Stain and spot removal in Exeter
Professional stain and spot removal services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£60-£85
Typical Duration
45 mins-1.5 hrs
Location
Exeter, Devon
Targeted professional stain removal for carpets, upholstery, and rugs. Service provided by our specialist partner Jackman Fabric Care — the right treatment, matched to the stain and the fabric, not just a generic squirt of foam.
Not All Stains Are Created Equal
The problem with supermarket stain sprays is that they're designed to be safe on everything — which means they're not particularly effective on anything. Professional stain removal works differently: the treatment is matched to the stain type and the fibre it's in.
Red wine needs enzyme treatment and pH adjustment. Pet urine requires biological enzyme solution to break down the uric acid crystals — just cleaning the surface leaves the smell intact because the crystals are still there. Grease stains need a solvent-based approach. Getting the chemistry wrong doesn't just fail to remove the stain — it can set it permanently.
💡 Pro tip: The faster you act on a fresh spill, the better the outcome. Blot (never rub), work from the outside in, and call us before trying multiple home remedies that can complicate treatment.
Common Stains and What Works
| Stain Type | Professional Approach | DIY Success Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Red wine (fresh) | Enzyme treatment + extraction | Moderate if immediate |
| Red wine (old/set) | Specialist oxidation treatment | Low |
| Pet urine | Biological enzyme solution | Low without enzyme product |
| Coffee/tea | Alkaline pre-treatment + extraction | Moderate |
| Grease/oil | Solvent-based pre-treatment | Low without correct solvent |
| Mud (dried) | Mechanical removal + extraction | Good if dried first |
| Ink/pen | Solvent treatment, depends on ink type | Poor |
What's Included
🔧 The Service
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Stain assessment | Type, age, and fabric type identified |
| Treatment selection | Correct solution chosen for this stain and fibre |
| Pre-treatment | Applied with appropriate dwell time |
| Extraction / rinse | Solution and loosened stain removed |
| Result review | What's been achieved, honestly |
Pricing Guide
| Scope | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Single spot treatment | 45-60 mins | £60 |
| 2-3 areas | 1-1.5 hrs | £60-£85 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Stubborn or multiple stains may take longer.
Perfect For...
✅ Carpets with stubborn marks — red wine, pet accidents, food that didn't come out with domestic cleaning
✅ Sofas and chairs — food and drink spills, pet marks on fabric upholstery
✅ Rugs — particularly wool and delicate rugs where the wrong product can cause damage
✅ Rental properties — addressing damage claims between tenants
✅ Pre-sale preparation — removing marks before viewings
Why Choose Us for Stain and spot removal in Exeter?
Targeted spot treatment using professional-grade specialist solutions
Covers carpets, rugs, sofas, chairs, and fabric upholstery
Different solutions for different stains — wine, pet, grease, ink, food
Delivered by specialist partner Jackman Fabric Care
What to Expect
Step 1: Assessment
Each stain is assessed for type, age, and the fabric it's in. This determines the right treatment — no guessing, no generic spray.
Step 2: Pre-treatment
The appropriate solution is applied and given dwell time to break down the stain at the molecular level.
Step 3: Extraction
The loosened stain and solution are extracted. For upholstery, this may use hand technique rather than machine.
Step 4: Rinse
The treated area is rinsed to remove all solution residue — leaving residue in the pile attracts new dirt faster.
Step 5: Result Review
Results are reviewed honestly. If a stain hasn't fully lifted, we'll explain why and what (if anything) further treatment might achieve.
🔧 DIY Tips
Immediate response to a fresh spill (before calling us):
🔧 Do:
- Blot immediately with a clean white cloth or kitchen roll
- Work from the outside of the stain toward the centre (prevents spreading)
- Blot, don't rub — rubbing drives the stain into the fibres
- Remove solid debris gently before applying anything wet
- Let mud dry fully before attempting to remove it
⚠️ Don't:
- Scrub — this damages carpet fibres and spreads the stain
- Use washing-up liquid neat — it leaves a sticky residue that attracts more dirt
- Over-wet the area — soaking through to the backing causes problems
- Use bleach on coloured carpet — you'll create a worse problem
- Stack up multiple different home remedies — you can set a stain by trying too hard
💡 Pro trick: For pet urine, the smell persists until the uric acid crystals are broken down. A dedicated enzymatic pet urine product (not just a general carpet cleaner) is your best DIY bet. If it keeps coming back, the crystals are still there — professional extraction is the only way to get them out.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
⚠️ Set your expectations fairly: professional treatment dramatically improves most stains, but "as good as new" isn't guaranteed for every case. Old stains that have had time to bond with fibres, and chemically changed stains (bleach, some inks), may leave a trace. We'd rather tell you that upfront than take your money and disappoint.
Combining with a full clean? If the stained area is part of a larger carpet or piece of furniture that needs cleaning anyway, it often makes sense to treat the whole thing — the pre-treatment is effectively already included.
This service is provided by Jackman Fabric Care, our specialist partner for carpet, rug, and upholstery care in Exeter and Devon. All enquiries and bookings go through Hembury Contracting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What stains can you remove?
Most common household stains respond well to professional treatment — red wine, coffee, tea, food, pet urine and faeces, grease, mud, and general grime. Ink, permanent marker, and bleach-damaged areas are more challenging and may not come out completely. We'll tell you what's realistic before we start.
I've already tried to clean it myself — does that make it harder?
Sometimes, yes. Scrubbing a stain drives it deeper into the pile and can set the stain. Over-wetting causes spreading. Certain domestic products leave residues that react with professional solutions. We'll still attempt the treatment but DIY efforts can reduce what's achievable.
Can you treat stains on my sofa as well as the carpet?
Yes — Jackman Fabric Care treat stains across all fabric surfaces. The approach varies by fabric type (upholstery fabric, velvet, microfibre, leather). We check the fabric before applying anything.
Is it worth treating an old stain?
Worth trying — even a months-old stain can often be improved significantly with the right treatment. Complete removal isn't guaranteed on old set-in stains, but professional treatment almost always improves the situation.
Is this through Jackman Fabric Care?
Yes — stain and spot removal is carried out by our specialist partner Jackman Fabric Care, with over 20 years' experience in professional fabric care across Exeter and Devon. All enquiries go through Hembury Contracting.
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Why Trust Us
Carried out by Jackman Fabric Care
All interior cleaning is carried out by our specialist partner Jackman Fabric Care — Exeter's trusted name in professional fabric and floor cleaning with over 20 years' experience.
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