Stain Removing Tip for Wool Rugs

When we purchased our recent rugs from Ginger Blossom, the accompanying literature included many stain removal tips. Specifically, one method using only detergent, vinegar, and water, is recommended for a number of stain-inducing materials and foods.

The procedure:
Apply detergent
blot
Apply vinegar
blot
Apply detergent
blot
Apply water
blot

According to the pamphlet, this method works best on the following items:
alcoholic beverages
ammonia
bleach
candy (sugar)
charcoal
chocolate
gravy
lipstick
metal polish
milk
mud
perfume
rust
sauces
toothpaste

Comments (4)

Hmm. The combination of detergent and vinegar could destroy the dye of the rug, depending on how colorfast it is (not always a given with handmade rugs). Try club soda first, if the stain is fresh. I've had great success taking out wine and other would-be stains -- but you have to get it right away.

posted by Lisa (Montreal) on March 17th 2009 at 11:07am
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Just get a ShamWow

posted by bepsf on March 17th 2009 at 11:10am
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Anyone have any tips for cleaning up.. eh hem... cat hairballs/puke? My kitty seems to love hairballing on my prized oriental Kilim from Morocco.

posted by Chi-Carey on March 17th 2009 at 3:45pm
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Good lord no!!!!!

BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL with vegetable died hand loomed or tufted rugs. Detergents and acids (vinegar) can lift vegetable dye right out of the fibers.

I strongly suggest trying warm water, blotting, and then using a hand-held steam rug cleaner.

How do you know if your rug is vegetable dyed? If you paid a small fortune for it and it's hand made and there are subtle tonal variations in the color.... the yards were probably vegetable dyed by hand before the rug was made.

posted by kimg924 on March 17th 2009 at 9:36pm
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