How To Do Spot Cleaning For Carpet and Rug

Want to learn how you can do spot cleaning for carpet and rug? Beverage spills, dirty shoeprints, a pet who enjoys playing in the mud- all of these things are a part of the hassle that comes with buying a beautiful carpet for your living room or a brand new area rug. You definitely cannot prevent these things, but you can know to get rid of them.

There are lots of ways in which you can remove stains from the carpets. However, it will prove to be beneficial to you in the long run if you are well educated with some tested and approved methods and techniques to remove the stains from your favorite carpet or rug.

Most of the carpets and rugs come with a label that says “Spot Clean Only”. But what is spot cleaning for carpet and rug?

Spot cleaning means cleaning a visible stain or spot from a garment or fabric by hand without treating it with any wet or dry cleaning process. The “Spot Clean Only” label is generally found on garments or fabrics that are high end. These items could be fragile, handmade, or a blend of dyes and expensive materials. Thus, special care must be taken of such things so that they do not get spotted or heavily soiled, making it extremely difficult to be cleaned.

Continue reading the article to know how to do spot cleaning for carpet and rug.

#1 Fresh spills

In case of a fresh beverage spill, immediately take another clean cloth (preferably white to avoid color transfer) and dab it on the stain. Do not rub the towel on the stain vigorously, gently pat it in an outward to inward motion and let it blot the stain. Next, take a spray bottle, fill it with clean water, and spritz it on the stain. Make sure that you do not over-soak it. Then blot the stained area with another clean white cloth and allow it to dry.

#2 Fruit juice

Directly pour a capful of hydrogen peroxide. It is preferable to use the three percent solution that is easily available at drug stores. Let the hydrogen peroxide sit on the stain for five minutes and dab with a clean cloth and let it dry.

#3 Oil, wax and other fats

In case you stain your rug with a substance that contains a lot of fat, place a paper napkin or towel over the affected area and then iron it. You will notice that the oil, grease, or wax has come off the carpet and has stuck to the paper towel.

#4 Chewing gum

Chewing Gum gets stuck on all the bizarre places and your carpets and rugs are no exception. In such a case, take some ice and put it on the gum to freeze it. Take a blunt object and shatter the frozen gum. Immediately vacuum the hardened gum pieces.

#5 Mud and dirts

Shoeprints and trails of your pet’s creativity destroy the beauty of the carpets with the muddy stains. Do not vacuum or start cleaning it instantly. Let the carpet dry and avoid rubbing it as it will deepen the dirty stains. Once completely dry, vacuum the dirt until almost all of it is picked up. There will be a lighter stain left behind, which can be easily cleaned with some dish soap and warm water.

#6 Blood stains

Method 1: In a spray bottle, add cold water and dish soap and mix until the soap dissolves. Spray it on the bloodstain on the carpet or rug and soak it completely. You might need extra spraying if the blood has dried. As mentioned in the previous part, take a clean white cloth and try to blot as much blood as possible. You may also use a paper napkin as it is easier to dispose of a paper napkin. Repeat the above process as many times as required if the stain does not go away in the first attempt.

Method 2: Take half a cup of warm water and mix it with one tablespoon ammonia. Take a clean piece of cotton or cloth and dab it on the stain until it is lifted completely. You can also follow this method in case of ketchup or any other substance that is acidic in nature.

Extra tips

Try to get rid of the stain immediately. Never wait for some time since the longer the stain sits on the carpet, the more will it soak in.

If you do not have any of the above-mentioned ingredients required for cleaning, purchase a drugstore spot cleaning product beforehand, and follow the instructions mentioned on it. We hope this article was sufficient to solve all your queries regarding how to spot clean a carpet or a rug.