A Guide to Removing Stains from Rugs
What's the first thing you do when you notice a puddle on your rug? You run and pick the closest bottle of stain removal solution that you fix your gaze on and spray it directly above the spot. Using paper towels, you scrub and scrub but the stain doesn't seem to go away, so you spray even more stain remover. Now, you've gotten yourself a bigger stain. Here are a few guidelines to follow in order to make sure that you clean the rug properly.
Don't put off cleaning the stain
Perhaps the most important aspect of stain removal is to clean it as soon as you notice it. The more you wait without cleaning it, the harder it will be for you to get rid of it. It's not convenient to drop whatever you're doing and focus on cleaning a stain, but your life will be better should you just clean the stain as soon as you see it. If your rug has lightly-coloured fibres, then keep in mind that stains will become tougher to get out in less than a few hours.
Always use the right piece of equipment
If you're trying to remove vomit, faeces, or urine from your rug, ensure that you use a spotting machine or a wet vacuum. If, when you notice the stain, it still looks and feels damp, make sure that you carefully dry it out before you start rinsing with spot remover. You can find a wet vacuum at any home depot store, and they are also commonly referred to as shop vacuums.
Use cleaning agents only after the liquid has been dried
As mentioned above, you should never use cleaning agents on a wet stain. If the stains have not been allowed to settle into the rug's fibres for long, then pretty much any spot remover will get rid of the stain. However, if the stain has been ignored for a few hours, you must consider using a spot remover based on enzymes for maximum efficiency. If you can't get one of these removers, you could quickly mix up some white vinegar and use that solution to clean the stain.
Under no circumstances should you consider using bleach on your carpet, as bleach can lead to a discolouration of the rug's fibres! Enzyme spot removers are the most efficient, since they completely eat up the bacteria that caused the stain, effectively getting rid of the bad odour as well.