining residue. Blot dry with a clean, white towel to remove excess moisture.
3. Apply Matrix® Vanishing Act directly to the spot and thoroughly wet the area. 
4. Allow the product to dry. Rubbing, scrubbing, or agitation are not required. The stain will lighten and disappear as the product oxidizes.

Option 2: Matrix® Oxidizer

Matrix® Oxidizer can be used as an additive booster to your pre-spray or encapsulation solution. It can also be used on its own as a spotter.

Note: Matrix® Oxidizer is a powdered version of hydrogen peroxide. As it breaks down, oxygen is released and can build up in a closed container, so always leave extra space when storing the product, and be sure to release pressure after each use. Use diluted mixture within 30 minutes. Do not use on wool.

1. Thoroughly vacuum the area to remove dry soils. Use a bone spatula to scrape away any dried or caked-on soiling.
2. Clean the area using hot water extraction to remove any remaining residue. Blot dry with a clean, white towel to remove excess moisture.
3. Mix 1/2 to 1 oz of Matrix® Oxidizer per gallon of warm water or ready-to-use cleaning solution. 
4. Apply to spot to stain
5. Apply steam heat from an iron at the lowest temperature. Check every 15-30 seconds for transfer. When the stain has turned to a light yellow or disappeared completely, remove the heat and towel.
6. Thoroughly rinse and extract the area to remove all cleaning residues.

Option 3: Matrix® Spotters

1. Thoroughly vacuum the area to remove dry soils. Use a bone spatula to scrape away any dried or caked-on soiling.
2. Apply Matrix® Release to a clean white spotting towel. Tamp and blot the towel against the stain with a spotting brush. Important note: Do not apply Matrix® Release directly to the carpet, as over-application could cause delamination.
3. Apply Matrix® Target Tannin Stain Remover undiluted. Tamp and blot with a spotting brush and a spotting towel.
4. Apply Matrix® Spot Out undiluted. Tamp and blot with a spotting brush and a spotting towel.
5. Thoroughly rinse and extract the area with water.

If the Red Stain Still Isn’t Disappearing, Try Matrix® Red Be Gone

If the red stain is not lifting, there’s a good chance that there is a synthetic red dye that is causing the issue. In that instance, Matrix® Red Be Gone is a fast-acting solution to chemically alter the red dye to make it lighten or disappear.

1. Thoroughly vacuum the area to remove dry soils. Use a bone spatula to scrape away any dried or caked-on soiling.
2. Clean the area using hot water extraction to remove any remaining residue. Blot dry with a clean, white towel to remove excess moisture.
3. Mix equal parts Matrix® Red Be Gone and apply to the area. For ease of application, we recommend using the Matrix® Dual Chamber Sprayer.
4. Cover the spot with a damp white towel.
5. Apply steam heat from an iron at the lowest temperature. Check every 15-30 seconds for transfer. When the stain has turned to a light yellow or disappeared completely, remove the heat and towel.
6. Thoroughly rinse and extract the area to remove all cleaning residues.

Home Remedies for Spaghetti Sauce Removal from Carpet

If the above-mentioned professional products aren’t at your immediate disposal, certain household items may help to remove stains caused by tomato-based sauces. Just remember: never use hot water or heat-activated cleaning products, as they can make matters worse and risk creating a permanent carpet stain.

Home Remedy Option 2: Liquid Dish Soap + Vinegar

1. Remove any excess tomato sauce using a spoon, dull knife, or bone spatula.
2. Sponge the stain using a sponge or clean white cloth soaked in cold water.
3. Combine 2 cups cold water with 1 Tbsp of liquid dish soap and 1 Tbsp of vinegar or hydrogen peroxide.
4. Soak a clean cloth in the mixture and blot the affected area. Don’t scrub.
5. Rise the carpet with clean, cool water and blot dry with another clean cloth or paper towel.
6. Repeat steps 2-5 until the stain has faded or is removed completely.
7. Follow up as soon as possible with specialized products or by contacting a professional carpet cleaner for further assistance.

Home Remedy Option 1: Baking Soda Paste

If you react quickly enough and get to the stain before it dries, baking soda may help treat the spot.

1. Use a clean, white cloth or paper towel to blot as much of the spaghetti sauce as possible. Do not rub the stain.
2. Use a spoon, dull knife, or bone spatula to gently scrape off any excess sauce from the carpet fibers. Be careful not to damage the carpet.
3. In a small bowl, mix baking soda with a small amount of water to create a thick paste. The paste should be easy to spread but not too runny.
4. Gently apply the baking soda paste to the stained area. Make sure to cover the entire stain with a thin layer of the paste.
5. Allow the baking soda paste to sit on the stain for at least 15-20 minutes. This will give it time to absorb the sauce and lift it from the carpet fibers.
6. After the paste has dried, use a clean, dry cloth or paper towel to blot the area. This helps remove the dried baking soda along with the absorbed stain.
7. Dampen a clean cloth with water and blot the area to remove any remaining baking soda residue.
8. Mix a small amount of dishwashing liquid with water and use a clean cloth to gently clean the stained area. Blot with a dry cloth afterward.
9. Rinse the carpet by blotting it with a clean, damp cloth to remove any soap residue.
10. Allow the carpet to air-dry completely. Once dry, vacuum the area to lift any remaining particles.

Learn How to Clean Carpets Like the Pros

If you’re new to the world of professional carpet cleaning and want to treat stains like a true pro, we highly recommend attending an upcoming IICRC Carpet Cleaning Technician (CCT) class. This certification course will help you understand the science of carpet cleaning, how to remove the most common and most challenging stains, and how to wow your customer on every job. To register, visit our course page.

For more spot-removal tips and advice, visit our spotting library.