Three Most Stubborn Rug Stains and How To Clean Them Up

Nothing can irk a homeowner like a carpet stain. It’s a ghastly sight to behold, and letting it stay for long will eventually make it semi-permanent and tough to remove. That’s why we recommended in a previous article that rug stains need to be addressed as soon as you discover them.

Of course, when it comes to dirtying the carpet, there’s no all-encompassing solution for all kinds of stains. The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) recommends the most basic of cleaning solutions: a quarter teaspoon of liquid dishwashing soap mixed in a cup of lukewarm water. This solution can remove most stains, but without any guarantees.

There are special cleaning methods for each kind of stain, and that’s what we want to share with you here. The following are three of the most stubborn stains that can destroy the appearance of your rug, and the perfect ways to get the stains out:

Chocolate

1. Remove any dried chocolate by gentle scraping with a rounded spoon.
2. vacuum the stained spot to pull up remaining flakes and scraps.
3. Place a paper towel over the stain.
4. Set a flat iron to warm setting and place it over the paper towel. This causes the chocolate to melt and stick to the paper towel.
5. Repeat as necessary, replacing the paper towel with a fresh sheet until the stain is totally removed.

Blood

1. Loosen the dried-up blood stain with a wire brush.
2. Clean and blot the stain using the CRI-recommended soap solution, but this time using cold water instead of lukewarm.
3. For more stubborn blood stains, prepare a solution of 1 tablespoon ammonia and half a cup of water.
4. Dab / blot the ammonia solution on the stain.
5. Absorb the stain using a sponge dipped in cold water.

Permanent marker ink

1. Dab the stain with rubbing alcohol or lacquer hairspray.
2. Blot the stain using paper towels until the ink transfers to the towel.
3. Once the stain is taken out, use a damp towel to dab the area and remove residue.

The best course of action, though, is to send it to a professional rug cleaning service. These experts know exactly how to take out the stain and preserve your precious rug.