Accidents happen. A child may become ill, an elderly family member may not reach the bathroom in time, or a pet may have an accident indoors. Whatever the circumstances, excrement and diarrhoea on a carpet, sofa or other upholstered furniture can be unpleasant and distressing.

The important thing is not to panic or feel embarrassed. Professional carpet and upholstery cleaners deal with these situations regularly and can treat the affected area discreetly and hygienically.

Excrement and diarrhoea are not simply stains. They can contain bacteria, organic matter and other contaminants that can penetrate carpet fibres, backing, and underlay.

This is why professional treatment is often preferable to trying to clean the area with ordinary household products

An ordinary spill such as tea or coffee is primarily a staining problem. Biological contamination is different.

Faecal contamination can contain bacteria and organic material, which may be transferred into carpet fibres, upholstery and underlay. If the affected area is simply wiped or scrubbed, some of the contamination can be pushed further into the fabric.

There can also be a strong lingering odour.

Even when the visible contamination has disappeared, material below the surface may remain. As the carpet dries, or if moisture later reactivates contamination, unpleasant smells can return.

For this reason, the objective isn’t simply to make the carpet look clean.

The aim is to remove as much contamination as possible, treat the affected material appropriately, sanitise the area and leave it thoroughly extracted and dried.

What should you do if an accident happens?

The first priority is to keep people and pets away from the affected area.

If it is safe to do so, remove any solid material carefully using disposable materials and gloves. Avoid rubbing the carpet or upholstery.

Do not scrub the affected area.

Scrubbing can spread contamination and force it deeper into carpet fibres.

It is also best to avoid experimenting with household chemicals, bleach, or strong disinfectants.

Incorrect products can damage carpet dyes and fibres and may make subsequent professional treatment more difficult.

Once the obvious material has been removed, contact a professional carpet or upholstery cleaner for advice.

Our professional excrement and diarrhoea removal process

Every incident is different, so the exact treatment depends on the carpet or upholstery fibre, the amount of contamination, how long it has been present, and whether it has reached the backing or underlay.

1. Inspection and assessment

The first step is to inspect the affected area.

We assess:

• The type of carpet or upholstery fibre
• The extent of the contamination
• Whether the backing or underlay has been affected
• Any staining or discolouration
• The presence of lingering odour
• The safest cleaning method for the particular material

This assessment is important because different fibres and fabrics can react differently to cleaning solutions, moisture and heat.

2. Safe removal of contamination

Where solid material remains, it is carefully removed using appropriate protective equipment and suitable disposable materials.

The objective is to remove as much of the contamination as possible before deeper cleaning begins.

We don’t simply spread the material around the carpet trying to clean it.

3. Controlled cold-water flushing

Where appropriate, we initially use controlled cold-water extraction to flush the affected section.

There is a good reason for this.

The initial objective is to physically remove contamination from the carpet rather than immediately introducing high heat. Cold water can help loosen and flush out organic material before further treatment is carried out.

This approach is particularly useful where contamination has penetrated beyond the surface fibres.

4. Specialist cleaning treatment

Once the majority of the contamination has been removed, the remaining staining and organic residue can be assessed.

Depending on the fibre and circumstances, an appropriate specialist cleaning solution may be applied.

The chemistry must be selected carefully. There is no single chemical that is suitable for every carpet, rug, or piece of upholstery.

This is one of the reasons professional experience matters.

5. Deep extraction

After treatment, the affected area is thoroughly extracted using professional equipment.

The objective is to remove:

• Remaining contamination
• Cleaning solution
• Dissolved organic material
• Odour-causing residues
• Excess moisture

Deep extraction is particularly important where contamination has travelled below the visible surface.

6. Sanitisation and odour treatment

Once the contamination has been removed, the area can be treated using an appropriate sanitising and deodorising process.

The purpose is not simply to cover an unpleasant smell with fragrance.

The contamination responsible for the odour needs to be removed as far as reasonably possible first.

Only then can the remaining odour be properly addressed.

7. Controlled drying

The final stage is drying.

Excess moisture should not be left sitting in carpet or upholstery. We use professional extraction techniques and, where appropriate, air movement to help accelerate drying.

If contamination has reached the underlay or backing, additional treatment may sometimes be necessary.

In severe cases, the underlay may need to be replaced. This is not always necessary, but the decision depends on the extent of contamination and the condition of the materials underneath the carpet.

What about diarrhoea on a sofa or upholstery?

The same principles apply to upholstery, but the cleaning process can be more delicate.

Before cleaning a sofa or chair, the fabric needs to be identified and assessed.

Some upholstery fabrics can tolerate controlled extraction, while others may require a low-moisture or alternative cleaning method.

Using excessive water on unsuitable upholstery can create additional problems such as prolonged drying, watermarks or fabric damage.

That’s why we never assume that every sofa can be cleaned in exactly the same way.

The contamination is removed, the fabric is treated according to its construction, and the area is then extracted or cleaned using the safest appropriate method.

Why professional cleaning is recommended

Trying to deal with faecal contamination yourself can understandably seem like the quickest option.

However, there are several potential problems.

You may:

• Spread contamination to a larger area
• Push material deeper into the carpet
• Damage the fibres with unsuitable chemicals
• Create permanent discolouration
• Leave contamination in the underlay
• Mask rather than remove the odour

Professional equipment allows contaminated areas to be flushed and extracted far more effectively than ordinary household carpet-cleaning equipment.

There’s no need to feel embarrassed

These accidents can happen to anyone.

We regularly deal with carpets and upholstery affected by children being unwell, elderly relatives having accidents, mobility problems, medical situations and pets.

Our approach is professional, discreet and without judgement.

The important thing is to deal with the problem properly rather than allowing contamination and odour to remain in the carpet or furniture.

Need emergency carpet or upholstery cleaning?

If you have an accident involving excrement or diarrhoea, don’t spend hours trying different household cleaning products.

Remove any obvious solid material if it is safe to do so, keep people and pets away from the affected area, and contact us for professional advice.

We provide emergency carpet and upholstery cleaning, including the removal of diarrhoea, excrement, vomit, urine and other biological contamination.

The sooner the affected area is professionally treated, the better the opportunity to remove contamination, minimise staining and prevent persistent odours.

Contact Clean My Carpets UK today for professional, discreet and hygienic carpet and upholstery cleaning.