How to Remove Black Olive Stains from Carpet

Nicola said, “I have stains on my cream coloured carpet from an olive tree outside the bedroom. Olive tree has lots of black olives that have fallen down and the juice from the black olives has stuck to my shoe and now have dark shoe prints on my cream rug. Please help.”

Table of Contents:

Removing the Stain
Additional Tips and Advice
Sources

Any time you have a fruit-bearing tree near an entry or over a walkway, you have to be careful not to track the fruits into your home. Thankfully, these stains are organic, and fairly easy to remove if you have the right cleaning solution. Use the information in the steps below to remove the stains from your carpet.

Removing the Stain

You Will Need:

Pet enzyme digester
Powdered enzyme laundry detergent
Water
Hydrogen peroxide
A cloth
Shampoo

Steps to Remove the Stain:

Get an enzyme digester. This can either be a pet enzyme digester, such as Nature’s Miracle or Kids ‘N’ Pets, or a powdered enzyme laundry detergent, such as Biz. Pet enzyme cleaners are available in the pet aisle of most supermarkets. Be sure to find an enzyme cleaner that says it works on plant stains, such as grass stains.
To use a pet enzyme digester, such as Nature’s Miracle, select a product that is safe for carpet, then simply follow the instructions on the label of your selected cleaner. It may take multiple tries to remove the stains completely.
To use a powdered enzyme laundry detergent, such as Biz, mix some detergent with a small amount of water to make a paste. Spread the paste over the stain, pushing it gently into the stains. Let the paste dry on the stain, then vacuum it up. Repeat the process as many times as needed to remove the stains.
If the stain is stubborn and your carpet is a white or pale color, you can pour some hydrogen peroxide on the stain. When the peroxide has stopped bubbling, gently rub the area with a cloth, then sponge the area with cool water to rinse. Repeat the process as many times as needed.¹
If the stain is stubborn and your carpet is not a light color, you can try using some shampoo. Mix a small amount of shampoo with water to make suds, then blot the solution onto the carpet. Do not scrub, as you can damage the carpet fibers. Sponge the area with cool water to rinse.¹

Additional Tips and Advice

Do not treat the stains with any chemicals before using the enzyme digester as the chemicals can make the enzymes less effective.
Keep in mind that some types of enzyme digesters should not be used on wool carpets. If you have a wool carpet, be sure to read the label of your selected product carefully to determine if it is safe.