School's out, and now's the time for family and friends to gather for that great American tradition: the backyard barbecue. Grilling burgers and enjoying cold drinks in the warm summer sun are favorite pastimes, but what if the fun comes indoors? The experts on INVISTA's STAINMASTER® carpet team offer some simple cleaning solutions to help you avoid summertime stains.

CLEANING SOLUTIONS:

Mix ¼ cup liquid dish detergent (with no optical brightners) in one cup of warm water. Using a whisk or beater, whip the solution until you have created a sudsy foam. Use only the foam on the carpet. Note: It may be necessary to increase the amount of detergent to get enough suds to create foam.

Mix ¼ teaspoon mild liquid dish soap (with no optical brightners) in one cup of warm water.

Mix two tablespoons white vinegar in four cups warm water.

Mix ¼ teaspoon mild liquid dish soap (with no optical brightners) in one cup of warm water.

BASIC CLEANING STEPS:

1. Scoop up and blot as much of the spill as possible.
2. Vacuum any dry particles.
3. Prepare suggested cleaning solutions, beginning with the first one listed.
4. Pretest the cleaning solution on an inconspicuous spot of carpet to ensure it does not discolor or damage the carpet.
5. Apply the cleaning solution to the stain area. Work from the outside of the stain toward the center.
6. Allow the cleaning solution to remain on the spill for at least five minutes.
7. Blot with a clean white cloth until no more stain transfers to the cloth. Do not rub the stain area or you might damage the carpet fibers.
8. Rinse with cold water. Be sure all cleaning solution is removed from the carpet.
9. If you can still see the stain, repeat the process until either the stain is removed or the stain no longer transfers to the cloth.
10. If the stain remains, try the next solution on the list and follow the same protocol above. If the stain persists after trying each of the solutions, contact a professional cleaner.
11. Once the stain is removed, place layers of white paper towel on the site to absorb any moisture. Weight down the towels with a non-staining glass or ceramic object. You can let them sit overnight.
12. When the carpet is dry, vacuum to restore the texture.
13. Have your carpet professionally cleaned every 24 months, as required by the STAINMASTER® carpet limited warranty.