No matter how careful we are, spills happen. It’s inevitable that at some point, something will be spilled on a fine rug that could potentially stain it. Obviously, no owner wants their precious fine rug to have a permanent mark left on it. Here are some things that you can do (and some things you should never do) to prevent unsightly stains:
· DO: Act immediately. The longer a spill has time to set the more likely it is to leave a mark, and the harder it will be to get out. Use a paper towel to absorb the spilled material as soon as is possible. Paper towels are incredibly absorbent, and they will soak up much more of the spill, leaving less of it to soak into the rug and leave a stain.
· DO NOT: Use a towel. Towels, rags, and clothes are not as absorbent as paper towels, and they are more likely to leave some of the spilled material behind when used.
· DO: Use a spray bottle to squirt water over the spill. The fine mist from a spray bottle works much better than splashing or pouring water onto a stain. Be sure to use a new spray bottle and not an old one that was originally used as a container for something else . Reused bottles will often still have traces of their old chemicals in them, which can cause damage and wearing to the rug.
· DO NOT: Rub the spill. If you do, you will rub the spilled material deeper into rug’s wool, causing the stain to set further and marking the rug permanently.
· DO: Dab or blot the stain. After spraying the water, gently dab the paper towel on the spill. This will pick up the material before it leaves a mark without grinding it into the rug’s fibers.
· DO NOT: Use chemical cleaners. We recommend that you never use chemicals on a wool rug. Chemicals are far too harsh and will wear out the wool and dyes. For pet urine or other smelly messes, it is all right to use club soda or white vinegar instead of water. These aren’t as harsh as chemical cleaners, and white vinegar in particular will absorb smells.
· DO: keep blotting until there’s nothing left to absorb. If there’s still material left from the spill after the sprayed water has been absorbed, spray some more and dab again. Repeat the process until the stain is gone.
By following these steps, you should be able to clean up most or all spills on your fine rug before they set and become a permanent stain. Be especially careful to avoid the actions listed above that can make the stain worse, or else you may end up doing your fine rug more harm than good.
For further tips and advice on maintaining your fine rug, consult our rug cleaning and care guide. If there’s a stubborn stain or mark that you can’t get out no matter what, please contact us and our fine rug specialists will help you get your fine rug back to as great a shape as is possible.