Many people believe that when accidents happen concerning stains in the carpet of a rug, that you should do anything and everything to get the stain out at all costs. However, drowning a stain in cleaner, scrubbing with a toothbrush, adding even more cleaner, and more scrubbing all while in a panic, will actually do so much more harm than good. Stains have the ability to permanently stain your rug (especially if it is left alone to set in), but they can also seriously damage the carpet if you don’t take the proper measures to get them out. Here’s how:
Material Matters
Before you do anything, make sure your carpet isn’t made out of the material rayon. This is a semi-synthetic material that is very tricky to take care of and requires special treatment. If cleaned wrong, you could end up with a flat, matted rug. For more information on the risks rayon rugs hold, follow this link to read our Buyer’s Beware campaign.
Letting the Stain Sit
If the fear of damaging your rug further scares you into waiting until you get around to hiring a professional
a few months down the road, you may be making a huge mistake. The longer a stain sits, the more the chemicals in the stain itself will react with those in the carpet, making it impossible to fully get out. Waiting for a professional is an option, however; you’ll want to make the call right away to ensure that they will be able to fully remove the stain without further damage.
Rubbing and Scrubbing
When a spill first happens, the best thing to do is to try and remove it immediately. The faster you get to it, the better chance you have of getting it out in its entirety. However, if you don’t know how to remove a stain and what to remove it with, you can cause damage to the carpet itself and also make the stain much much worse. The absolute worst thing to do when trying to remove a stain is to grab a washcloth or a brush and start scrubbing and rubbing back and forth. This will not only make the stain spread, leaving you with a bigger stain than you started out with but will also push the stain deeper into the carpet making it harder to get out. Even more permanently, scrubbing will tear the fibers of your carpet apart, leaving you with a frayed, damaged look that can’t be fixed.
When trying to remove a stain, you should always blot and dab with a damp washcloth. Always start by getting as much of the stain out as you can, before adding anything else. After you have done that, you should start by using water to get rid of the stain and continue blotting. The biggest thing is to be patient. It isn’t going to be a quick process, just keep working with it. If that doesn’t work, move to other home remedies such as club soda or vinegar. If none of these solutions are working, you can use a carpet cleaner or spotter, but be sure to test it and make sure it won’t discolor your rug.
All of these things have the potential to permanently damage your rug like they would any other carpet. However, this can be prevented. If you treat your rug properly, it will stay looking like new for a long time. If you need a professional to clean your carpets and live in the metro Detroit area contact Chet’s Cleaning today!