Whether it be grape juice, a little present from your favorite four legged friend, or finger-paint artwork from your 5-year-old; it usually seems whatever isn't suppose to get on the pet friendly rug, generally always does. To make things easier for you, here are a few tips from our pet friendly rug sales specialist on how to clean your pet friendly rugs.
What You Should Know Before You Begin
To remove a stain on your pet friendly area rug, simply just blot the spot and dry working from the outside in, rinse thoroughly with clean water, then blot again. Never scrub the pet friendly rug either, or you risk ruining the rug fibers or letting the spill soak through to the carpet pad.
For more specific advice, find your type of stain below. In addition to these methods, there are a variety of spot removers on the market.
Water-Soluble Stains On Pet Friendly Rugs
Alcoholic beverages
Berries
Colas
Excrement
Food Dyes
Gravy
Ice Cream
Jelly
Milk
Mud
Washable Ink
Wet or Latex Paint
Use an easy and effortless cleaning solution developed from 1/4 teaspoon of non bleach detergent (or white vinegar) mixed with 32 ounces of water.
Special Water-Soluble Stains On Pet Friendly Rugs
Blood
Chocolate
Coffee
Mustard
Tea
Vomit
Wine
Try 1 tablespoon of ammonia mixed with 1 cup of water (but not on wool or wool-blend carpet; instead use mild detergent and water). If that can't get the job done, you can try one part chlorine bleach to five parts water, but only on solution-dyed carpets, such as polypropylene. Bleach will harm other types of pet friendly rugs; so our pet friendly rug experts suggest that you check with the manufacturer if you are unsure what type of area rug you may have.
Fat, Oil, and Wax
Place a paper towel over the carpet and iron on warm setting. The wax, fat, or oil should come up off the carpet and stick to the paper towel.
Cigarette Burns
These can be removed by gently rubbing the pile with the edge of a hard and flat surface, like a dull knife.
Glue
When it comes to glue, our pet friendly rug sales experts suggest that you moisten a cotton ball or soft cloth with rubbing alcohol and press it on the affected area. Once the glue residue is completely and thoroughly moistened, our pet friendly rug sales experts suggest that you gently wipe it off and repeat until the carpet is clean.
Wax and Gum
Use ice to freeze the wax or gum, then shatter it with a blunt object, such as with a spoon. Next, vacuum before the pieces soften, and blot the carpet with a white towel.
Nail Polish
Blot the area with a rag dipped in nail polish remover.
Urine
Our Pet Friendly Rug Sales experts suggest that you absorb as much as possible with white towels, then blot with a damp, cool cloth. Next, spray or blot with a solution of one part white vinegar to one part water.
Finally, apply a solution of 1/2 teaspoon of clear, mild, non-bleach detergent mixed with 32 ounces of water, rinse, and blot dry. If the urine was the result of a dog's accident, you may also want to try a housebreaking aid such as No-Go.
Ongoing Maintenance
Even if you don't have any mishaps, you should always have your pet friendly rug thoroughly cleaned every 12 to 18 months. There are many professional carpet cleaning services, or you can rent a steam carpet cleaner. They are usually available at your supermarket.
If you decide to do it yourself rather than hire a professional area rug cleaner, you need to keep a few things in consideration.
• Make sure the cleaning equipment you decide on has enough vacuum power to allow the carpet to dry in 6 to 12 hours or you may risk damage from getting it too wet.
• Use fans or a dehumidifier to expedite drying time after cleaning. Additionally, make sure to be aware that if your carpet is wet for more than 24 hours, you risk mildew and bacteria growth.
• Our Pet Friendly Rug Sales experts recommend that you choose a cleaning solution that has a pH of 10 or less, and make sure you remove all detergent after cleaning.
• Our Pet Friendly Rug Sales experts advise that you double-check your warranty. Carpets with stain resistance must be cleaned with products formulated for them or you risk impairing their effectiveness and voiding your warranty.
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There are several options to consider when shopping for a pet-friendly rug, so that's why we've eliminated the guess work and created a website full of area rugs that are designed to withstand use, and accidents, from your pets! Click here to shop!