Rugs get stained fast and you know it too. One second, you’re enjoying your coffee, the next, a dark splotch is sinking into the fibers. The longer you wait, the worse it gets. And if you don’t act fast, that spill marks its stain.
To fight back and immediately remove stains from rugs, it’s important that you act fast. Because in such cases, time is the most important thing when dealing with rug stains. If the stain gets seated, it will become impossible to remove.
5 quick Steps to Get the Stain Out of a Rug
Rug stains come in all shapes, colors, and levels of frustration. Some are easy to spot, while others sneak in and make your rug look dull over time. Knowing what different stains look like can help you act fast before they become permanent.
There are many ways to deal with stains on your rugs. However, the following 5 step guide is the best and fastest way to resolve any and all accidents to happen. Let’s see how you can best care for your rug:
Step 1: Blot the Stain Immediately
When a stain appears, the first thing to do is to blot the stained area with a cloth or paper towel. It would be best to avoid rubbing the stain as that would be counterproductive and it would get further into the fabric of the rug.
Apply gentle pressure to the cloth or paper towel to absorb the liquid slowly. This step is really important for drinks, spills, and other liquids which are common. The strategy here is to soak up, not scatter, and you need to keep blotting to get the area dry.
In the cases of hard stains, like chocolate or candle wax, remove it with a plastic spoon or a dull knife before moving to the next step.
Step 2: Apply a Cleaning Solution
Once you have got the spot dried, the next step is to use a cleaning solution. You can use a cleanser for your rug that you can find in a store or you can even make one at home.
You will need white vinegar, baking soda, or dish soap as your ingredients. For example, a mixture of one part vinegar to two parts water can be effective for many stains.
Apply just a bit of the solution to a cloth or sponge, and then pat it on top of the stained zone. Avoid the rug to be soaked beyond its limits, as it may result in damaging it as it is with excessive moisture.
Step 3: Let the Solution Sit
When you have used the cleaning solution on the stained area, let it sit for a while. This way, the solution can decompose the stain and remove it from the fibers.
During this time, try not to be the one who goes after the idea of scrubbing the area. It takes patience! You might observe the stain starting to go away or shift as the solution is making its work.
If the stain is very strong and does not want to give up, you can do the whole procedure again and again, but do it every time in a gentle manner and always blot instead of rub.
Step 4: Rinse the Area
After you treat the spot, use a sponge with the clean water to get rid of any cleaner that might have been left. It is very important to get all grime out so that it will not attract more dirt or make the area sticky.
Touch the spot with a clean, dry piece of cloth to take off the moisture that is excess. Remember, do not flood the rug with water. This can cause mold growth or destroy the fibers.
Step 5: Dry the Rug Properly
The last phase of removing a rug stain is to make sure it dries properly. Get a clean towel and dab the soaked region as much as possible to get rid of unnecessary moisture. For bigger stains, it would be good to use a fan or open a window to speed up the process. To keep the rug fresh, you should air it out time after time and make sure it dries out completely after each use for it can harbor bacteria and mold.
DIY vs. Professional Rug Cleaning? Which one Should I go for?
It really comes down to how bad the stain is, what type of rug you have, and how much effort you’re willing to put in. DIY rug cleaning works well for small, fresh spills; things like coffee, juice, or dirt that haven’t had time to sink deep into the fibers.
But as we’ve discussed not all stains, and definitely not all rugs, are DIY-friendly. If you’ve got a delicate wool, silk, or antique rug, trying to clean it yourself could do more harm than good. Water, scrubbing, or the wrong cleaner can ruin the fibers, fade the colors, or even shrink the rug.
Professional cleaning can remove stains from rugs and bring it back to life in a way home cleaning never could. It not only cleans but throws a new light into your dull and lifeless rug. If your rug is long due for a deep clean, then definitely consider getting in cleaned from professional rug cleaners.
Take Action Now!
Stains on your rug can be a very annoying experience, which in the majority of cases is not permanent. Fast action and the right cleaning methods will be the best game plan before calling in a professional.
Taking quick action can prevent the liquid from seeping into the fibers, catching it before it gets soaked deep into the rug’s material. However, if you’re too late and if the matter goes out of hand, call a professional cleaner to remove stains from rugs professionally.
