The one rule that covers all three: cold water only, and blot, never rub. Hot water cooks the protein in blood and fixes it permanently. Rubbing spreads ink along the fibre and pushes paint into the backing.
Blood, caught fresh with cold water, is one of the most winnable do it yourself stains. Ink and dried emulsion paint are the least winnable, and it is worth knowing the difference before you start.
Blood
Speed matters more here than with any other household stain, and the method is simple.
- Cold water only, never warm and never hot.
- Blot with a white cloth from the outside inwards.
- Change to a clean part of the cloth every few blots so you lift rather than redeposit.
- Repeat with fresh cold water until no more colour transfers.
- Dry with a weighted cloth pad, do not apply heat.
Ink
Ballpoint, fountain and permanent marker behave very differently, and only one of them is reliably removable at home.
- Ballpoint: dab, do not rub, with a cloth barely damp with isopropyl alcohol, testing a hidden spot first.
- Fountain pen: cold water blotting first, the dye is water based, so act fast.
- Permanent marker: assume professional treatment, home solvents usually spread the halo.
- Never pour solvent directly onto carpet, it reaches the backing and can delaminate it.
- Stop the moment carpet colour appears on your cloth, that is dye loss, not stain removal.
Paint
The type of paint decides everything, so check the tin before you touch the carpet.
- Water based emulsion, still wet: blot and dilute with cold water repeatedly, you have a good chance.
- Water based emulsion, dried: it has formed a film around the fibres, this is professional work.
- Oil based gloss: do not use white spirit on carpet at home, the fume risk and dye damage are real.
- Never scrub dried paint, you will break the pile tips and leave a permanent rough patch.
- Trim, as a last resort on a tiny fleck, is sometimes better than chemical damage, but ask first.