Pumpkins make great decorations over the Halloween and fall period, but leave one sitting slightly too long and it can leave garish stains on your flooring.
Luckily, professional cleaners have refined the art of quickly and safely removing pumpkin stains from all sorts of surfaces to help you quickly clean away any Halloween marks before they become a permanent, unwanted feature.
Here, our cleaning experts break down the step-by-step for cleaning up pumpkin stains from your flooring.
How to remove pumpkin stains from floors
The quicker you clean up pumpkin stains on floors the better, as it increases your chance of fully removing marks before they set in for good.
When you have finished packing things into Halloween decor storage ideas, and have either found some eco-friendly ways to use leftover Halloween pumpkins or have safely disposed of or composted pumpkins, you can start with these cleaning tips.
What you will need
- A soft sponge, or microfiber cloths (both from Walmart) to avoid damaging surfaces
- A good floor cleaner – our experts recommend Murphy’s Oil Soap, from Amazon
- White vinegar – such as the Great Value distilled White Vinegar at Walmart
- Baking soda – we like Arm & Hammer baking soda, available at Walmart
- Warm water
- A clean, dry towel
- A wood-safe cleaner – such as Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner at Walmart for real hardwood floors
1. Remove all residue before starting
No matter the material of your flooring ideas, the first step to removing pumpkin stains from them is to always remove the bulk of the residue using a paper towel, or a soft sponge dampened with a bit of water.
Ryan Knoll, professional cleaner and founder of Tidy Casa begins, ‘Wipe away any residue with warm, soapy water (wringing the sponge out to avoid over saturating the flooring – especially on stone and real wood). Use a microfiber cloth or sponge to avoid scratching the floor, remember that some sponges have two sides. Always use the softer side to avoid scratches.’
We recommend using Dawn Dish Soap, from Walmart, as it is tough on stains but gentle on your floors. If you want to opt for a commercial floor cleaner, however, Ryan suggests, ‘Method’s Hard Floor Cleaner, at Walmart, which works well on most surfaces, as does Murphy’s Oil Soap.'
2. For tile and vinyl, opt for a vinegar cleaner
Cleaning tile floors and cleaning vinyl floors is easier than dealing with natural materials or carpets. These hardy floor covers can easily be cleaned with vinegar without the risk of damage.
Ryan Knoll continues, ‘For tougher stains on non-porous floors , a one-to-one vinegar-water mix can help dissolve any residual sugars or organic material. Just apply, wait a few minutes, and wipe clean.’
Though, Ryan advises avoid vinegar on stone surfaces as they are porous. He adds, ‘Most floors should be cleaned with PH-balanced neutral or non-acidic cleaners. So when cleaning with things like vinegar be conscious that this should really only be done on tile and never on wood floors. If you’re unsure if your floor is safe for more acidic cleaners, test in a small, inconspicuous area first.’
3. For natural stone, try baking soda
Natural stone floors are more likely to hold a stain than tile or vinyl, but vinegar can be too harsh. When cleaning natural stone floors, Ryan suggests cleaning with baking soda instead.
He explains, ‘If the stain doesn’t go away after some soap and water, get a thick paste of baking soda and water. Apply it to the area. Let it sit for 10–15 minutes so the baking soda can do its thing. It will lift the stain naturally.’
When mixing baking soda and water together, there are no exact measurements. Simply add warm water to the baking soda bit by bit, mixing as you go until it reaches a spreadable consistency. The amount of baking soda you need will depend on the size of the area you need to clean.
Solved editor Punteha van Terheyden exampled in pictured how to make a paste when using baking soda to shift stubborn scorch marks from her electric stovetop and found a small egg cup or bowl and spoon to be useful.
4. Stick with a wood-safe cleaner for hardwood floors
Cleaning real wood floors is a delicate operation, especially when dealing with organic stains.
Ryan Knoll, says, ‘If the pumpkin leaves a mark on hardwood, use a pH-neutral wood cleaner instead of vinegar. Buff gently with a soft cloth to avoid damaging the finish.’
He recommends ‘Bona Natural Floor Cleaner (available on Amazon) as it is gentle enough for wood.’
All prices correct at time of publication.
This Bona cleaner solution comes in an easy-to-use spray bottle for cleaning hardwood floors. Simply spray and mop, there is no need to make up a bucket of solution first.
Cleaning pumpkin stains from carpets and rugs
Removing food and drink stains from carpets needs to be done as quickly as possible before the stain sets into the fibers. Deep-cleaning a carpet with a machine is a great approach if you have one, as the shampoo can help to break down the stain and the machine will suck it out.
Luckily, there are ways to clean a carpet without a machine, but it does require a little more elbow grease.
1. Remove residue with a paper towel
As with cleaning hard floors, Ken Doty, COO and cleaning expert at The Maids recommends, ‘Blotting as much of the stain as you can to start. Use a paper towel or a clean white cloth.’
Always make sure you dab at the stain, rather than rub. This encourages the stain to lift, rather than being rubbed further into the carpet.
Using super absorbent paper towels will help to pick up the stain more quickly. Picking white towels will help you see whether or not the stain is lifting as you work.
2. Work quickly with dish soap
Carpet is one of the many surprising things you can clean with Dawn Powerwash, Ken Doty continues.
He recommends, ‘Mixing together a cleaning solution containing one tablespoon of dish soap and two cups of cold water. Apply the solution to the stain using a clean white cloth, and blot gently, working from the outside of the stain to the center to prevent spreading further out.’
Dawn Powerwash comes in a handy spray bottle to make quick cleaning super simple. It is also five times more effective than liquid dish soap when tackling stains.
3. Dab the soap away with a dry cloth and rinse
Ken concludes, ‘Finally, rinse the area with a small amount of water and once again blot with a clean, dry towel to dry.’
Opening windows and doors to increase ventilation will speed up the drying process, but you can also use the best dehumidifier to avoid musty smells and lingering damp spots.
This dehumidifier has an auto shut off function when the water tank is full or in a wrong position, to prevent the water from overflowing, making it ideal for busy households.
4. Repeat as needed
If the stain persists, repeat the procedure again until it has completely lifted.
You can also try cleaning a carpet with baking soda to help lighten stains. Once you have removed most of the residue with a paper towel and soapy water, mix a paste of baking soda and warm water and spread it over the pumpkin mark. Allow it to sit for at least 20 minutes and up to overnight before scraping the paste away with a dull knife, and cleaning again with soapy water before drying.
Following these golden rules of stain removal will help make any flooring, no matter the material, shine brighter than before the holidays. However, as with any cleaning task, prevention is better than a cure.
Ken Doty, cleaning expert concludes, ‘To prevent this issue from occurring next Halloween, place your pumpkins on a waterproof tray or plastic sheet to catch any drips or rotted material. Check the pumpkins regularly, and consider switching to an LED candle as opposed to a real one to prevent accelerated rotting due to the heat.'
