A Guide to Getting Common Stains Out of Your Rugs and Carpets

Nothing will cause your heart to skip a beat quite like spilling something on your beautiful rug or carpet – especially if the liquid spilled is rich in pigmentation! The secret to salvaging your flooring is to act fast and know exactly what essentials to grab on the way to clean it up. Here is a handy guide on how to get common stains out of carpets and rugs quickly and effectively, and often without the use of any potent chemicals.

Coffee

Step one: Grab a clean cloth and use it to soak up as much of the excess coffee as possible. Do not rub. Simply dab at the affected area for a few minutes.

Step two: Make your own solution using one tablespoon of vinegar, a tablespoon of dishwashing soap, and two cups of lukewarm water. Mix well and apply to the stain using a porous sponge. Apply little by little, dabbing the stain as you go.

Step three: Once the stain has lifted, dab with cold water and dry with another clean cloth.

Red wine

Step one: Once again, you will need to use a cloth to lap up as much residual liquid as possible. Never, ever rub as this will lead to the stain spreading even further.

Step two: Splash some cold water directly onto the stain to dilute it, and continue blotting with your cloth.

Step three: Make a paste using a tablespoon of baking soda and three tablespoons of water. Apply it generously onto the stain and leave to dry for an hour or two.

Step four: Vacuum up the baking soda paste and watch as the rest of the red wine stain lifts away alongside it.

Ink

Keep in mind that this approach to stain removal only works for natural-fibre carpets affected by ballpoint ink. If your carpets are synthetic, it is best to rope in a rug cleaning service for assistance.

Step one: Spray a lacquer hairspray directly onto the ink stain. The hairspray will soften and moisten the ink. Be wary, however, that hairspray may work if it is being sprayed on synthetic carpet, but not natural. Also, adding too much hairspray could result in the softening of adhesive in carpet and cause delamination.

Step two: Grab a clean cloth and dab the stain. Keep spraying on more hairspray to keep the stain moist and blot until the stain has lifted completely.

Step three: Leave the carpet or rug to dry before brushing the fibres with an old toothbrush to remove the remaining hairspray. Follow with a thorough vacuuming.

Mud

Step one: Allow the mud time to dry – it is much easier to remove it that way. Once dry, vacuum up any excess.

Step two: Make your own cleaning solution using two cups of warm water and a tablespoon of liquid dishwashing soap. Mix well and apply in small amounts using a clean cloth. Dab at the stain and continue adding more of your solution until the mark has completely disappeared.

Step three: Blot with cold water and leave to dry.

Stain removal doesn’t have to be a frustrating, stressful task. Now that you know how to approach the most common ones, you will be better prepared to deal with them with confidence. If all else fails, call on the professionals for assistance!