A Kool-Aid spill on carpeting is anything but cool, especially when the carpet is white. Instead of wondering how to tint the rest of the carpet to match the Kool-Aid stain, remove those drink dyes by acting quickly -- the sooner you absorb or dilute the Kool-Aid trapped in the carpet, the greater the chance of successful stain removal. Gentle household substances such as vinegar and dish soap help remove the stain entirely.

Paper Towel Time

As soon as you spot Kool-Aid spilled on the carpet, blot it up with plain white paper towels. Absorb as much liquid as possible right away to help minimize the amount of the beverage soaked up by the carpet fibers and to prevent it from soaking through to the carpet pad. Once you've absorbed most of it, fold another paper towel and press it over the spill for 30 seconds or so. The added pressure helps you reach moisture trapped deep down between carpet fibers.

Sudsy Solution

Mildly soapy water helps lift the sugary drink out of the carpet fibers. Mix 1 teaspoon of a gentle liquid dish soap into 2 cups of warm water. Dip a white cloth or durable white paper towel into the solution and blot the spot repeatedly at first, and then wipe from the outside of the spill toward the center. For a large spill, wring the cloth out over the sink occasionally and rinse it out to remove some of the Kool-Aid. Dip the cloth back into the soapy water, and continue wiping until you no longer notice the Kool-Aid color on either the carpet or the cloth. Dip the cloth in the soapy water one more time, and press it over the affected area, setting a heavy object such as a glass pan on top of it. After 10 minutes, lift the cloth; rinse it out and wipe the area again with just water. The added wait gives the soap time to lift remaining residue from the carpet fibers. Blot the area dry afterward with a fresh white cloth.

White Vinegar, Meet White Carpet

Vinegar comes to the rescue if soap and water aren't enough to remove the Kool-Aid completely. Mix 2 parts warm water with 1 part white vinegar. Apply the solution to the stain with a clean white cloth or sturdy white paper towel, dabbing and wiping from the outside edges of the spot toward the center. Inspect the cloth frequently -- if it picks up some of the Kool-Aid dye, select a fresh area of the cloth and continue blotting the carpet. Continue until the Kool-Aid is no longer visible.

Salty Stain Lifter