Rugs are functional and fashionable home décor items that tend to go through a lot of wear and tear over the years. No matter how hard you may try to keep your rug in the original condition you got it in, that’s a near-impossible feat, especially considering how easily rugs tend to soak up stains.
Let’s face it, life happens – pets happen, kids happen, pen explosions happen, and wine spills happen. Once your rug has collected its fair share of stains, you might consider throwing it out, but let’s not be too hasty – there are things you can do to reverse the damage! In today’s blog, we’ll be going over the best stain remover tips for rugs.
Removing Coffee Stains
Most of us start out our day with a big ol’ cup of Joe, and during the workweek trying to multitask while drinking your coffee is commonplace. With so much going on in the morning, it’s not surprising that your coffee may end up on your rug. When a coffee spill occurs, don’t panic and definitely don’t leave it until after work to clean up – time is of the essence!
Grab a dry towel and blot (don’t rub) as much of the spillage as you can. Once your towel has absorbed as much of the spill as possible, use a sponge to clean the affected area with a mixture of one tablespoon of white vinegar, one tablespoon of liquid dish soap, and two cups of water.
Removing Pet Stains
Our fluffy friends enrich our lives and provide us with an insurmountable amount of joy with all their silly antics. One antic, however, that does the opposite of fill you with joy is your pet deciding to take a tinkle or go number two on your rug.
To remedy this situation, get rid of the initial mess and use the blotting method to soak up any wetness. If the stain has gone unnoticed for a period of time, moisten it with water. Next, soak the affected area with vinegar to neutralize the odour, then sprinkle it with baking soda and wait for it to dry. Sweep up any remnants once everything has dried and your rug will be good as new!
Removing Ink Stains
Pen explosions and ink stains can be a real pain, especially when they end up on a light coloured rug. Thankfully, you’re not the first person this has happened to, and after years of trial and error we’ve come up with a sure-fire way to remove this stubborn stain.
First, moisten the stain by blotting it with rubbing alcohol. Be extra careful not to scrub in this situation because ink spreads very easily. Proceed to spray hairspray on the ink stain to soften it, then use a white towel to blot again, and repeat. Once the area has dried, use a hand brush to get any of the remaining ink out.
Removing Blood Stains
Accidents happen sometimes, and if you have kids, it’s more likely than not that blood will end up on your precious rug. While it may appear gruesome, it’s not as bad as it looks and this type of stain is actually pretty easy to get rid of if you act quickly.
The key to effectively removing blood stains is to treat the spot with cold water to prevent coagulation and keep the blood from permeating into the rug fibres. Next, make a mixture of one tablespoon liquid dish detergent and two cups of cold water and spray it on the stain. Finally, blot the spot dry using a white towel.
Removing Wine Stains
There’s no better way to end a long day than settling in with a glass of red wine in hand. That is until some spillage occurs on your fancy rug.
Like all the other stains, you’ll first want to blot the spill with a white towel to soak up as much of it as possible. Then, pour some cold water on it and continue the blotting process. Once you notice the stain is no longer coming out, create a mixture of three parts water and one part baking soda and apply it to the area. Wait for it to dry, vacuum it up, and voila, your rug will no longer have any wine!
Also Read: Reasons You Should Clean Your Rugs Regularly
With these stain remover tips, you’ll be well equipped to tackle the toughest stains out there! With that said, it’s important to keep in mind that even though your rug may look clean, rugs are germ magnets that need to be regularly cleaned. At Love Your Rug, we offer professional rug cleaning services to residents of Ontario, and we have top-of-the-line rug cleaning technology that can get rid of all the remnants of old stains. Contact us today to get a free quote!
