In order to deal with it, you need to come up with some crafty solutions. First are some ideas for getting out a stain with products you may have around the house. For those stains you can’t remove easily, there are crafty ideas for covering them up. These can come in handy if you don’t have the resources to replace the rug or if you’re a renter.

Once a stain hits the carpet, you should respond quickly. Don’t think it will be easier to remove later after all of the guests have left. The colors from liquids such as red wine or blood can set in fairly soon. 

If you’re planning for a party, it’s wise to keep paper towels or a white cloth handy. Ideally, you should know the material of your carpet before pouring any chemical or household cleaner onto the surface. If you’re unsure, it always makes sense to test the reaction in an inconspicuous corner or edge area. Solutions like hydrogen peroxide can stain certain materials. 

You’ll probably be tempted to rub in the cleaner, but this may make things worse by pressing the stain further into the fibers. Dab carefully to soak up the offending stain. 

You may need to adjust your cleaner depending on the carpet material and type of stain. If your cat or dog opts to go number one on the your carpet, you first want to blot with a paper towel to pull out as much of the urine as possible. Replace the towel after blotting so you don’t press the liquid back into the carpet. Fill a spray bottle with equal parts of white vinegar and water and mist the area to reduce the stench. Repeat the blotting process again to pull out as much liquid as possible. If the stain has set, first use the vinegar spray, cover the stain with baking soda and vacuum up 24 hours later. 

For a coffee spill, you’ll want to blot as fast as you can to take out the liquid. Fill a spray bottle with 3 percent hydrogen peroxide solution and apply an iron to a white cloth towel to steam out the stain. Repeat the steaming process with a fresh part of the towel until the stain has been removed. Before you start the process, be sure that iron is on a setting that will steam, but not burn your carpet. 

A blood stain will dry fast, so quickly blot with a paper towel. In a small bowl, create a mixture of two parts hydrogen peroxide to one part dish soap. Apply to the stain with a toothbrush or Q-tip and let sit for a few minutes so the peroxide starts working. Blot and repeat until the stain is gone. Use water to clean out the soap so no residue is left behind. A red wine stain can seem daunting, but your first move should be the same: Start blotting with a paper towel to remove as much liquid as you can. Pour on some club soda and blot again. Repeat until the stain is gone.

Let’s say you’ve dumped a bottle of hydrogen peroxide on your floor, had the carpet professionally cleaned and a stain still won’t disappear. Maybe you’re renting your place and don’t want to replace the carpet or don’t have the funds for a new one. There are crafty moves you can make to cover it so no one is the wiser. Perhaps the easiest and most obvious change is to cover a discolored area with a piece of furniture. 

Don’t worry, you don’t need to move the couch into the middle of the room to make this idea work. You can try with something smaller like a potted plant or less obvious such as an area rug on top of an existing one. This layering approach is done even in rooms where there’s no stain. 

If you’re willing to put a little extra effort into the carpet redo, you can install floating wood tiles over a carpet to make it look like you have a new wood floor. Be sure to measure carefully so the wood fits snugly. The same approach can also work with carpet tiles and vinyl flooring, although you make need to glue these down.

Makeover enthusiasts with an artistic bent can install canvas sheets over a carpet to create a bohemian chic style. Extra points if you’re able to paint designs onto the canvas, either freehand or with stencils.