I spilled something on my rug. What now?Updated 9 days ago
You’ll want to consider the difference between natural and synthetic materials when it comes to stain treatment. When a stain occurs, attend to it quickly but make sure to test any products you’re using on a small, less visible area of the rug first. Then follow the below instructions based on your rug’s material and construction:
WOOL RUGS:
Squirt a small amount of clear unscented dish soap or Woolite in a bowl, and fetch a toothbrush and a clean towel. You can also use our Revive-All Probiotic Rug Cleaner on wool rugs. Dip the toothbrush into a small amount of cold water and start gently scrubbing the affected area. Dip the towel in a small amount of dish soap and dab the area to pull up the stain. Alternate between toothbrush and towel to lift the stain out. Do not rub, just gently dab. The goal is to pull the stain up out of the fiber, and wool’s natural lanolin will help with this. If the stain does not appear to come up, take your rug to a professional rug cleaner immediately.
For pet urine: do the above and take it to a professional cleaner immediately. Pet accidents are difficult on wool rugs in particular, and different people have different ideas about how to solve them. There are a few rug-cleaning resources here, here, and here. Regardless, consult an expert, and as you shop, keep in mind that if you have an accident-prone pet, wool is likely not the right choice.
VINTAGE WOOL HAND-KNOTTED RUGS:
Don’t fret too much—the natural lanolin in a wool rug provides the first line of defense in preventing spills from penetrating the fibers. That being said, you still should act quickly!
If the spill is organic and non-oily, use a paper towel or cloth to blot the liquid. Add some clean water sparingly to the spot to dilute the stain (or wet a paper towel or cloth) and blot. Repeat this process until the stain is removed.
If the stain is persistent, resist the urge to scrub. Scrubbing can damage the wool fibers and more easily allow the stain to penetrate. You may try using a mild detergent, such as very diluted dishwashing soap, following the same blot-and-rinse procedure.
If the spill is denser and more oily, try first to scoop what you can from the surface using a spoon or perhaps some heavier paper, and then do the blot-and-rinse. If the spill is non-organic and/or composed of chemical substances, or the above methods don’t work, we suggest getting the rug professionally hand-washed as soon as possible.
We do not recommend using the Revive-All probiotic cleaner on vintage rugs.
VINTAGE WOOL FLATWEAVES:
Blot the spill until it is dry, but do not add liquid. Consult an Oriental rug specialist immediately for cleaning. Adding liquid can make it harder to remove stains, and can even extend them further. This is because moisture travels along the fiber, so in rugs with horizontal fibers (like flatweaves), it can get trapped.
We do not recommend using the Revive-All probiotic cleaner on vintage rugs.
COTTON RUGS:
Squirt a small amount of clear unscented dish soap or Woolite in a bowl, and fetch a toothbrush and a clean towel. You can also use our Revive-All Probiotic Rug Cleaner on cotton rugs. Dip the toothbrush into a small amount of cold water and start gently scrubbing the affected area. Dip the towel in a small amount of dish soap and dab the area to pull up the stain. Alternate between toothbrush and towel to lift the stain out. Do not rub, just gently dab. If the stain does not appear to come up, take your rug to a professional rug cleaner immediately.
JUTE/ ALOE / SISAL / COIR / HEMP RUGS:
As soon as possible, dip a rag in club soda and dab the area. If the stain persists, take your rug to a professional rug cleaner immediately.
We do not recommend using the Revive-All probiotic cleaner on jute rugs.
POLYESTER / POLYPROPYLENE / PET RUGS:
Dip a rag in club soda and dab until the stain comes up. The fiber should not be affected. Many of our recycled polyester rugs can also be washed in a washing machine.
You can also use our Revive-All Probiotic Rug Cleaner on polyester, polypropylene, or PET rugs.