Things You'll Need

Instructions

1

Cover the soot stain liberally with baking powder and let it sit for at least an hour. If you do not have baking powder, you can also use cornstarch. The powdery substance absorbs the soot that is not ground into the carpeting.
2

Vacuum the baking soda-covered sooty area. Use the hose attachment of your vacuum cleaner instead of a brush to avoid spreading the mixture to other areas of the carpet.
3

Dampen a clean, soft cloth with a dry cleaning fluid. This type of solvent can be found in cleaning sections of superstores as well as your local home improvement warehouse. Use a white or beige cloth instead of a colored rag to avoid color bleeding.
4

Dab or blot the soot stain with the cloth. Refrain from rubbing or heavy scrubbing, as these motions may drive the soot deeper into your carpet.
5

Rinse your cloth, squeeze out excess water and apply more dry cleaning fluid if needed.