How to Remove Old Stains When Cleaning a Rug at Home?

Is that pesky stain on your rug giving you a headache? Don’t worry—we have the perfect solutions that have worked wonders for everyone. 

If you have top offenders like a coffee spill, a stubborn wine blotch, or a pet stain that won’t budge, tackling these stains doesn’t mean replacing your good old rug; let’s bring back the beauty of it. 

To remove stains while cleaning a rug, let’s look out for some techniques and DIY methods that can easily do the job for you.

Identify the Stain First.

Let’s start with determining what type of stain is on your rug and how long it has been there. Is it food-related, like wine or coffee? Or are they more permanent, like ink or paint? Once you know what kind of stain you are dealing with, you can easily remove it. 

The next step is to figure out how long the stains have been there. If the stain is minutes old, then it just might require some water and light scrubbing, while an old one may require strong chemicals or elbow grease. 

Prepare The Rug For Cleaning 

Vacuuming your rug is the first step when preparing to clean it, and it should be done thoroughly, especially if there are pet hairs embedded in the fibers. 

Use an upholstery attachment on your vacuum cleaner for better results. Before applying a cleaning solution, you can also do a spot test on an area of your rug by allowing it to sit for or more minutes; if no discoloration occurs, you can proceed with using that particular product on the stain itself.

Once you have taken these steps, your rug is ready to be deep cleaned for optimal stain removal. 

Baking Soda and Vinegar Solution for Stain Removal 

Stubborn stains are very common. If you’re struggling with persistent spots, a baking soda and vinegar mix can work wonders in lifting old stains from your carpet. 

Prepare the vinegar mix.

• Mix water and vinegar equally in a spray bottle
• Add a few drops of dishwashing liquid soap
• Sprinkle the baking soda and make sure the entire coverage of the affected area.
• Spray the vinegar solution onto the stain until it starts fizzing. 

Application Process for Different Types of Stains 

Coffee Stain: Let the fizzing reaction stay on the spot for about five minutes before gently scrubbing it with a soft-bristled brush or microfiber cloth. 

Pet Stain: Make sure the solution sits longer than 10 to 15 minutes for urine-based stains. Use an old toothbrush to agitate the fibers during the final rinse. 

Hydrogen Peroxide Treatment for Light Colored Carpets 

Hydrigen peroxide is another powerful chemical to remove old stains from the carpet but before using it, there are some precautions you should take. 

Safety Precautions When Handling Hydrogen Peroxide

• Wear gloves and eye protection to avoid skin and eye irritation.
• Don’t dilute the solution to more than 3% concentration to prevent bleaching your carpet fibers. 
• Ensure proper ventilation by opening fans and windows. 

Steam Vacuuming and Hydrogen Peroxide Treatment

1. Mix equal parts of water and hydrogen peroxide (3% concentration) in a spray bottle.
2. Spray the stained area generously. 
3. Gently rub the stained area with a soft-bristled brush. 
4. Let the solution sit longer to penetrate the stain.
5. Extract the solution using a suction attachment and a steam vacuum machine. 

Removing Red Wine Spills with White Wine 

Applying white wine over affected areas helps neutralize stain-causing tannins found within red wine. Though it may seem counterintuitive, this is an excellent method for removing old red wine stains and cleaning a rug. 

Steps for applying White Wine on Red Wine Stains

• Pour white wine onto the red wine and let it dilute and break down the pigments.
• Gently blot the stain using a microfiber cloth and a paper towel.
• Repeat the first two steps until you see significant improvement. 

Rinsing and blotting

Once you have successfully removed the wine pigments on your carpet, follow these steps:

1. Mix equal parts of water and dishwashing liquid soap in a spray bottle. 
2. Mist the solution on the remaining traces of discoloration before gently dabbing it away with a clean cloth. 
3. You can also use a steam vacuum cleaner for commercial carpets to ensure it is cleaned without damaging it. 

Removing the Coffee or Tea Stain 

To get the coffee or tea stain out of the carpet, we recommend:

• Mixing two tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide with one tablespoon of dishwashing soap.
• Blot the spill first, then apply the solution.
• Let it sit for a few seconds. Make sure to wear gloves if you are to clean a rug by hand.
• Rinse it with water and repeat the process until it is cleaned. 

Get Borax for an Effective DIY Carpet Cleaning

Borax is safe to use and gentle on your flooring material. It will also remove old stains from your carpet. 

It has a slightly alkaline substance that is able to break down carpet stains no matter how old they are. 

How to prepare borax solution for stain removal 

• Mix equal parts of borax and warm water in a spray bottle.
• Add a few drops of dishwashing liquid soap for improved results.
• Gently shake the bottle spray before applying it to the stained area.
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Finishing up with your Rug

Drying and fluffing the rug is an important step after cleaning a rug. After you’ve removed the stain, you can confidently use them everyday. Just be mindful to take precautions and avoid future stains. 

If you struggle to clean a rug by hand and find the process too challenging, hire professional cleaners who have expertise in washing all kinds of rugs and carpets.

Get on call for a consultation with one of our experts. Lets get your rug cleaned professionally.