Get rid of carpet stains in 'minutes' using unlikely bathroom item (2025)

Cleaning guru Lynsey Crombie has given tips on how to keep your home sparkling clean with minimal effort

When it comes to tackling carpet stains, acting quickly is essential to preventing a permanent mark. But if you don't have carpet cleaning products to hand, you may be wondering how you can effectively clear up the mess.

One cleaning expert says that some household items can be equally effective, if not better than carpet cleaners.

Instagram cleaning sensation Lynsey Crombie @lynsey_queenofclean has revealed a surprising yet handy tip for banishing carpet stains using an unlikely item found in your bathroom - shaving foam.

She explained: "Shaving foam is not just for shaving, it is also an amazing, inexpensive stain remover that works brilliantly on both carpets and mattresses. Shaving cream is simply a form of whipped soap.

"When applied, it lathers up, penetrating and adding moisture to just about any stain."

Shaving foam's effectiveness in cleaning comes from its ability to break down stubborn grease and bind to carpet fibres, aiding in the removal process.

The formula in shaving foam is designed to soften stubble and contains gentle abrasives that help untie knots and shed dead skin cells, which turns out to be incredibly effective against the components of stains, reports the Express.

The creamy consistency means that the foam can linger on stains for longer durations, maximising contact with the stain to lift it more effectively.

Lynsey shared the simple technique for eliminating carpet stains with the use of shaving foam. She advised: "Using warm water and a soft-bristled brush or cloth, gently rub the stain with shaving foam, leave for 10 minutes, then rinse."

Next she recommended using a square of cloth to dry the area by patting it dry, with a white cloth being the preferred option for easy stain visualisation.

She then advised letting the area air-dry naturally.

The cleaning expert strongly advocated for white shaving foam in her technique, as it contains no dyes. Lynsey also cautioned the need to spot test the foam before applying the technique.

The shaving foam method is particularly effective for removing water-soluble stains, such as those caused by milk, mud, and soda spills.

Many fans of Lynsey have tried the hack and shared their experiences in the comments section. @kolijohnson said: "I did this on a stain on our hallway carpet, worked a treat. Thank you so much for the tip."

@kels_84_ added: "My carpet had big black sticky glue marks on it, and nothing worked. My sister told me about this, and omg I couldn't believe it worked. Made up."

@_kimholland wrote: "Thank you for the top tip. My cat threw up on the hall carpet in the middle of the night. I used your shaving foam tip to clean the stains and it's worked amazingly well and left no stains or marks on the carpet. Thank you so much for an easy to use but brilliant tip."

Twitter user @kazmcgaz76 expressed their astonishment, saying: "We used this when my daughter got nail varnish, all over the carpet. I went mental while the other half was googling as fast as his fingers would let him. Wow, couldn't believe it brought it out!".