Citrus fruit or citrus juice stains may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the biggest threat to your carpet or rugs. But upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that the acidity, natural coloring, and high sugar content of some citrus juices can actually cause significant staining when they inevitably spill on your carpet. A common recommendation for removing stains from food or drink—including citrus fruits—is to use water and simple dish soap. But can it really be that easy? We asked Kash Sobhe, certified master carpet cleaner at Rug Ideas.

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In an exclusive interview with House Digest, this expert said dish soap is a reasonable way to remove citrus stains from carpets. Of course, there are a few caveats. If citrus stains are a frequent problem in your home, consider this expert advice on how to remove them with dish soap without damaging your flooring or delicate carpet fibers.

When it comes to citrus stains, the culprits can be divided into two categories: unsweetened fruit or juice and sweetened juice. For dropped fruit or spilled unsweetened citrus juice, Kash Sobhe recommends skipping dish soap at first and treating the stain with just water. If blotting with a warm, damp cloth isn’t enough to remove the stain, try using a drop of dish soap.

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It’s important to note that for added impact, Sobe recommends using dish soap without the bleaching agents of other cleaners. One thing he exclusively warns House Digest readers about when removing citrus stains from carpets is harsh scrubbing. “Never scrub too hard, thinking you’ll get better results by scrubbing extra hard,” he warns. “It often damages the fibers and causes wear or pile distortion.”

Because of the acidic nature of citrus stains and carpet dyes, the master carpet cleaner explained, certain stains cannot be removed at home with dish soap or other cleaning products. “Often, the underlying color of the citrus will register as the dye and the fibers will want to do their job to retain that color,” he explained. “With home cleaning alone, it may not always be possible to completely remove the citrus colors.” In these cases, he recommends professional cleaning (rather than purchasing your own carpet cleaner). “With professional cleaning and professional stain removal, it is possible to completely and permanently remove the stain.”

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If you want to remove a citrus stain from a carpet with dish soap, water is a necessary ingredient. While it may seem obvious, the way you use water can actually have a significant impact on stain removal. First, you may have heard that stains should only ever be treated with cold water. Certified fiber care and color restoration specialist Kash Sobhe disagrees. “A warm to hot damp towel can remove stains more easily than a cool, damp towel,” he exclusively revealed to House Digest.

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Sobhe also advises his readers not to saturate carpets or rugs with water when trying to remove stains. “Never pour cold or hot water directly on the carpet,” he warns. “The water or cleaning agent can penetrate far too deeply into the carpet and—even after you’ve blotted the surface—the back of the carpet can remain wet long enough to grow mold or bacteria.” (Deep clean your carpet at least once a year to combat problems like mold and bacteria in general.) When it comes to removing citrus stains at home, a damp cloth and a drop or two of dishwashing liquid will do the trick, according to this expert.