Odd Yellow Stain Appearing on Carpet!

Question

Hi Guys,

I've got an odd one, I lived in my 1st floor apartment for 18 months and over the last month a yellow stain has gradually begun to appear on my cream carpet in the bedroom near the en-suite.

At first I thought it might be the door shadow as the door is permanently open with a window behind it but it didn't match up. After a while another side of the stain began to appear in a perfectly straight line - today I've noticed that it actually makes the shape of a of a CRT Television (wish I could draw it here!) which is peculiar because one has never been on that position.

Could it be damp from the floor? The carpet doesn't feel wet at all. I've not spilled anything there so I'm at a loss short of bringing in some sort of carpet specialist.

Can anyone help!!!

Thanks.

Answer 1

Several things can cause these spots to appear. Moisture, a small leak can run to an area pooling there and walking on the area will discolor it.Sometimes the leak is so little the carpet doesn't feel damp.We use a moister detector to find these. Next there was some carpet produced with a chemical in the backing that would turn yellow if an alkaline liquid got on the rug. Any detergent can cause this like if you showered and walked on the area with soap or shampoo residue on your feet. This is corrected by spraying a mild solution of citric acid on the area and vacuming it off. This condition is called BHT yellowing. Another possibility is sunlight shining thru the window. Is there anything sitting or hanging in the window that has the shape of what you are seeing on the floor? Glass can maginify the sun so much that it creates ozone. This will bleach or discolor the carpet in that area.We usually find this around glass patio doors.Another cause of discoloration is filtration marks.Anytime air is forced close to the carpet such as under a door the rug acts like a filter and will pick up the dirt in the air.The door being opened and left in different positions could cause a pattern to develop.Things like candles,a gas furnace and smoking create this soiling. Hair spray will create spots outside the bathroom door.these will be sticky if you moisten it. And last but not least do you have any pets? Sometimes an odd smell will make the best dog or kitty take a fancy to a certain area.This usually has a odor so it is easy to determine.Sorry to be so lengthy,but there are all these possibilities. Good Luck Hoped we have helped.ADDITIONAL INFO. The shape is probably just the luck of it. If this was a soil that was wicking up you would have seen it in the first couple weeks living there.

Answer 2

Ask the landlord if he knows of something that might have been spilled on the floor and possibly not cleaned up well before the carpet was installed.  You must have something in/on the flooring that is seeping through the carpet.  That will have to be fixed before you can do anything about the carpet stain itself.  Good luck.