Carpet Cleaning

How to Clean Carpet and Rugs

One of the questions we get asked the most, over the past 30-plus years, is how to clean carpets and rugs. We have run into every situation that you can imagine throughout the years while we have custom-made rugs.  Spilling coffee on white carpet, grease, and oil from our tools getting on rugs, we even have had animals, raccoons and squirrels break into our shop and well, do their business on newly made rugs.

Oh, and one of the big ones is that we work with very sharp carpet blades, doctors have said they are just as sharp as surgical scalpels.  And all the Rug Rats workers have cut themselves over the years, some serious.  Blood is very difficult to get out of the carpet

So, we have had to learn to clean almost all ways to get spots and stains out of the carpet.  Below are some products that we at Rug Rats have used in our shop and homes, over the years

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Capture Powder

Absorbent deep cleaning powder.
Remover of dirt, odors, and allergens. Eliminates moisture that contributes to the growth of bacteria, mold, and allergens. Eliminates soil and prolongs carpet life. Proven effective in reducing allergens. Safe in a home with kids and pets. Safe for use with all vacuums.

WE LOVE this product. It is a powder that can be sprinkled on the carpet, then vacuum the powder out and it pulls the dirt residue, etc. If you have a spot that you have sprayed with a cleaner and there is still a small ring left, use Capture, possibly a few times. This product comes with a brush that won’t harm your carpet/rug fibers. Brush the powder deep into the pile, then vacuum out.

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Capture Carpet Spot & Stain Remover – 32oz. Spray

Ideal for everyday cleanups. Capture spot and stain remover is a formula designed to remove the toughest spots and stains. It quickly removes most Dirt, Juice, Coffee, Wine, Food, and other tough stains. It is safe to use on stain-resistant carpets. This is a quick and easy spray to use on any type of spot or stain.  You can use upholstery also.  Dropped food, mud, spills, dirt, etc.  This works on almost anything

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OxiClean Max Force Stain Remover Spray – 4 in-1 stain-fighting power

Tackle the toughest dried-in stains, Chlorine-free, and color-safe, Works in all temperatures and Gets the tough stains out. We have been using OxiClean for almost 30 years.  Love it on any type of stain or problem.  Use it in your laundry also, great on stains on white clothes.

If you have Pets – or not…. here are some great products!  I have 4 dogs.  One is a puppy that we are training and one, our Yorkie-Poo has been hard-headed on the potty training.  I have had to learn how to clean up messes while keeping my house not smelling like dogs
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Odoban Disinfectant Eliminate Odors

OdoBan® Ready-to-Use (RTU) is an instant action air freshener and odor eliminator. Use OdoBan® Ready-to-Use (RTU) in kitchens, bathrooms, and other household areas to eliminate unpleasant odors on floors, walls, garbage areas, showers, upholstery, carpets, and bedding while leaving a fresh scent. Triple action formula cleans, disinfects, and deodorizes. OdoBan® RTU eliminates unpleasant odors on upholstery, carpets, bedding, showers, walls, and floors while leaving a fresh scent. OdoBan® RTU eliminates odors caused by bacteria, mildew, and non-fresh foods on hard nonporous surfaces. Use OdoBan® RTU in kitchens, bathrooms, and other household areas.

Great for cleaning up a potty mess and keeping things smelling nice.  Use on any smelly area

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Woods Magic Spin Mop – Easy Press Mop Bucket Set

360° ROTATION PUSH & PULL – Liquid Drain Hole – Easy Wring with Reusable Mop Heads – Non-Pedal

VERSATILE DESIGN – No spills, no shock, and no damage to floors;

EFFICIENT CLEANING – Using your favorite soap formula, combine the chemicals with water and start mopping away the stains on all the floors in your home

DRY/WET MOP –  New spin-dry water bucket allows you to choose how wet the micro-fabric mop head should be. The mop cleans, removes dust, and absorbs water, making the floor clean and dry right away.

GENTLE MICROFIBER – Microfiber mop heads are machine washable but also replaceable when needed;

EASY TO USE – Simple to put together

Wow, this mop bucket is simply a wonder.  We have all kinds of spills and pet potty accidents in our homes.  I keep this in the mud room always set up, just reach in there, spin the mop and wipe up messes.  I use the Odoban to disinfect the water.  This has been a life saver.  We also use to mop our hardwood and tile floors.  So easy to use!

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Milliken Capture Pet And Odor Neutralizer Carpet Cleaner

Capture pet stain and odor neutralizer is the perfect product for taking care of all types of organic-based pet stains. Formulated to work on every pet-related cleanup. Control and eliminate virtually any household odor.

Seagrass Rugs with Leather Binding

Seagrass Rugs with Leather Binding

Deep cleans: Microorganisms eat organic substances like urine, blood, etc. Safe on stain-resistant carpet. No solvents or harsh chemicals. 32 oz. trigger spray.

We have been using this product for years.  It has been a lifesaver for some nasty Pet accidents.  The biggest one was when we left our doggies with a pet sitter over the weekend. We don’t feed people food and they chose to feed our lab-fried chicken. When we got home there were huge piles of diarrhea on our living room and dining room seagrass rugs. I immediately got up the solids and soaked all the areas with this Capture product and got up the rest that I could. I steam cleaned the areas (with a rented cleaner) After the carpet dried, I used the Capture powder mentioned above to get the rest of the residue out. That was 7 years ago, The seagrass rugs still look great.

If you don’t have any of these products on hand and have a big spill, use:
1. A little Dawn Dish Detergent and cold water
2. A little Hydrogen Peroxide and cold water
3.  Carbonated Water
4.  Plain cold water

These plain remedies will work if you address the problem right away and BLOT doesn’t RUB!

I hope that some of these products will work for you.  If you have any questions about carpet cleaning, contact me with your question.  I will be happy to help you with your carpet cleaning problem.

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About Sandy Henderson

Sandy Henderson is owner of Rug Rats Fine Carpet and Rugs, a small town business with a national presence. Sandy was drawn to materials and design and wanted to explore how we can take charge of the beauty and happiness of our own homes. She earned a degree in Clothing and Textiles, from historic Longwood College (founded over two hundred years ago as a teachers’ college in Farmville, Virginia). Sandy now draws on her 36 years in the custom rug business to help clients all over the US with their custom & logo rug decisions.